First published in: Ecodefense: A Field Guide to Monkeywreching,
1985
Undercover police activity has become a standard feature of the
contemporary political terrain. Disclosures in recent years indicate
that environmentalist, anti-nuclear and animal rights groups are likely
to be targeted for surreptitious investigation. This can take many
forms, from an inconspicuous stranger who turns up to help at a
demonstration, to a trained "deep cover" operative who may spend years
working inside a target organization. These operations can be launched
locally by a police or sheriff's department, or by any of a number of
federal agencies.
Another major source of inside information for investigators is the
"CI"
or "confidential informant." These informers can be private citizens
recruited to infiltrate a group, or fearful members who turn on their
friends (usually to save themselves). WIthout the existence of the CI,
or "snitch," there would in fact be very few arrests made for major
crimes. However, CIs do have major short-comings from a police
perspective, including their general unreliability, questionable status
as testifying witnesses, and frequent refusal to testify in open court.
Therefore, the information garnered from a CI must be backed up by the
testimony of undercover police officers or supplemented by an intensive
police investigation (which may involve surveillance and the use of
search warrants) to build a case without putting the informer on the
witness stand. In fact, the use of a CI in an arrest is usually not
revealed, so the investigation may appear to be nothing more than
competent police work.
Any monkeywrencher who suspects surveillance, should examine
associates,
study who has access to information now believed to be in the hands of
the police, notice anyone who suddenly attempts to distance themselves,
and be alert to any other indication that investigators are receiving
inside information.
The Undercover Infiltrator
Both government agencies and private companies are routinely involved
in
running undercover operations. Small police departments and private
firms (ranging from the large agencies like Pinkerton and Burns down to
the security divisions maintained by large corporations and often
staffed by former law enforcement agents) typically rely on the solitary
agent to ferret out information which is then passed on to the agent's
supervisors. Larger state and federal agencies have the resources to
mount far more extensive infiltration efforts. Major efforts entail a
team approach, with extensive backup equipment and personnel to exploit
the information provided by the undercover cop. The team's job is to
protect the undercover agent and assemble a mass of evidence so that a
subsequent prosecution doesn't rely entirely on the testimony of one
officer.
The increasing sophistication of undercover operations has made it
more
difficult to spot these people. Today's undercover officer can look and
sound like anyone. Many years ago, an undercover cop might be exposed
when suspicious associates pilfered his phone bill from a mailbox and
found that it listed numerous calls to a recognizable police phone
number. Those days are gone as the quality and training of undercover
operatives has improved. Only the crudest attempts to infiltrate, such
as those occurring at demonstrations or other well-publicized events,
are likely to be obvious due to the appearance or demeanor of the
plainclothes officer.
There are two broad categories of undercover operative: deep cover
and
light cover.
A deep cover infiltrator "lives" the role. It may be someone with
extensive experience in undercover work, or a young person selected from
an academy training class. Novices are actually preferred sometimes
because they have not acquired the typical authoritarian habits that
might give them away as cops, and also because they are less likely to
be recognized by regular cops in the field who might unknowingly reveal
their identity in a chance encounter.
Deep cover operations are tightly compartmentalized within the
investigating agency to prevent breaches of security or leaks by
employees sympathetic to the group being infiltrated. These operations
may be coordinated from isolated offices at training facilities like the
FBI's Quanitco Academy or the federal law enforcement training academy.
A deep cover agent is equipped with false ID (usually retaining the
real
first name so he/she doesn't forget to respond to their name), and a
skeleton of personal history, such as a business owner who will verify
that so-and-so worked for them (and who will later notify the police
that someone was inquiring). The agent's background may be kept close to
the truth to prevent slip-ups. Finally a deep cover agent may work a
real job, rent a house or apartment, and live the role 24 hours a day.
An undercover cop working under "light" cover may also have a false
ID,
but will most likely go home to his family and "real" life (usually in
another city). Sometimes narcotics officers and other specially trained
agents will be called on for these assignments.
Going Undercover
Most undercover infiltrations begin when the operative presents
themself
as a willing volunteer and joins the targeted organization. Often a
confidential informant is used to introduce the infiltrator into a group
so that she will be more readily accepted. The CI may then discreetly
drop from the scene.
A high priority target organization may have a number of CIs and
undercover operatives working at once, usually unknown to each other.
Such multiple infiltration is used to test the veracity of the
information provided.
