Basic gangs and technology presentation

1. Carter F. Smith
carterfsmith@gmail.com
615-656-3505

2. What do we know?
 Young folks can’t remember life without cell
phones, CDs or an email address.
 Many gang members are a part of this generation.
 As gangs evolve, they take on more of a
business model than they had when they
started.
 This affects the way we should investigate them.
2

3. Focus on issues
from these perspectives
Information
Intelligence
Evidence
3

4. Overview
 Mobile telephone & text messaging
 Traditional instant messaging
 Web based sites & text/voice/video messaging
 Open source intelligence
 Convergence/virtual communication
 Evidentiary considerations
 Legal considerations
 Future vision
4

5. Disclaimer 3G2
Based on the coining and development
of the phrase Third Generation Street Gangs by
John P. Sullivan and Dr. Robert Bunker
Compiled from the listed references by the Gangfighters Network – www.Gangfighters.net
 The technology identified in this presentation may
not be used by all gang members in all locations. It
will be used by a few 1st Gen gangs, many 2nd Gen
gangs, and most 3rd Gen gangs.
 None of the information presented herein should
be mistaken for an endorsement of methods,
applications, or techniques used.
5

6. Flash Mob + Gang activity
= Flash gangbanging

7. George Knox, NGCRC, June 15, 2011

8. flash banging
"smash and grab“
 create diversion
 smash window of
○ jewelry store
○ fur/leather store
 take what they can grab
 in seconds they are gone
8

9. In the News
 Groups of youth using text messaging and
social media to gather at specified
locations
 primarily on Chicago’s South Side
 robbers attack people with pepper spray
 also been reported in Los Angeles,
Philadelphia and Washington D.C.
9

10. May 12, 2004 Dallas
 Almost 3 dozen people arrested for street fight.
 Fight arranged via Internet chat room.
 Two gangs arranged time to meet.
 Gang members identified and arrested with aid
of digital video.
 'Some of them actually signed in with their true
names, so that helped us identify people.'
10

11. April 19, 2011 – Los Angeles
 Man shot in head after 'Gang inspired' flash mob trash Venice
Beach
 Many involved dressed in gang attire and tattoos.
 Victim shot in head and side.
 Message on Twitter: ‘Venice beach bball ct going up tomorrow.’
 LAPD called for reinforcements as crowd, clearly including gang
members, swelled.
 Six to eight shots rang out at 6.30pm
 Victim ran into alley before collapsing.
11

12. April 2011 - Washington, D.C.
 20 youths outside G-Star Raw clothing store
 filed in together, brushing past customers
 marched directly to shelves of expensive designer
jeans and racks of high-end shirts
 sorted through selections for their sizes and
tucked them under their arms, behaving like
customers
 suddenly made for exit, before police
 suspects stole estimated $20,000 in merchandise
12

13. June 4, 2011 - Chicago
 Police arrested 7 of the 15-20 suspects
across the street from Northwestern
University on East Chicago Avenue.
 One suspect hit male victim with baseball
bat. Several offenders punched and kicked
him.
 Right after attack, 2d man robbed by 5-6
nearby.
13

14.  Of 129 retailers, primarily national store
chains, 94.5 percent said they were
victimized by organized criminals in the
past year.
 84.8 percent said the problem has only
worsened in the past three years.
 High percentages aren't entirely due to
flash mob crime, but they are contributing.
14

15. Bureau of Justice Statistics – stalking
 Technology (e-mail, IM, GPS & spyware)
used to harass 1 in 4 stalking victims.
 about 1.2 million victims.
 Law enforcement remains under-
equipped..
 Victims have mixed feelings about police
response.
15

16. 16

17. APP: Application Short for ‘application program’.
(Broadly, an app is often a self-contained environment for
performing some well-defined task such as ‘word processing’)

