Identity Zero

Identity theft and identity fraud is the last type of criminal activity that I would like to briefly discuss for my March blog. This type of theft as we all know is when someone wrongfully obtains and uses your personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.

The perpetrators usually obtain your personal data from your personal information found in your Social Security card, credit card, driver's license, bank account, computer passwords, even your telephone number and other pertinent personal data you have. The perpetrators use your information mostly for economic gains and to purchase items and services under your name. As simple as that.

I for one became a victim of credit card fraud. Early this year, I noticed twice that I was charged for buying something in Europe which I obviously did not. As soon as I became aware of it, I immediately called my credit card service and canceled my card and was issued a new card.

Let us be very aware of how we send our personal information out there. Let us always shred all papers that we throw out if we think they have our personal information since some criminals believe it or not are "dump divers." Be careful also of just giving out your social security number or credit card number if they are not necessarily needed by the merchant. Always be on the watchout and learn how to protect yourself against these scumbags!!!

Remember once you become a victim of identity theft and identity fraud it becomes a daunting task that might take a lifetime just for you to straighten out and correct, re-establish and regain your true identity again.

For more information about identity theft and fraud and how you can avoid them you may visit:
http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html

Photo Credit: Identity Theft Photo Collage
Photographer: Glenn McKnight
Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glennmcknight/page1/

Humans For Sale

Human trafficking is another social issue problem that the world is facing today, well this is not really something very new, since this is the only modern day version of human slavery that mankind has been practicing for thousands of years. Unfortunately today the system of trafficking people has been more sophisticated and expensive and deadly. Human trafficking involves tricking people, luring people or forcing people to be taken out of their native country or homeland and forced to work in another country or place away from their home for low payment to no payment at all and often are exploited. Human trafficking is not to be confused with people smuggling since the latter involves affirmative participation on the part of the person being smuggled.

This trafficking of people is not only an illegal and criminal business operating in third world countries but is also happening in developing and industrialized countries. Most of the victims come from countries like China, Thailand and the Philippines, Eastern bloc European countries like Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova, Russia and the Ukraine and African countries like Ghana and Nigeria as well as in Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Guatemala to name only a few of these countries reported. Obviously the victims usually end up and work in countries like Austria, Belgium, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, the United States as far as documented reports are telling us but I am sure there are a lot more countries involved.

It is great to know that inter-governmental organization like the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe under the United Nations Charter is fighting this practice. However, the sad part is that strong crime organizations with international network around the world has been very good and elusive to catch. Most of the victims especially the women and children end up in prostitution and the deadly cycle of sex slavery. Other victims are forced to work on legit businesses but for no pay or low payment and are often treated harshly. Crime syndicates who operate this human trafficking business find it very lucrative since they are selling "goods" (meaning a person or groups of people) that can be sold over and over again at different rates. Just imagine these poor victims being sold and exploited. That is twisted!!!

Reading reports about human trafficking and having watched some investigative documentary about the subject, I often wonder or think - What if I was the victim of human trafficking? What if it was my child or someone else I care for?

Photo Credit: Poster Against Human Trafficking Symposium from the Adorers of the Blood of Christ

Deadly Gun Trafficking

The running of illegal firearms is on the rise more than ever. Gun trafficking is not only limited in countries where there is civil war or political unrest, but unfortunately it is good business for crime organizations as well.

Like drug trafficking, this illegal activity involves people buying guns and smuggling them into another country. These illegal firearms go a long way and usually these guns are used for criminal activities and to be blunt about it for threat, murder, burglary.

One of the most notorious gun smuggling activities in the Americas is the gun running of firearms bought in the US and smuggled into Mexico. In one report that I read, a few women in Mexico act as buyers of guns in the States and smuggle them into Mexico for the gun runners. The gun runners are confident enough that women buyers would lessen the suspicion of the gun dealers, the women are being instructed by the gun runners to tell the gun dealers that they are buying guns to protect themselves.

I personally think that gun trafficking should be really controlled by authorities. This smuggling of guns will not do anything good to society. I believe that it will just keep the rate of crime higher and it will hurt and kill innocent people. My one and simple message - Stop Gun Violence and Fight Gun Trafficking!

Money Laundering is a Crime

Money laundering is a crime, it is the method by which large amounts of money from illegal sources or illicit businesses are deposited in the bank together with clean money or partly invested to legit businesses to conceal the origin of how the money was earned. The business owner may or may not realize if the financier of his or her business might be a criminal who is only using the business to launder dirty money or perhaps it might even be the business owner who is laundering dirty money to his or her own business.