Undercover agents may also assume roles outside the target
organization
but designed to provide inside access. A favorite is to pass themselves
off as "writers" or members of the news media, or even as someone hoping
to produce a documentary for public access television (note: the rise in
"independent" media in recent years has allowed infiltrators to
pose as friendly or activist media). A phony photographer or video
camera crew will enhance the look of authenticity and make a record of
people and actions for later use in identification and prosecution. This
approach, when used at public gatherings provides better quality
information and photos than the old method of concealing surveillance
cameras inside nearby buildings or parked vans. These undercover
officers may also use this role to seek "confidential" interviews
with underground activists.
Another widely used undercover role is that of a utility worker or
phone
company repair person. This approach is valuable for obtaining access to
a suspect's living quarters or workplace. While inside, the officer can
plant listening devices, size up the security measures for a later
"break-in," or look for evidence of illegality that can be used to
obtain a search warrant. If the suspect is a renter, the landlord's
cooperation may be sought to obtain legal access without a warrant, to
provide nearby facilities for surveillance, or to provide cover for an
undercover officer who may act as a handyman or building superintendent.
If you rent, you should go out of your way to remain on good terms with
your landlord. Even if your landlord doesn't tip you off to police
inquiries, a sudden change in her behavior around you could alert you
that something has happened to change her opinion of you, and that
"something" just might be sudden police interest in you. The same rule
applies to neighbors, employers, and co-workers. The people around you
every day can provide the first warning of danger.
If utility company employees come to your door seeking access and you
didn't request service, you should request some ID first, and then call
their office to verify their identity and their reasons for requesting
entry. Look up the phone number yourself, since the number they provide
could be as phony as their ID card. However, remember also that acting
unduly suspicious might c cause a bona fide repair person to wonder just
what you might have to hide.
Yet another undercover role is that of the phony "lawyer" who
contacts a
suspect before the shock of arrest wears off in an effort to elicit
information. This person may claim to be a lawyer, or may just user
subterfuge to create that impression. You can, of course, ask for some
ID such as a state bar membership card. The period immediately after
arrest is a dangerous time. Even after you take on an authentic lawyer
to represent you, you may want time to think about your situation before
deciding how straightforward you want to be with your attorney. Contrary
to the old adage, it is not necessarily essential that your lawyer know
everything. For instance, your lawyer may not need to know that you're
guilty, just that you intend to plead innocent.
Similar to the phony lawyer approach is that of the fake court
official.
This person may ask you for a statement or ask you to fill out a form
(to be used for handwriting comparison). If someone like this approaches
you, verify the person's identity before doing anything else.
If you are in jail, the prisoner sharing your cell may be an
undercover
operative, usually a "jail-house snitch" who routinely seeks information
for the authorities from talkative prisoners. Finally, the prosecution
may attempt to place an informant in your legal defense committee.
Undercover Tactics
The first task of an undercover infiltrator is to gain unquestioning
acceptance within the group. Often she will play it cool, do volunteer
work, and bide her time awaiting opportunity.
The goal of undercover cops is to identify suspects and gather
evidence
for prosecution. They may volunteer for any job, just to widen their
access to information. Often they seek clerical or leadership roles to
extend their influence and gain access to membership and contribution
records. When the FBI was working to suppress the American Indian
Movement, they had an undercover agent working as AIM's head of
security.
Sometimes, undercover agents may go beyond the identification of
suspects and the gathering of evidence: they may actually encourage
someone to participate in an illegal act, and then help the police set
up the arrest of that person or persons (the classic "agent
provocateur"). Don't make the mistake of thinking that this sort of
thing is only found in spy novels, or went out of style with the demise
of the Czarist secret police. There is a good deal of evidence to
suggest that the decline of a number of radical groups in the US in the
1960s and early '70s was speeded up by the judicious use of agent
provocateurs (as well as simple informants) by both Federal and local
police agencies.
One way these agents try to spot potential monkeywrenchers they can
set
up for arrest is to act especially radical and "talk tough" when around
other members of the group. If someone responds, the agent will then
provide ideas, information, or equipment to the monkeywrencher(s) to
encourage specific illegal acts which can later result in arrests. Such
agents may brag of having participated in numerous illegal acts, in
order to attract recruits. In early 1989, a story unfolded about the
infiltration of animal rights and environmental organizations by several
undercover operatives. In this case, the agents were apparently employed
by a private security company whose clients included corporations under
attack by animal rights activists for their abuse of laboratory animals.
In one incident, these agents appear to have helped engineer an
attempting bombing in which an animal rights activist was arrested.