18. Evidence considerations with
Mobile (Wireless) Telephones

19. Sprint/Nextel
19

20. Sprint/Nextel
•1 to a group
at once
•all-digital,
secure
•U.S., Canada,
Mexico and
other
countries
20

21. AT&T Wireless (formerly Cingular Wireless)
 Up to 2000
contacts can be
stored with up
to four numbers
within each
contact.
 “VoiceClip,”
allows you to
record and
send a
message to up
to three people
without ringing
the telephone
21

22. Verizon Wireless
 saves a copy of
the names,
phone
numbers, and
email
addresses
stored in your
phone.
 view, print, add,
delete, and edit
your contacts
online.
22

23. Apple MobileMe
 new email, contacts, and calendar
events over the air to all your devices
23

24. Should we be concerned?
 Bulk purchases of cell phones
 Sold at a loss to create a
market for real profit maker
 more call time
 Middlemen deactivates lock
so they can be used on other services
 Recent court actions may change, but there is
still a degree of anonymity
24

25. boost
25

26. Jump Mobile
no monthly
commitments,
no long-term
contracts,
and no
hidden fees
26

27. Evidence considerations with
Mobile (Phone) Text Messaging

28. 28

29. 29

30. Mobile Phone Text messaging
 At the end of 2011, 6 billion mobile
subscriptions
 Equivalent to 87 percent of the world
population
 huge increase from 5.4 billion in 2010
○ and 4.7 billion in 2009.
30

31. Mobile Phone Text messaging
 Text Messaging (aka SMS-Short Message
Service)
 An alphanumeric message sent to
a mobile phone, typed using
○ Your phone keypad
○ Another form of interface (computer)
 Allows short text messages to be
sent and received on a mobile phone
31

32. Mobile Phone Text Messaging (w/o phone)
32

33. Mobile Phone Text Messaging
Hey!
Hey!
33

34.  http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp
34

35. Web-based technology

36. Traditional instant messaging
(chat)
 AIM
 Yahoo
 MSN
 ICQ
 Google Talk
 Trillian
 Skype
36

37. Web-based Communications
Technology
37

38. one billion users by end of summer
38

39. 39

40. Twitter
 Is a free website designed to provide the exchange of public
content in the form of 140 characters messages sent from the
web interface or from a user’s phone.
 Users may have a public or private account, and choose to
view the 140 character messages of other Twitter users,
which range from businesses (such as Comcast, Whole
Foods, etc.) to political figures (BarackObama) to celebrities
or popular accounts (Oprah or Britney Spears) to normal
people.
 Twitter conducts most correspondence via email, so PLEASE
INCLUDE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS so we may contact you.
To contact us, email: lawenforcement@twitter.com
40

41. Twitbanging
 A 15-year old member of The New Dons
claims that twitter is useful for coordinating
violent activities, and that they often use new
lingo that would be difficult for anyone but
insiders to understand.
 Still, the NYPD has been successful in
stopping attacks before they happen by
keeping track of the online activities of gang
members.
 http://help.twitter.com/entries/41949-guidelines-for-
law-enforcement
41

42. 42

43. Mocospace
gangsta-colb
43

44. 04/14/2008 Gang threats go high-tech
 YouTube.com videos threatening more than two
dozen Salinas youths
 questions about free speech and authorities' responsibility to
protect potential victims.
 Modern iteration of way gang members have been
threatening each other forever.
 We have watched (threats) happen for years ... ever
since spray paint and walls were invented," Salinas
police Cmdr. Kelly McMillin said.
44

45. YouTube
45

46. YouTube
46

47. YouTube
47

48. More video
48

49. Gaming conversations
49

50. Anonymous Proxy Servers
 Hide your IP address (think fake or alias ID)
 Prevent unauthorized access to your computer
 Effectively hide any information about you
 Don’t let anyone know that you are surfing through a
proxy
 Used for
 Web searching
 Web-Mail (MSN Hot Mail, Yahoo mail),
 Web-chat rooms,
 FTP archives, etc.
50

