Followed by some kind of investigator yesterday

[Petzel]

do you have a personal injury case going? insurance cos are likely to use PIs.

True. This actually happened to someone I know. The insurance company sent a letter to the dude telling him they had him followed by an investigator for 2 weeks and found that his behaviour was not that of someone who had been injured and they cut him off and closed his case.

 

[fuji]

Actually, amateur would be flashing a fake gun in your car. That'll get you arrested in no time.

Correct. Brandishing a replica weapon will have the OP facing very serious weapons charges.

Just get the guys photograph. Find a safe place (i.e. lots of witnesses and security cameras), get out of your car, walk up to him, and take his picture. No matter who he is, that will cause him to back off. If he is stalking you, you now have photographic proof. If he is a PI or a cop, his cover has been blown wide open.

 

[gcostanza]

How do I report it when I'm 1000 miles away now? I said this happened an hour before going to the airport.

No telephones where you are now?

 

[wangbang]

The insurance company sent a letter to the dude telling him they had followed by an investigator for 2 weeks and found that his behaviour was not that of someone who had been injured and they cut him off and closed his case.

Back in the late 80's I had a very well paying manual labour job and was transitioning into a professional career. Due to a shoulder injury I had been off work (with pay) for awhile before starting an office job in downtown TO. The insurance co. did have someone follow me for a couple of weeks. As I left for TO around 6:30 am he would follow me on foot to the GO station and get on the train. Spent a lot of time thinking up new ways to lose him. The best was when he walked 2 miles behind me to the station only to discover I had left my car there which I then drove to work.

It wasn't creepy though as I had been warned it was coming.

 

[1bigdog]

if the OP is really a lawyer, then he would/should know how to deal with the situation instead of coming here to ask for advice.

Perry

I think this attitude reflects the unrealistic expectations people have of the legal profession, and why so many people get disappointed when lawyers don't produce miracles daily. We don't know everything. For example I tried driving one of those Shriners mini motorcycles this weekend and fell off. My law society id card doesn't make me all-knowing.

And since I have to deal with the local police for my work, I'm reluctant to run into the station (or call them from Disneyland) for something that has the possibility of making me sound crazy / paranoid.

Anyway I'm going to keep my eyes open, and if I see any weirdos again I'll call the cops. Everyone's advice is well taken, thanks

 

[Dream_State]

I can give you an informed opinion that there is no such device that can fit into a business card that can track you via GPS or RFID.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/585380340/RFID_business_card.html?s=p

 

[Ceiling Cat]

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/585380340/RFID_business_card.html?s=p

Physically the RFID device is twice as thick as a business card, then it has to be encased in paper to conceal what it actually is. There is no way that you can mistake a regular business card for one that has RFID capabilities.

Any RFID device that has a range of more than a few meters would have to have its own power source, RFID is meant for identification of pallets and consumer goods. RFID tags that can detect up to 200 m. would have to have its own power and would be a very elaborate device that looks nothing like a business card

This world has not come to a point where it is like in the movie Enemy of State where the FBI/CIA can track people by tapping into private surveillance cameras in stores to follow a person all over the city.

 

[GPIDEAL]

I sense you or someone you know have been a subject of an investigation.

Not exactly. A security equipment guy who also did surveillance for private clients didn't pay a friend of mine who sold him stuff. Tried to sue the scumbag loser (my friend wasn't tough enough to deal with him business-wise - she's an older lady too) but there was no way to serve him. Registered mail would bounce or never be picked up. The deadbeat supposedly went briefly to jail for something else before. If only my last name was Soprano . . .

 

[Perry Mason]

I think this attitude reflects the unrealistic expectations people have of the legal profession, and why so many people get disappointed when lawyers don't produce miracles daily. We don't know everything. For example I tried driving one of those Shriners mini motorcycles this weekend and fell off. My law society id card doesn't make me all-knowing.

You crack me up!

Thanks for the morning humour. Did your Law Society ID card make you so funny?

Perry

 

[Ms.FemmeFatale]

I ain't buying. If dude really was a lawyer he would have followed Ardy's advice a long time ago.

Yup! That is one.

I tend to agree with you.

I will even go further... if the OP is really a lawyer, then he would/should know how to deal with the situation instead of coming here to ask for advice.

Just saying...

Perry

Yup that is 2.

of course ... but if you can afford to pay someone to clean for you I'm betting you live in a building that offers some security, even if its just a locked main entry door and a security camera.

Taking a pic or video of someone when they don't expect it can surprise and anger people. I did it once when someone cut me off in traffic. He was PISSED.

And Bingo was her namo!!!! LOL

That makes 3 and all make sense.

I think this attitude reflects the unrealistic expectations people have of the legal profession, and why so many people get disappointed when lawyers don't produce miracles daily. We don't know everything. For example I tried driving one of those Shriners mini motorcycles this weekend and fell off. My law society id card doesn't make me all-knowing.

And since I have to deal with the local police for my work, I'm reluctant to run into the station (or call them from Disneyland) for something that has the possibility of making me sound crazy / paranoid.

Anyway I'm going to keep my eyes open, and if I see any weirdos again I'll call the cops. Everyone's advice is well taken, thanks

Really????

First, to address your first point - maybe you are not a very good lawyer. I don't expect mine to know but they sure has shit know more then most. They would also know how to handle a situation like this.

Second, why not have housekeeper call the police about a man trying to walk into the condo while her employer is away. Am I the only one who thinks that is what she should have done this in the first place. I would have fired her ass by now if it was my housekeeper and she didn't do this.