According to Ecomedia Bulletin, a Toronto anarchist publication, one
agent (Mary Lou Sapone) was on the mailing lists of numerous animal
rights and environmental groups, including Earth First!
The most valuable information an undercover agent can obtain includes
admissions of guilt and plans for future raids. The agent will often
seek to record this information for later presentation in court. The
basic way to do this is to "wear a wire," either a small transmitter or
a recording device concealed on her person. If this is deemed too risky,
the agent may try to arrange an incriminating conversation in a car or
room that has been bugged in advance. Any such recording is completely
legal, requiring no warrant, as long as one party present (the
undercover cop) consents to allow the recording. When pre-selected
locations are used to stage an incriminating session, hidden video
cameras using tiny "pinhole" lenses which are nearly impossible to spot
may be used to make a record of non-verbal, but possibly incriminating
evidence, such as the node of a head, or the passing of a written
communication.
Electronic recording has become so common that often police agents
questioning suspects openly will wear small recording devices.
If a suspect makes an incriminating statement in the presence of an
agent when not under electronic surveillance, the undercover agent may
then try to arrange a second incriminating conversation at a time and
place when it can be recorded. Note: contrary to popular myth, an
undercover cop does not have to admit being a cop if confronted with the
accusation.
Undercover operatives enjoy logistical support that greatly expands
their ability to gather evidence. In addition to sophisticated
electronics, they often use a wide variety of vehicles (usually
confiscated) to allow unobtrusive surveillance.
Measures taken against suspects fingered by an undercover operative
include the following:
- Physical surveillance of a suspect and her residence, which will
continue during nighttime and other times when illegal actions are more
likely to occur.
- Video surveillance of a residence by cameras hidden in parked
vehicles
or nearby buildings. Remote video surveillance has become especially
popular in rural areas where the physical presence of officers may stand
out. Cameras may be hidden in brush and trees, with coaxial cables run
to a monitoring post (perhaps in a neighbor's house).
- Trash may be searched for incriminating items, names, and addresses
of
associates, financial records, records of travel, etc. Trash may be
either directly retrieved from the suspect's trash can, or retrieved
later from the trash truck after normal pickup.
- A "pen register" may be installed on the suspect's phone line. This
device makes a record of all phone numbers dialed but does not record
conversations. Such a record may be useful in establishing a pattern of
calling associated with illegal actions, and in establishing a suspect's
associates. Undercover agents, wanting to frame a leader with whom they
have limited contact, will encourage an individual against whom they
have incriminating recordings to phone the leader merely to establish
evidence of contact in an effort to support conspiracy charges against
the leader.
- Bank records may be scrutinized for signs of travel or incriminating
purchases. These records sometimes may be secured unofficially, through
the "good-old-boy" network, since many former law enforcement personnel
end up in bank security posts.
- Utility company records may be checked. These might show valuable
information, such as a drop in power usage which might indicate a
prolonged absence at a key time.
- Authority to conduct "mail cover" may be secured from postal
authorities. This involves the recording of all the information on the
outside of letters and packages (without opening them to check the
contents).
- A "bumper beeper" may be secured to the underside of a suspect's
vehicle with wire or magnets. Such a device allows surveillance vehicles
to track the suspect's movements from a safe distance so as not to
betray the agents presence.
Note that none of the above investigative methods requires a warrant.
If
the police can develop sufficient information (usually just a "pattern"
of suspicious behavior) they can then obtain warrants for more invasive
methods, such as success at getting permission from federal judges to
install phone taps and room bugs based on elaborate and often fanicful
conspiracy theories.
Private Undercover Operations
When private investigative agencies infiltrate a radical group, they
usually assign operatives with little training, sent out on a fishing
expedition to pass along any and all information on the activities of
the target group. More experienced operatives may have a background in
employee investigations and are generally "hired" by an established
business to pose as an average employee while actually seeking
information about theft, drug use, union activity, or anything else of
interest to management.
Private operatives may use their real identities or fabricated ones.
They routinely provide written reports to their employers to justify
their job. Because they are not law enforcement officers, they are more
likely to instigate or provoke others to commit illegal acts, conduct
illegal searches and surveillance, and generally engage in the kinds of
actions whose evidence would not be admissible in court. Private
operatives also typically lack the costly support systems of police
undercover agents and can be more readily exposed.
These private undercover operatives have been repeatedly used against
the environmental , anti-nuclear, and animal rights movements.
