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How to Improve How to Improve Investigations in Investigations in Online ClassifiedsOnline Classifieds

Hosted by: Allen AtamerLTAS Technologies1-647-892-6477www.harmari.com

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Allen AtamerAllen Atamer

MIT graduate 2001 (S.M.)MIT graduate 2001 (S.M.) 10 years experience in artificial 10 years experience in artificial

intelligence, text mining and intelligence, text mining and software engineeringsoftware engineering

1 US and 1 Canadian patent in my 1 US and 1 Canadian patent in my namename

8 years in the aerospace industry8 years in the aerospace industry Personal motivation: 2 daughtersPersonal motivation: 2 daughters

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CraigsList & Online CraigsList & Online ClassifiedsClassifieds

Cheap, effective way to reach many Cheap, effective way to reach many people with your product/servicepeople with your product/service

Many postings to investigate – Many postings to investigate – sometimes thousands per daysometimes thousands per day

Anonymous nature of listings, limited Anonymous nature of listings, limited validation of personal informationvalidation of personal information

CL hides behind the law when CL hides behind the law when questioned*questioned*

* S230 of the Communications Decency Act 1996

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Illegal ActivityIllegal Activity

Auto crime / Auto fraudAuto crime / Auto fraud Child prostitutionChild prostitution Unlicensed ContractorsUnlicensed Contractors Weed / DrugsWeed / Drugs Fraud / 419 scam (King of Nigeria)Fraud / 419 scam (King of Nigeria) E-Fencing stolen merchandiseE-Fencing stolen merchandise

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Free Monitoring Tool - Free Monitoring Tool - RSSRSS

CL provides RSS feeds freeCL provides RSS feeds free Limited utilityLimited utility

lack of prioritizationlack of prioritization Information overload for > 5 feedsInformation overload for > 5 feeds

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Database

WebscrapersWebscrapers Cost about $50 - $500 off Cost about $50 - $500 off

the shelfthe shelf Crawl a single page to Crawl a single page to

many destinationsmany destinations Limited utilityLimited utility

No clustering of similar No clustering of similar postingspostings

No clustering of phone No clustering of phone numbersnumbers

No cleanup / filtering / No cleanup / filtering / prioritization of dataprioritization of data

Page 1 2 3 4 5

• The quick brown fox

• the lazy dog

Page 1 2 3 4 5

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Hand-Bombing TipHand-Bombing Tip

Repeat ad that keeps coming up Repeat ad that keeps coming up over and over?over and over?

Use the - prefix

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Auto Crime - ReporterAuto Crime - Reporter

Curbstoners – sell salvage title / grey Curbstoners – sell salvage title / grey titling vehicles titling vehicles

list bogus private sale ads in CL: “for list bogus private sale ads in CL: “for sale by owner”sale by owner”2010-10-252010-10-25 1998 VW BEETLE TDI DIESEL1998 VW BEETLE TDI DIESEL

2010-10-102010-10-10 2000 VW JETTA GLS "NEEDS BODY 2000 VW JETTA GLS "NEEDS BODY WORK"WORK"

2010-10-232010-10-23 2003 Honda Accord, Auto, One owner, No 2003 Honda Accord, Auto, One owner, No accident, Private Saleaccident, Private Sale

416-527-4626

EXAMPLE:

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Auto Crime - ReporterAuto Crime - Reporter Receive report compiling and separating Receive report compiling and separating

list of sellerslist of sellers Instantly identify high-profile sellers Instantly identify high-profile sellers

without searchingwithout searching Sample Excel file below:Sample Excel file below:

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Auto: InvestigatorAuto: Investigator

CL limits display of postingsCL limits display of postings Only 7 days old for major citiesOnly 7 days old for major cities Typically 30 days old for smaller citiesTypically 30 days old for smaller cities

Additional matching against historic Additional matching against historic data up to 1 year olddata up to 1 year old

““TGTBT” price rank EX. 2009 Acura TGTBT” price rank EX. 2009 Acura for $9k, where average is $11k+for $9k, where average is $11k+

““TGTBT” mileage rank TGTBT” mileage rank odometer odometer spinners (felony)spinners (felony)

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Auto Example: 2005 honda Auto Example: 2005 honda accordaccord

CURBSTONERS TEND TO PUT THEIR PRICES ABOUT$1-2000 BELOW THE GOINGPRICE …

THE RESULT?TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

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The “Game”The “Game”

Career CriminalsCareer Criminals adapt when they feel adapt when they feel the heatthe heat Move their ads to another websiteMove their ads to another website Obfuscate phone number in adObfuscate phone number in ad Change cell numbers oftenChange cell numbers often

We can meet the challengeWe can meet the challenge Harmari can analyze all major classifiedsHarmari can analyze all major classifieds

Craigslist, AutoTrader, Kijiji, Backpage, (more Craigslist, AutoTrader, Kijiji, Backpage, (more coming)…coming)…

Future developmentFuture developmentYou need a long-term internet investigation partner to be one step ahead

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Automation benefitsAutomation benefits

Text cleanup (spelling, decorations, acronyms, Text cleanup (spelling, decorations, acronyms, abbreviations, synonyms)abbreviations, synonyms)