51. Stealth Surfing (anonymous proxy
servers/software)
51

52. Open Source Intelligence

53. 53

54. http://www.spy.appspot.com/
54

55. 55

56. Profile on a social network site
 75% of online adults 18-24
 57% of online adults 25-34
 30% of online adults 35-44
 19% of online 45 to 54 year olds
 10% of online 55 to 64 year olds
 7% of online adults 65 and older
56

57. Portable Technology

58. Portable Info/Commo
 PDA
 Personal digital assistants are handheld computers that were originally designed as
personal organizers, but became much more versatile over the years. (Wikipedia)
 PPC
 the Pocket PC is "a handheld device that enables users to store and retrieve e-mail,
contacts, appointments, tasks, play multimedia files, games, exchange text messages
(Microsoft, according to Wikipedia)
 Smartphone
 a full-featured mobile phone with personal computer like functionality. Most smartphones
are cellphones that support full featured email capabilities with the functionality of a
complete personal organizer. (Wikipedia)
 iPhone/iPod
 The iPhone is a multimedia and Internet-enabled quad-band GSM EDGE-supported
mobile phone designed and sold by Apple Inc. The iPhone's functions include those of a
camera phone and a multimedia player, in addition to text messaging and visual
voicemail. It also offers Internet services including e-mail, web browsing, and local Wi-Fi
connectivity. User input is accomplished via a multi-touch screen with virtual keyboard
and buttons. (Wikipedia)
59

59. Like a Dumb Terminal . . .
 USB/iPod/SD Card used as hard-drive
 Traceless on host comp
 May not remember/know to include in
warrant
 Major IT security breaches . . .
 Web-based data storage
 May not remember/know to include in
warrant
 Major IT security breaches . . .
60

60. www.mojopac.com
61

61. Mini-data storage
 iPod/MP3 players
 SD data cards
 Message typed/recorded/embedded
 SIM cards
62

62. Remote monitoring
63

63. Web-based storage
64

64. Private Browsing  No pages will be added to the list
of sites in the History menu.
 Nothing you enter into text boxes
on websites or the Search bar and
no Cookies will be saved.
 No passwords will be automatically
filled in during Private Browsing
and no new passwords will be
saved.
 No files you download will remain
in the list in the Downloads window
after you turn off Private Browsing..
 The cache stores temporary files
such as web pages, images and
other online media. All of the items
that get added to the cache will be
deleted when you turn off Private
Browsing.
65

65. Augmented Reality
 live direct or indirect view of a physical
real-world environment whose elements
are augmented by virtual computer-
generated imagery
66

66. Convergence/Virtual technology

67. Voice Over Internet Protocol
(VoIP)
Three main technologies used for mobile VoIP:
 UMA - The Unlicensed Mobile Access, designed to allow VoIP to run
over the GSM cellular backbone
 SIP - The standard used by most VoIP services, and now being
implemented on mobile handsets
 Skype Protocol and Barablu - a proprietary modified version of Jabber
68

68. (partially) Concealing identity
1. Enter your mobile number
2. Enter your friend's mobile
number
3. Call the local jaxtr number
and talk
69

69. (partially) Concealing identity
 Complete IP voice
and messaging
platform
 Services allow calls
via mobile, landline,
computer or Wi-Fi
vice
70

70. Anonymize your phone call
 Caller ID displays the number
you want them to see, change
the tone of your voice and
keep a backup
 Unblocks blocked and
restricted calls with any cell
phone.
71