Confidential Informants
The confidential informant, or "CI, is possibly the most valuable
tool
used in law enforcement. CIs are obtained by a number of means:
- Walk-in. These are disgruntled or disenchanted members of a target
organization who volunteer their services, for a variety of reasons.
They may have joined a group with good intentions only to become
offended by what they see as overly radical tactics. Or they may be
ambitious people who have been passed over for leadership roles and
decide to seek revenge against those they think slighted them. Or they
may be wackos who seek revenge against someone in the group for personal
reasons, including romantic ones.
- Tip-offs. The future CI is indiscreet in talking of illegal
exploits,
and is overheard by someone not of the group, who in turn informs
police. The police approach the future CI, and are able to persuade her
to roll over.
- Deal-makers. Someone who is arrested on a serious charge may try to
avoid prosecution or obtain a lighter sentence by agreeing to infiltrate
a group to obtain information about other illegal activities. This often
occurs with drug busts.
- Recruits. Known members of a target group may be targeted for
recruitment by the police. The effort usually begins with a background
check for signs of vulnerability. An individual who appears "weak" might
simply be interviewed repeatedly by a persuasive officer until he agrees
to cooperate. A conservative employer, perhaps one with a law
enforcement or military background might be enlisted to help in
pressuring the prospective recruit. In the past, for instance, the FBI
has used interviews with employers to intimidate members of political
groups.
Similarly, a spouse may be approached to aid in the recruitment.
Veiled
threats to children or to one's job security have often proved
effective. Also, the parents of the would-be informer may be approached
to secure their help. This approach may be particularly effective if the
subject is, say, a college student receiving financial support from
their parents.
- People who have never been arrested, or young people heavily
influenced by their families, are often more susceptible to becoming CIs
than those with more experience.
Double Agents
Be especially cautious when dealing with people who volunteer inside
information from their position in the offending company, agency, or the
like. Such people may be sincerely on your side, and if so, their
information can be extremely valuable. But it is also possible that such
people, particularly if they approach you first, are double agents. A
double agent will, under the pretext of helping your group, actually
give you misleading information that can be harmful. Such a person may
even try to set the group up for an arrest.
If you have such a "volunteer" and you think he or she might be
useful
to you, reduce the risk to any actual monkeywrenchers by dealing with
them through an intermediary who serves as contact person. The contact
should be someone you know well and are sure is on your side, but who
has never participated in illegal actions, and who has no intention of
ever doing so. The contact serves as a "cut-out", passing on information
from the volunteer informant and providing a protective layer between
the informant and the action group.
It is important that information only flow in one direction, from the
informant to the action group. The informant, no matter how helpful,
should never be told of plans or actions by the action group. This also
protects the informant, in case of investigation by police or company
officials. For this reason, you never make any written record of the
informant's identity, lest this fall into the authorities' hands.
Because your contact person is exposed to the threat of arrest
(especially if the informant really is a double agent planning a
set-up), she or he must be mature and emotionally stable enough to stand
up under interrogation to protect the identity of the action group.
If you have reason to suspect that your informant is a double agent
planning a set-up, arrange to secretly tape-record meetings between your
contact and the informer, in which the informant can be caught making
provocative statements designed to incite illegal action. Such a
recording could be quite valuable in the defense of anyone charged with
a monkeywrenching offense. However, any such tapes (or other evidence)
should never be kept at home where police could use a warrant to seize
and destroy the. Remote rural burial is perhaps the most secure option,
so long as you encase the tapes in several layers of water tight plastic
bags.
Your contact should have solid alibis at the time of any action.
Being
in a public place where others will be able to provide later
verification is a good way; being verifiably out of town is even better.
The contact should be very careful when passing information on to the
action group. A pay phone to pay phone call, arranged at the last
minute, is generally secure (there are very few payphones these days
that accept incoming calls, making this route increasinly difficult).
Face-to-face meetings in open areas like parks are also usually secure
from electronic eavesdropping. Pass information on verbally, making no
written notes that can be seized as evidence, and on a strictly
one-to-one basis. If confronted, denials will be more convincing if the
content of a conversation hinges on one person's word against another's.
Another precaution is for the contact to pass on information as if it
were idle conversation or gossip. If no illegal activity is actually
discussed, it will be harder to provide that a crime has been committed.
Exposing Undercover Agents
When dealing with a suspected undercover agent, be patient.
Undercover
operations can be very costly and if they don't produce results, they
may be discontinued or moved elsewhere. If an undercover agent fails to
elicit any useful information after a considerable time, they may move
on. Incidentally , beware of the person who moves constantly from one
area to another. They could be an undercover agent fishing for
opportunities.
