Now The FBI Has A Corporate Anti-Fraud Program That Scans Emails For 3,000 Suspicious Phrases

TBI ^ | 1-7-2013 | Linette Lopez

[blam]

Now The FBI Has A Corporate Anti-Fraud Program That Scans Emails For 3,000 Suspicious Phrases

Linette Lopez
January 7, 2013

Given how notorious Wall Streeters are for writing embarrassing e-mails that are later used against them in court (see: Libor scandal), they should really take note of this news.

The FBI has developed new software that scans e-mails for buzz words and phrases that indicate the sender (and receiver) or said mail are up to no good, the FT reports. There are over 3,000 words and phrases that would raise a red flag in the program.

Accounting firm Ernst and Young found out about this program after looking through evidence from corporate investigations in conjunction with the FBI.

From the FT:

“The language, which is a mix of accounting phrases, personal motivations and attempts to conceal, are very revealing,” said Rashmi Joshi, Ernst & Young’s director of fraud investigation and disputes services.

He said that the monitoring of email traffic played almost no role in the compliance efforts of companies looking for possible problems. “While most organisations only focus on the numbers when investigating discrepancies, what we are seeing are ways of analyzing words – emails, SMS or instant messaging – to identify and isolate wrongdoing.”

Linguistic analysis software, which initially protects employee anonymity, can flag uncharacteristic changes in tone and language in electronic conversations and can also be tailored for particular types of employees, especially traders.

So phrases like, "nobody will find out," "call my mobile"," and "don't leave a trail" could now get you noticed.

You've been warned.

[Joe Boucher]

Ahhhh,
Echelon, the original big brother gub mint watch over all that breaths.
Not too many know of it though?

[cuban leaf]

Until recently I worked with the Law Enforcement Relations department at one of the large cell phone companies. They not only save every text message, as well as the originating and receiving phone numbers and times of every message and phone call, but even your location. Your phone is constantly pinging towers to ensure it has a connection to receive calls, etc. Every one of those pings is saved. Each ping includes the time and which tower was pinged. It means they know where your phone is and where it was in the past going back seven years. It’s why, if you are going to commit a crime, you want to use your Trakfone, etc.

BTW, they don’t record the content of phone conversations.

At least, not yet.

Oh, and about pinging towers: If you are in an area with good coverage, they can triangulate and pinpoint your location within a few feet WITHOUT GPS. It was done with my phone before my very eyes. Pretty amazing.

It means that if they think you are the one that “killed the little girl” and you kept your cell phone on you, once they subpoena this information, they can pinpoint the place in the woods you lingered to dig the shallow grave.

I’m sharing this information because I strongly believe people have a right to know how their privacy is impacted by carrying a cell phone around with them.