1. Using the Web as an Investigation Tool Maureen Cahill University of Georgia Law Library http://www.law.uga.edu/library

2. Just ‘Google’ It What is ‘the hidden Web’?

3. Basic Search Strategies Pinpoint the need Summon what you already know Line up and assess resources Hammer out questions/approaches

4. Investigate What? Where people live or work Other Information about Them Public Companies Basic Facts

5. When Can You Rely on the Free Web? When do You Need an Expert or a Fee Based Service?

6. Free Web, people Finding people, especially prominent folks or professionals Property ownership Professional licensing News

7. Free Web, companies Public company financial information Executive profiles Regulatory actions News

8. Free Web, facts Basic reference—dictionaries, encyclopedias Stock quotes Specialized calculators Research aids

9. Expert or Fee, people Folks who don’t want to be found Criminal background checks Litigation history

10. Expert or Fee, companies Privately held companies Detailed financial or business analysis and predictions Litigation history

11. Expert or fee, facts If you get stumped, call your favorite librarian

12. Sources for Investigations of People Public Information Phone books, other directories Public Records Property filings, court dockets, licensing, registrations News and other Information Sources

13. Phone Books Many sites aggregate this information Published numbers only Some have email, reverse lookup Can search nation-wide, by state, or by locality If unsure of spelling for name, use first four letters of last, first letter only of first name If know zip code, always use it

14. Specialized Directories Professional groups Inmate locators Death records

15. Public Records Sources Secretaries of State State agencies Courts: federal, state, and local Jails Tax assessor’s

16. Georgia Public Records Secretary of State Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority Department of Corrections Variety of county, local sites

17. Secretary of State http://www.sos.state.ga.us Corporation Index Campaign contribution disclosure Professional licenses Voter registration

18. Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority http://www.gsccca.org Lien index Real estate deed index UCC index

19. Directories of Public Records Sites BRB Publications http://www.brbpub.com/pubrecsites.asp Search Systems http://www.searchsystems.net

21. Georgia Counties Online Tax assessors Bibb, Cobb, Dekalb, Richmond all offer some access to court dockets Several others offer inmate lists

22. News and Other Services News alerts Profiles Business executives Notables Zoominfo.com

23. Search Services Caution is required ! Many sell no more than searches of freely available sites Using a large, national service probably means you are paying staff at three levels Public Record Retriever Network

24. Fee Based Sites Accurint – inexpensive, not the most comprehensive Choicepoint – reasonably comprehensive, expensive KnowX – owned by Choicepoint, but aimed more to consumers

25. Court Documents PACER 11 th Cir., Middle Bankruptcy, So. Dist., So. Bankruptcy U.S. Party/Case Index Legal Dockets Online Court Express Court Link

26. Criminal Histories National Criminal File State Crime Indexes No substitute for county by county in person searching

27. Privacy Concerns Availability and Permissible Uses Fair Credit Reporting Act Drivers Privacy Protection Act Gramm-Leach-Bliley Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

28. Company Information Company’s Web site Profile Services Business News SEC Regulatory Agencies Court Documents

29. Privately Held Companies Few Sources Court Documents Regulatory Agencies Competitors