71. 72

72. Google Voice
 Call screening - Announce  Forwarding phones - Add  Conference calling - Join
and screen callers phones - decide which ring people into a single call
 Listen in - before taking call  Voicemail transcripts -  Call record - Record calls
 Block calls Read what your voicemail and store them online
 SMS - Send, receive, store says  Call switch - Switch phones
 Place calls - Call US  Listen to voicemail - Online during a call
numbers for free or from your phone  Mobile site - View your
 Taking calls - Answer on  Notifications - Via email or inbox from your mobile
any of your phones SMS  GOOG-411 - Check
 Phone routing - Phones  Personalize greeting - Vary directory assistance
ring based on who calls greetings by caller  Manage groups - Set
 Share voicemail - Forward preferences by group
or download voicemails
73

73. Phonebooth.com
74

74.  Telephone Number Identification with Caller ID
lookups.
 You can also click on an area code and it will give
you a list of the cities and their exchange numbers.
 http://tnid.us/
75

75. Mass-communication
 Delivered anywhere within the CONUS.
 NO long distance charges
 Message can be up to 45 seconds
 Delivered to people, voice mail, answering
machines
 Import existing contact list or manually enter
 Status reports and call histories available on line
76

76. Mass-communication
77

77. Evidentiary considerations

78. Preparation
 Plan (equipment, collection material, warrant,
etc.) to collect power source, peripheral
accessories
 Document as-is, as able (fungible evidence)
 Know who needs to be contacted to probe
further – don’t delay
79

79. Seizing Evidence
 First Responder
Training
First Responder
Handling
Handheld Device
Evidence
80

80. Legal considerations
Compiled by the Gangfighters Network
– www.Gangfighters.net

81. Legal considerations
 Locate/assemble available expertise
 Include translation (geekspeak-English)
needs (prosecutor/judge/jury)
 Coordination with forensics/lab in
advance – familiarity
 Coordination with prosecutor in advance
– familiarity
82

82. i-Warrants
 Include “uncommon” technical terms in
affidavit.
 Describe role of the device/technology in
the offense
 Justify your need to search off site
 Treat contents as evidence AND
intelligence
83

83. i-Warrants
If you can logically tie potential
evidence to the crime, and can
articulate the need in the warrant, you
should be able to access more areas
where evidence exists.
 (think passwords, cases, cables, synchronizing)
84

84. 5th Circuit's opinion - January
2007
 "the permissible scope of a search incident
to a lawful arrest extends to containers
found on an arrestee's person."
 A cell phone is an electronic "container," in
that it stores information that may have
great evidentiary value (and that might
easily be destroyed or corrupted).
85

85. Search of cell phones cannot be
justified as search incident to lawful
arrest.
 The justification is the need for officer
safety and to preserve evidence...
 A text message on a cell phone presents
no danger of physical harm to the
arresting officers or others.
86

86.  Searching through information stored on a
cell phone is analogous to a search of a
sealed letter, which requires a warrant.
 The search of text messages does not
constitute an inventory search.
 The purpose of an inventory search is to document
property in an arrested person's possession to
protect property from theft and the police from
lawsuits for lost or stolen property.
87

87. the basic principle still applies:
 incident to a person's arrest, a
mobile phone or beeper may be
briefly inspected to see if it
contains evidence relevant to the
charge for which the defendant
has been arrested.
88

88. Future vision

89. Two ways to send money with PayPal Mobile:
By text message:
Text message to 729725 (or PAYPAL) with the amount and the phone
number to send it to. For example, to send $10.00 USD to the phone
number 4150001234, text:
Send 10 to 4150001234
By phone call:
Call 1-800-4PAYPAL to send money by voice or keypad. You’ll be asked
for your PIN to login, and then simply follow the prompts to send money.

90. boku
 No registration.
 Get goods faster.
 No cards.
 Just you and your phone.
 No problem.
 Safe and secure, always.
91

92. Facebook Credits: The World's First Global Currency?
93

93. Future vision
 Application  Technology
 Identity theft  Wifi/WiMax
 Bank fraud  Bluetooth & Mobile
 Money laundering developments
 Drug Trafficking  Anonymous
interaction
 Steganography
94

94. Carter F. Smith
carterfsmith@gmail.com
615-656-3505