The dirty money of course is kept in disguise as clean money in banks or businesses so that authorities will find it difficult to link the money from a certain criminal or crime group, but for the "bad guys" it is a good thing for them because by this method they are sure that their dirty money is concealed and can potentially earn interest. The dirty money that is being laundered usually comes from drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, extortion to name a few. Unfortunately these large amounts of dirty money is also the same money that funds terrorism and other notorious forms of crime in our modern world. Sad but true!

Photo Credit: Money Laundering Art
Photo Provided by: ABC Slayer

Drug Trafficking

Part of my blog is social awareness. Even if my blog focuses on beautiful people and beautiful places and sometimes trivial things I would also like to discuss things of social relevance. One of which is drug trafficking.

Drug trafficking is the illegal production and distribution of controlled substances. According to one report I read the US is the world's largest market for illegal drugs with some 13 million Americans spending about $600 billion each year on this illicit business. The drugs range from marijuana, cocaine and heroine and synthetic drugs like amphetamines and the designer drug Ecstasy. It is just sad to know that this illegal business is just ruining a lot of families and kids in our society.

The Colombian traffickers are responsible for large cocaine production and just recently reported they also are into heroin production as well. The bizzare twist is that these illegal drugs are generally inexpensive to produce but they are sold to users for a higher cost than the cost to make them.

Most of the users in the United States are mostly from suburban areas. It is just a bit surprising to think that these drugs which used to be prevalent in the inner cities has already infiltrated the suburbs where middle income families are being affected. The drug packages for heroin and cocaine are usually packed in sugar packets designed with Skull graphics or labeled Prada (yes, just like the designer brand) to appeal to younger people.

Whether you agree or not, using illegal drugs (marijuana, heroin, cocaine, amphethamine, meth amphethamine, ecstasy and all superior and inferior forms of these drugs) can cripple you emotionally, mentally and financially. It might not happen now but in your unseen future its deadly effects will just creep suddenly on you and before you know it, everything is too late to resolve. I do hope that this short blog will open our eyes in fighting the use of illegal drugs.

Photo Credit: Heroin Addict in Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Photographer: Achille Piotrowicz
Photo Stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_chill_e/

Japan's Yakuza

Writing about the gangs and characters of the underworld has been great. I learned a few things about their criminal activities and their structure. How fascinating it is to just imagine how these groups thrive and sometimes are even untouched by the power of the law and by the government. The last crime group that I will feature is the Yakuza organization based in Japan with operations in Asia and the US. The following write-up below about the Yakuza are excerpts from "The Yakuza" by writer Anthony Bruno, featured in truTV's website.

Here it is, excerpts from The Yakuza by Anthony Bruno.

The origin of the yakuza is a matter of some debate. Some feel that its members are descendents of the 17th-century kabuki-mono (crazy ones), outlandish samurai who reveled in outlandish clothing and hair styles, spoke in elaborate slang, and carried unusually long swords in their belts. The kabuki-mono were also known as hatamoto-yakko (servants of the shogun). During the Tokugawa era, an extended period of peace in Japan, the services of these samurai were no longer needed, and so they became leaderless ronin (wave men). Without the guidance of a strong hand, they eventually shifted their focus from community service to theft and mayhem.

Modern yakuza members refute this theory and instead proclaim themselves to be the descendents of the machi-yokko (servants of the town) who protected their villages from the wayward hatamoto-yakko. The official yakuza history portrays the group's ancestors as underdog folk heroes who stood up for the poor and the defenseless, just as Robin Hood helped the peasants of medieval England.

Current yakuza members fall under three general categories: tekiya (street peddlers), bakuto (gamblers), and gurentai (hoodlums). The peddlers and gamblers trace their roots back to the 18th century while the hoodlums came into existence after World War II when the demand for black market goods created a booming industry. Traditionally the tekiya, medieval Japan's version of snake-oil salesmen, worked the fairs and markets while the bakuto worked the towns and highways. The gurentai, by contrast, modeled themselves on American gangsters of the Al Capone era, using threats and extortion to achieve their ends. After World War II, in the governmental power void caused by the Occupation, the gurentai prospered, and their ranks swelled. They also brought organized crime in Japan to a new level of violence, replacing the traditional sword with modern firearms, even though guns were now officially outlawed in the country as a result of the surrender.

The yakuza's tentacles reach into many different areas, principally corporate extortion, gambling, smuggling, loan sharking, money laundering, narcotics, real-estate, sports, entertainment, stock manipulation, tourist scams, sex tours, prostitution, slavery, pornography, and gun running.