Baiting is one way to expose an undercover agent. The "suspect" is
provided (seemingly inadvertently) with a bit of information so enticing
that the authorities cannot resist acting on it. This could be the time,
date , and place of a future action, or the location of some highly
incriminating item. Of course, the action does not take place as
planned, or the incriminating items are totally innocuous. If the
suspected undercover agent is the only one provided with this
information, and the police make the appropriate response, you have
reasonable proof that the suspect is indeed an agent. If you have tipped
the suspected informer to the details of a bogus action, you will need
to have some method of spotting the resultant police surveillance or
ambush without compromising anyone; perhaps you could have someone just
walk by as an innocent pedestrian or hiker.
The baiting method can be used with more than one person at a time by
providing each one with a slightly different information (different
locations, times, etc.) The response will indicate which person is
passing information. Keep it simple!
Remember that undercover agents usually wear a wire to record
conversations. If you really suspect someone of being an agent, and
there is no way to keep the person out of a key meeting, you might
consider "frisking" the people attending the meeting. Another method of
detecting recording devices would be to use a small metal detector (such
as those used by treasure hunters and sold by companies like Radio
Shack). However, in most situations this option is probably not
feasible, since most people would highly resent such an invasive
procedure, or consider it an affront to their loyalty.
A better option would be to come up with an excuse for postponing the
meeting, until you can check out the suspected agent by other means.
Often an agent will haver their recorder or a backup recorder in a day
pack, purse or briefcase. As long as the conversation takes place nearby
(in the same room or vehicle, say) the recording is apt to be
intelligible. In situations where undercover agents expect close
personal or extended contact, such as a camping trip, exercise or
soaking in a hot tub, they may forego using a recording device lest they
be discovered. If anything incriminating is discussed while they are
unwired, they will refer back to the conversation later when they are
recording, hoping to get the incriminating information on tape. Of if
they suspect they are suspected, they might manufacture a situation
which "proves" they are not wired for sound.
Here are a few ways u undercover agents may tip their hands:
- Seeking information they do not need under "need to know" rules.
- Trying to get people to repeat incriminating statements made at an
earlier meeting (so they can be recorded). If you are suspicious, say
you were just joking when you made the earlier remark.
- Repeatedly casting suspicion on others without basis. This may be a
smoke screen to keep suspicion off themselves.
- Showing an extremely shallow understanding of the issues. An
undercover cop may know only what they have been briefed on. Some,
however, are good talkers and can sound knowledgeable without really
knowing an issue in depth.
- Making boisterous demands for action and belittling more timid
members
of the group. Because many cops have authoritarian, even violent
personalities, they may reveal this inadvertently.
- Showing extreme nervousness, such as looking around constantly
during
an action. (They may be looking for the surveillance or backup team.)
- Slipping away to phone or meet supervisors or control agents. Such
meetings may be brief , in a car at a public parking lot, for instance,
or in a department store. Longer meetings, such as "debriefings" might
be held in motel rooms.
- Constantly "managing" the conversation to guide it in direction they
wish.
- Mentioning another person's name when you refer obliquely to that
person.
- Working the time, date, or location into conversations.
- Explicitly stating incriminating things in response to vague
comments
from you or others.
- Manipulating conversations to try to get some kind of affirmation
from
you in response to their incriminating statements.
- Regularly asking about other individuals (particularly supposed
leaders).
- Initiating conversations about monkeywrenching.
- Steering a conversation back to illegal acts or conspiracies when
the
conversation moves on to legal and unrelated matters.
- Claiming to be a recovering alcoholic. This gives them excuses not
to
drink with you and possibly slip on their cover while under the
influence.
- Playing different roles with different people calculated to appeal
specifically to each individual's vulnerabilities or strengths. An
infiltrator may play the role of just the kind of person you need in
your current mental state.
- Setting up a phony "hit" to enhance their credibility. They may
arrange to attack heavy equipment, surveyor stakes, or other targets
while witnessed by people they with to entrap or whose confidence they
want.
Remember that a typical way for a professional undercover agent to
initially contact a suspect (group or individual) is to be introduced by
a non-professional informer already known but not suspected by the
suspects.
Background Check on Suspected Infiltrators
A background investigation may uncover undercover operatives. Even
the
deep cover operative typically has only a rudimentary personal history
to back up the false IDs. A basic background check through government
records (a stock-in-trade process for private investigators) will
usually expose the fabricated persona of the undercover cop.