Automated License Plate Recognition (50-70% Automated License Plate Recognition (50-70% accy)accy)

Duplicates filtered out (97% duplicate-free Duplicates filtered out (97% duplicate-free reports)reports)

Merges info from similar listingsMerges info from similar listings Posts/data are stored on our server for 3 Posts/data are stored on our server for 3

monthsmonths Reporting allows you to prioritize the leadsReporting allows you to prioritize the leads

By region, number of posts, price, posted dateBy region, number of posts, price, posted date

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Breakdown of postingsBreakdown of postings

Private Listings39.3%

Listings without phone number

21.5%

Deleted/flagged0.1% Junk listings

9.9%Duplicate listing titles

10.6%

Curbstoner Listings18.6%

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Find the phone numberFind the phone number

Obfuscated numbers foil the Reverse Lookup SearchHarmari Engine is 98% accurate in retrieving such phone numbers

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Spot the differenceSpot the difference

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The CompetitionThe CompetitionRequirementRequirement Hand-bombing Hand-bombing

CLCLHarmariHarmari

Effort Effort requiredrequired

HighHigh Low – Excel Low – Excel compatible compatible reportreport

EffectivenessEffectiveness LowLow High – High – prioritized list prioritized list of suspectsof suspects

CoverageCoverage LimitedLimited CompleteComplete

CostCost Your timeYour time $ next slide$ next slide

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Auto: Reporter PricingAuto: Reporter PricingPrice per MonthPrice per Month

LevelLevel Posts/ DayPosts/ Day ExampleExample CLCL CL, BkPgCL, BkPg CL, BkPg, CL, BkPg, EbayCLEbayCL

33 0-5000-500 Omaha, Omaha,

LouisvilleLouisville

$350$350 $650$650 $800$800

22 500-1000500-1000 Cleveland,Cleveland,

DetroitDetroit

$650$650 $1050$1050 $1300$1300

11 1000+1000+ NYC, LANYC, LA $950$950 $1400$1400 $1700$1700

Prices are negotiable!

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Product Line and Product Line and FeaturesFeatures

   ReporterReporter InvestigatorInvestigator

Available?Available? TODAYTODAY TODAYTODAY

Database updatesDatabase updates bi-weeklybi-weekly weeklyweekly

postings stored offlinepostings stored offline

Analyze live dataAnalyze live data

Analyze historic dataAnalyze historic data    up to 3 monthsup to 3 months

Price and mileage filter by Price and mileage filter by make/model (Auto)make/model (Auto)   

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NEW!NEW! CL Reverse Lookup CL Reverse Lookup

Enter Phone NumbersHere

Matching LiveAnd HistoricAds

Try it out for free!* Limited to Auto FSBO + Skilled Trades section

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Avoid Hand-BombingEach Ad; Saves Time

Report Divided UpAmongst

Investigative Team

Excel ReportDeliveredWeekly

1. Receive TipOr Complaint of

Internet ad

2. Search the phonenumber on Harmari

3. Gather evidence against the Perpetrator

-website-office location

-false advertising

Reactive

Proactive

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Show Excel FileShow Excel File

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Case Study - OMVICCase Study - OMVIC

Subscribed since AugustSubscribed since August Reports delivered monthlyReports delivered monthly TGTBT modificationsTGTBT modifications

Raw mileage number rather Raw mileage number rather than rankingthan ranking

Below Market Value Below Market Value (Yes/No) instead of 1-5(Yes/No) instead of 1-5

Triage listTriage list Inappropriate dealer ads vs. Inappropriate dealer ads vs.

true curbstonerstrue curbstoners

CL ads---- ------ - - --- - --

HarmariEngine

DealersDB

Marketing Investigations

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Case Study – Virginia Case Study – Virginia HEATHEAT

Currently in evaluation phaseCurrently in evaluation phase Sample report for Tidewater, VA areaSample report for Tidewater, VA area Report for Craigslist with 243 phone numbers Report for Craigslist with 243 phone numbers

listedlisted Out of 28 phone numbers with 6+ vehicles, 7 Out of 28 phone numbers with 6+ vehicles, 7

were found to be unlicensed dealerswere found to be unlicensed dealers Report can be “very useful to the Virginia Report can be “very useful to the Virginia

State Police, local LE, DMV, MVDB and State Police, local LE, DMV, MVDB and other State Agencies for investigating other State Agencies for investigating curbstoning, vehicle crime and fraud, curbstoning, vehicle crime and fraud, unlicensed contractors, fencing unlicensed contractors, fencing merchandise, prostitution, etc.”merchandise, prostitution, etc.”

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Future DevelopmentFuture Development

Image Analysis – Stolen / Altered / Image Analysis – Stolen / Altered / Geo-tag ( see Blog on website)Geo-tag ( see Blog on website)

Tipline / Complaints DB IntegrationTipline / Complaints DB Integration Email / Voice AgentsEmail / Voice Agents Auto Flagging Ads for RemovalAuto Flagging Ads for Removal

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Next StepsNext Steps

Free quote specific to your needsFree quote specific to your needs Free sample data for your reviewFree sample data for your review

LTAS Technologieswww.harmari.com 1-647-892-6477Email: info@harmari.com