Cosa Nostra - Italian Mafia

In the western world there is no other crime organization that is so infamous and feared as the Italian Mafia - the Cosa Nostra. It started in Sicily as a loose association of criminal groups sharing a common structure and code of conduct. The groups are known as clans or family, the cosca, the famiglia. This clan claims a town or village as its territory wherein they can operate their illegal activities. It was during the early part of the 19th century when the wave of Italian emigration to the US, Canada and Australia begun that the seeds of the Mafia structure slowly took its root in these countries outside of Italy or Sicily. The members of the Mafia call themeselves "men of honor" or "men of respect."

The clan basically has the boss: the head of the group, the underboss: second in command to the boss, the advisers, the caporegime, the soldiers and the associates. The associates include corrupt officials and prospective mafiosi. Being member of the clan is not hereditary and the commission forbids relatives from holding positions within the clan at the same time. A mafioso should be obedient, discrete and ruthless and most are required to commit murder to test one's loyalty to the clan. One of the most deadly rule that the group adhere to is Omerta - the code of silence. This code of silence is for a member to keep silent and not betray his clan or its members to authorities. Penalty to this code is death and even the relatives of the snitch will also be murdered, this also applies to the public who aids authorities in naming Mafia clan members.

The activities of the group range from drug trafficking, arm trafficking, loan shark business, protection racket, control of private and public contract, theft and kidnapping. There is much more to write about this mob but it will take us forever. This is one organized crime group that is forever fascinating to know and learn.

Russian Mafia

One of the most notorious organized crime group in the modern world is the Russian Mafia aka Bratva which is a slang term for "brotherhood." The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 had seen the powerful emergence of diverse crime syndicates in Russia. These crime groups became influential in various criminal activities around the world most especially in the Western world. It was during communist Russia when these thieves in law took control of the black market with the help of corrupt Soviet officials in supplying the products to the ordinary Soviet consumer.

In my opinion, the fall of communism became a double edged sword for modern Russia, it was great that the country is more open and tolerant to different ideologies but it opened doors to criminal activities when in the early 90's most former government workers turned to crime and some others moved overseas and extended the activities of the Russian Mafia into new places where they re-located. Corruption and poverty pushed a lot of poor Russians to join these syndicates. The early members also consisted of former KGB agents, sportsmen and veterans of the Afghan war and the Chechen wars. They believe that being part of these crime groups would be easy money.

The group is so huge, consisting of individual gangs which carry out different tasks within Russia and around the world. Wow, to name the criminal activities they do will take up space, though here are some of them: arms trafficking, arson, art theftt, auto theft, bank fraud, blackmail, child pornography, contract killing, credit card fraud, cyberterrorism, prostitution, witness intimidation, etc. and the list goes on and on. Members are mostly Russians and those from former USSR states including Iranians and Tajiks. Membership is said to 100,000 to 500,000 worldwide.

Photo Credit: Russian Mafia Tattoo
Photographer: Unknown

Latin Kings

The Latin Kings is another infamous gang whose organization is widespread in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Italy and Spain. The group is known for assault, drug trafficking, extortion, identity theft and murder. Basically a street gang, the Latin Kings was organized in the 1940's in Chicago when the Puerto Ricans on the northside of the city and the Mexicans on the southside of the city established a self-defense group to protect all the Latinos as they struggle against prejudice and racism and to look after new Latin immigrants in the United States. Unfortunately since their organization was not as solid in their struggle against social injustices, other members whose motive was criminal infiltrated the group's cause introducing notorious criminal activities.

The largest gang is the Almighty King and Queen Nation based in Chicago with about 25,000 members. Most of the members are obvioulsy of Latin or Hispanic heritage with some Asians, African Americans and Middle Eastern men. The colors of the gang are black and gold consisting of 5 or 3 point crowns and abbreviations of the gangs name: LK, ALK, ALKN or ALKQN including a Lion's head. The gang have strict rules and guidelines to follow and some are based on Marxist, Christian and Confucian teachings and other revolutionary idealogy. Prayers start their meetings and they discuss events, dues, retaliation, positions and responsibilities to accomplish.

There is also the Latin Queens, much active in Europe. The Latin Queens are more positive in integrating the culture of the group with government sponsored programs that focus on self-respect, independence, family support and self-empowerment.

Photo Credit: Latin Kings Member
Photographer: Dwayne John
Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rasseon/

Bandido Nation

This motorcycle gang was formed in 1966 by Donald Eugenne Chambers. This group is also known as an outlaw motorcycle gang. The members are Caucasians, Hispanics and Asians. The group is known for its cartoon type logo of an obese machete and pistol weilding Mexican bandido. The colors of the patches was inspired from the scarlet and gold motif of the US Marine Corps.