Every normal person (including you) leaves a substantial paper trail
as
they move through life. To check someone. you need to gain access to
such records.
Begin by using casual conversation to elicit details about the past
of
the potential recruit or suspected undercover infiltrator. Be wary of
anyone who seems reluctant to discuss his or her past, family or job
history. Most undercover operatives will not want to reveal their real
families to persons suspected of criminal activity (for good reason!).
The key period in an agent's personal history may be the most recent
years, which might be the years in which they have worked for the police
department, Forest Service, Pinkerton Agency, etc. But even the earlier
years in life may provide leads to friends and relatives who know about
the agent's true current employment. The "investigator" needs to be
subtle in talking with such people (casual conversation), patient
(gather a lot of information over time), and thorough (your freedom may
be on the line).
Once you have elicited some background on the potential recruit,
search
public records for confirmation. You will have to violate the basic
security axiom of "no written notes," but be cautious in your handling
and concealment of the information you gather. If your background
investigation convinces you of the person's legitimacy, destroy the
accumulated notes in the proper method (burning and crumbling the
ashes).
As you begin the background check, you will find that laws vary from
state to state with regards to what is, or is not, public record - the
only uniformity in accessibility (or inaccessibility) is with federal
records.
Dealing with bureaucratic records clerks can be frustrating, but be
patient and friendly. Don't volunteer information. Some clerks will
demand to know why you want the information. Tell such people that the
records are public (if you know they are) and tell them you would prefer
to work with their supervisor. This usually changes their attitude. If
such clerks insist that the information you want is not public record,
verify this by talking to someone else in the office, or call a similar
office (county clerk) in another county.
Have a cover story. You could say you are doing genealogical
research,
or that you are working for a Realtor. Or you might pose as a writer or
researcher.
You can find out a great deal at the public library. Become familiar
with city directories. Libraries may keep files of high school and
college yearbooks. The county courthouse is a veritable gold mine, and
includes tax and property ownership records. State government officers
keep records on businesses, auto registration, driver's licenses and
driving records. Driver's licenses are probably the last thing you
should check, since if an undercover agent has a phony license, they may
have set it up so that if anyone checks on her license, it will trigger
a warning to the appropriate police agency.
Remember that a record search entails looking not just at the one
person, but at family, friends and neighbors. Later on, you may find it
necessary to approach these people in person or by phone to elicit
information about the person whose background you are checking. For this
approach (with a name pulled off an old high school annual, say; this is
risky in a small town) or a fellow member of some club or service
organization, or an old Army buddy. You might pose as a business person
verifying a job application or a request for credit. Use your
imagination, and be friendly, not pushy or demanding. If you've verified
a former job by talking to the boss, you might pose as a former
co-worker when approaching neighbors or family members.
A deep cover undercover agent may have a sketchy history, such as a
business owner who'll tell you the subject worked for them. Because of
this, you must take the time to dig deep. Beware of discrepancies and
mysterious gaps. Don't be in a hurry, as a thorough check of someone's
background may take months, and it may be necessary to travel to a
distant city or state.
Private undercover operatives may use their real history, in which
case
you will need to ask around to find out about their current employment.
If all else fails, you can ask something like, "Did he/she ever get that
government job they wanted?"
For detailed information on how to conduct a records search, check a
large public library for a copy of Where's What, the bible for such
work. Or check for books on the subject in the Loompanics Unlimited
catalog (http://www.loompanics.com).
You can also hire a private investigator to run a background records
check, while you pose as a prospective yet suspicious business partner,
would-be spouse, or the like. Get a cost for a basic records check first
and make it clear to the investigator that you don't want word of it
getting back to the target. Keep in the back of your mind, however, that
if law enforcement becomes aware of the PI's inquiry, they may compel
her to join their scheme. This is most likely to occur when a records
background check delves into government maintained files like auto
registrations and driver's licenses.
If all this seems like too much trouble, consider this: Undercover
operatives are working right now within groups you are associated with.
You can't be too careful. Of course, because of the risk inherent in
such background checks and the time and possible expense involved, it
may be best to simply avoid any individual who elicits your suspicion to
the extent that you feel a background check is called for.
Finally, the most certain ways to avoid being busted because of an
informant or undercover agent is to work only with long-time trusted
friends or to work along and give no one any hint that you are a
monkeywrencher.
Also read Informants, Infiltrators and
Provocateurs
and
Bugs, Taps and Infiltrators: What to
do about Policial Spying