Third, so you have LE that you know and you can't ask one of them on the side about this situation? Because no cop has ever helped out a lawyer before. Not one cop would be able to assist you. You can't think of something to say to them, like fear of a past client etc. It is easy "HI, sorry I know this may sound paranoid but I am pretty sure I am being followed....." Like seriously. Even admitting it sounds paranoid would be the best.

Lastly, I don't know what kind of lawyer you are, but most of the lawyers here are easy to tell because of the way all lawyers talk. You don't talk the talk, so I am really truly questioning whether you actually walk the walk.

 

[blackrock13]

I sense you or someone you know have been a subject of an investigation.

Not exactly. A security equipment guy who also did surveillance for private clients didn't pay a friend of mine who sold him stuff. Tried to sue the scumbag loser (my friend wasn't tough enough to deal with him business-wise - she's an older lady too) but there was no way to serve him. Registered mail would bounce or never be picked up. The deadbeat supposedly went briefly to jail for something else before. If only my last name was Soprano . . .

So it was someone you know 'of'. This was one guy. For those who are scum and there a number of them there are a number who have recovered /located kidnapped kids and teens, recovered stolen items, and discovered or prevented fraud where the police couldn't. Locally, you might want to ask Robert Baltovich what he think of PI's. One PI company, working much of the time off the clock, after others gave up, broke the case and presented the evidence up that allowed RB to be found not guilty of murdering his girlfriend.

 

[fmahovalich]

I would NOT be running to the cops. The guy may disappear and you would never know what was up.

You Russian by chance?

And the business card is just that...not a 'device'. I would save it though for later fingerprint tests.

But for now, play with the guy. It is much easier to catch a fox in the henhouse, when the hens know he is already there.

Stay alert...gather info....why not?

 

[bradyk]

Don't worry about it man....just stay inside and order up an outcall.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Don't worry about it man....just stay inside and order up an outcall

Best advice of the whole thread

 

[homerjsimpson]

Man, some of you people are just ridiculous. The OP presented a perfectly reasonable story yet you still have to try and tear it apart thinking he's up to something, or just making it up. Why? What would be the point? It's not even an interesting story.

Some lawyers have no clue what goes on outside their direct sphere of influence. You take a corporate lawyer that sits around all day reading legal documents, he has no clue how a PI operates. This isn't Hollywood. And how do lawyers talk? They're typical articulate, with good spelling and grammar. Sounds like the OP to me.

Any of you who advised him to carry a weapon, or brandish a weapon, shame on you. Give your head a shake.

Any of you who told him to call the police... well, it's not a bad idea, but there is very little that will come of it (and yes there is no point for him to call while he's out of town). No laws have been broken. At the very best they will come and take a report. But they won't do anything. Seriously, why would they? Someone might have been following him. Someone accidentally tried to open his door. Someone talked to him in a parking garage and gave him a business card. No crimes broken, no threats uttered, etc.

Anyone completely mystified at how someone got past his condo security... shit man, it's easy and happens all the time. Duh.

To the OP: sorry about the others. Sometimes someone on here has some good advice so it is worth asking.

I'll take a shot at understanding what is going on. The parking garage incident may have just been some friendly dude. I guess it's all the vibe you got. But it shouldn't be too hard to verify who he was since you have his card. If it is related then I assume he wanted to know where you were going and how long you'd be gone.

The guy trying to open your door: assuming that this is related to you being followed, then this is the most puzzling part. Any insurance company who would hire a PI to follow you around would strictly want to go by the rules, otherwise risk losing their case on a technicality. Same goes for anyone else either trying to build a case against you or, in some cases, looking for prospects to hire (some companies do a thorough investigation of someone before hiring them).

One more thing: crazy clients don't hire people to follow you around in cheap suits and minivans to see what you're up to.

Is there any chance that someone is investigating one of your clients, looking for dirt on them? But then, why follow you? Unless it's a current case. Just speculating.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Any of you who told him to call the police... well, it's not a bad idea, but there is very little that will come of it (and yes there is no point for him to call while he's out of town). No laws have been broken

Actually, if OP can prove they been following him a "stalking" charge might apply here

 

[blackrock13]

Actually, if OP can prove they been following him a "stalking" charge might apply here

If he was a PI, the law says he can, but he has to have a professional reason, as in someone has employed him to do so. Intimidation is a different thing, but the OP's description doesn't seem to cross the line. As said earlier, if the guy was a PI, he was avery bad one.

 

[blackrock13]

I once found a tracking device on my car. So I drove out of town. Found a local OPP detachment. Then I put the tracker on one of their cars.

So what did your GF find out?

 

[fuji]

I once found a tracking device on my car. So I drove out of town. Found a local OPP detachment. Then I put the tracker on one of their cars.

I don't believe that you put a tracking device on a police car.

 

[Aardvark154]

One more thing: crazy clients don't hire people to follow you around in cheap suits and minivans to see what you're up to.

Perhaps not around Toronto?

Not only may this be stalking but where I am I'd want police to know about this and they would want to know as well. At the very least in graveyard humor after the hit they will have more information to work with.

you have LE that you know and you can't ask one of them on the side about this situation? Because no cop has ever helped out a lawyer before. Not one cop would be able to assist you. You can't think of something to say to them, like fear of a past client etc. It is easy "HI, sorry I know this may sound paranoid but I am pretty sure I am being followed....." Like seriously. Even admitting it sounds paranoid would be the best.

What Ms.FemmeFatale said, you seem concerned enough that you post about it here, perhaps you are being paranoid but as the quote goes "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't after you."

I realize things are different in Toronto than in smaller places but. . . . . . . . . .