The group is organized by local chapters, have state and regional officers and they also have a national chapter made up of four regional vice presidents and a national president. The group have so called support clubs to proxy their legal and illegal activities.

Just like the Mongols and Hells Angels the group's involvement in criminal activites is no secret within the US, in Europe and even in far away Australia. These crimes range from drug trafficking, arms trafficking, extortion, murder, money laundering and witness tampering. Presently the group is still active and known to have approximately 2000 to 2500 members in the US including parts of Europe, South America and Asia.

Hells Angels

The Hells Angels is the famous or infamous motorcyle gang well known in the US and Canada and has chapters in other parts of Europe. To be a member of this motorcycle club one should be a Caucasian male with a valid driver's license, a working motorcycle. He must not be a child molester and he should not have applied or become a police officer or prison guard. Now this last two membership requirements really makes no sense to me. Anyway to be a member one has to be a "hang around" in the group - being invited to the group's events and meeting club members. If they find favor on him he will be asked to be an "Associate" and later on after a year or two he would be invited to partcipate in the club's activities though he has no privileges yet to vote, at this point he is called a "Prospect." If the group thinks that he is suitable to be a lifetime member then he will be elevated to "Full Membership" where he will receive the four piece crest including the 'Death's Head' logo, two rockers (top rocker: 'Hells Angels'; bottom rocker: State or Territory claimed) and the rectangular 'MC' patch below the wing of the Death's Head. Prospects are allowed to wear only a bottom rocker with the State or Territory name along with the rectangular 'MC' patch.

The Hells Angels was organized and formed in 1948 in California. The group's name was inspired from the squadrons of World War 1 and World War 2. There are many stories about the history of how the chapters of Hells Angels were founded in the US and in some parts of the world and we will not go on all of those individually. As far as the insignia and colors of Hells Angels patches is concerned here are the basics: the fonts are in red over a white background and the logo is called the Death Skull wearing a helmet with wings. Members also wear a club patch to identify their position within the group.

The rivals of this gang or group are the Mongols, the Bandidos, the Outlaws, Pagans and the Vagos. The Hells Angels criminal activities range from drug trafficking, racketeering, assault, extortion, prostitution, stolen goods and sometimes murder. In fairness to the group they also are good at putting up fundraisers and community events.

Photo Credit: Hells Angels Insignia
Photographer: Mnew
Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnew/

The Mongols

The Mongols is a motorcycle gang and an organized crime syndicate. This gang was founded in 1969 by Hispanic Vietnam veterans in California. The gang is named after the fierce nomadic tribe from 12th century Mongolia known as the Mongols whose famous leader Genghis Khan founded the Mongolian Empire.

The gang members wear the gang's vest with the three patches: the MONGOLS patch, the MOTORCYCLE patch and the STATE patch which identifies the home state of the member. It is not easy to earn the patch with the word Mongol, it might take a couple of years to be entitled with this patch. The gang has an echelon of leaders and they have a president that decides a member's standing in the gang. The Mongols criminal activities involve illegal firearms, narcotics, stolen motorcycles and killing for hire if need be. The gang's infamous for selling methamphetamine. The main rival of the Mongols are Hell's Angels, these two gangs are like cats and dogs and most of the time when members of these two gangs happen to be in the same place at the same time, there is a big chance of violence waiting to happen.

In April 2000 the ATF was able to arrest about 54 members through the undercover expertise and investigation of ATF agent William Queen known to the Mongols as Billy St. John. Agent Queen was able to infiltrate the gang in 1998. He started to hang out with the group, earned his Mongol patch and rose to the ranks by becoming the gang's treasurer. As an undercover, he was able to gather hard evidence about the gang's criminal activities: drug trafficking and drug dealing, illegal firearms and murder.

Presently the Mongols are gaining strength again and membership is growing. They have chapters in Nevada, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, Montana, Oregon, New York, Indiana, Florida and Virginia and in Canada, Germany, Italy and Mexico and in the UK.

Photo Credit: News conference on Mongol members arrest in LA, Oct. 2008
Photographer: Ric Francis / AP Photo

The Underworld

Mobs, gangs, crimes, the underworld. Unfortunately this is part of human life. For the next few days we will learn about various crime organizations big or small. We will see how they work, the symbols they use and possibly know what their objectives are.

In my first blog entry I mentioned that I will try to discuss everything that has to do with lifestyle and I think that an organized crime group or a loosely organized crime group is also a part of lifestyle. Obviously people who belong to a gang believe that one can find a meaning in his or her life by being a member. On my part, writing a blog for gangs and mobs is an eye-opener, giving me the chance to learn more about these denizens of the underworld (from what I already know).