Private Eyes For Hire in SL
by Alphaville Herald on 06/02/09 at 7:46 am
by Alessandra Narayan
It all started due to a gap in SL’s service industry – and some resident's need to monitor other avatar's actions – but ended up becoming a profitable business. Now anyone can hire private detective to watch other avatar's moves, following them and filing elaborate. precise reports – a definite benefit for the clients who hire a detective agency’s services.
According to Mercury Madsen, CEO of the oldest corporation in this area – Private Eyes – all the activities respect TOS as well as Linden Labs laws – an important consideration because the residents who usually knock on this company’s doors are those who see SL not as a game but as an extension of their real lives and wish to keep an eye on their partners, either in love, business or both.
Mercury Madsen – Private Detective
Alessandra Narayan (AN) – When did this started? Why?
Mercury Madsen (MM) – I have been into detective work for about two years now in SL. Started with just me in a company called Mercury Heat. Expanded and had around 8/10 agents working for me. Private Eyes was always my rival. Then after about a year I had to sell Mercury Heat due to RL issues. Sorted that after a month and came back an approached owner of Private Eyes who bought PLS and been running ever since.
AN – How many agents you have now?
MM – In between 15 to 20.
AN – How did you come up with this idea?
MM – Right back when I started SL, I saw a gap in the market and decided to advertise…
AN – What do your clients usually ask? What are the classical situations?
MM – Code blue and code green. Observation and surveillance including pictures and chat evidence and regular reports. Clients believing partner is cheating or business partner cheating. Investigation with interaction, infiltration and interrogations to find out an information. Clients believing cheating but needing additional informations.
AN – Those partners are usually just SL or RL&SL?
MM – Mostly SL but some RL. If it’s RL then the situation becomes code black.
AN – Mostly being just SL don't you think it is a bit exaggerated to hire a private eye?
MM – No. There are 2 types of people on here. The first type which see this as a game and the second type who see this as an extension to RL. We have mostly the second type.
AN – Is the business growing?
MM – Yes. Up and downs but generally a steady growth. We have been hit, as many have in SL and RL with the globe credit crunch.
AN – Do you have any RL background on private eye's activities?
MM – No.
AN – Since you have no formation in this area how do you manage to make this a successful company?
MM – SL is a different world to RL. It’s easy to learn approaches and skills needed to track targets and find out info you need. Practice makes perfection and many will say.
AN – Doesn't it sound dangerous knowing that there are people in SL specialized on watching your moves?
MM – Doesn’t that sound dangerous in RL?
AN – Is that your final statement?
MM – We’re here to help keep SL a safe and happy place.
AN – How?
MM – Cheating on partners and coning people is not helping SL – we have the ability to find these people out and report what they are doing. Surely that is helping. All of what we do is within the TOS and that is a key to our agency.
AN – “We’re here to help keep SL a safe and happy place" sounds like a benefactor’s sentence but you're paid for it…
MM – Clients pay for a service as they do to Linden Lab for buying land, owning a premier account, purchasing L$. If we can help on the way then everyone is happy.
AN – Any other projects going on?
MM – Personal Touch. Ever wondered what it would be like to have people working for you like VIPs do? Whether its security protecting you, a personal assistant doing anything you want or a mob that will get the job done, whatever it is. All you need to do is contact us, tell us what you want and we will sort the rest.
Reality
Feb 6th, 2009
The only way for an ‘agency’ such as this to work the way it is described is to break the Terms of Service using chat bugs and tracking devices, many of which (like the LoJack for SL) operate outside of the Terms of Service.
Nice try.
markbyrn
Feb 6th, 2009
I do security consultancy in SL and my primary focus is protecting oneself against this type of spying and griefing in general. Madsen states that he’s in compliance with the TOS and Linden Labs laws but goes on to mention using surveillance techniques involving chat logs. From the Second Life Community Standards page, “Remotely monitoring conversations, posting conversation logs, or sharing conversation logs without consent are all prohibited in Second Life and on the Second Life Forums.” Personally I disagree with the rule in that it applies to public chat and is an oblique form of censorship but nonetheless, Madsen has a responsibility to warn his clients that use of chat spies and/or transmitting chat logs without consent is a violation of Linden laws (community standards), and if his employees are doing it, he’s putting them in jeopardy of getting sanctioned by Linden should the intended victim of the spying detect and/or report it.
Emperor Norton hears a Who?
Feb 6th, 2009
So someone who is cheating is not going to use an alternate account? A fool and their Lidens are soon parted. You want to beat the system do what I do, put on a flashy uniform and declare yourself ruler of something.
Professor C
Feb 6th, 2009
Oh joyous. A group dedicated to watching everyone elses actions on a for hire basis. You know I had left these articles alone for the most part but now they are starting to sound like simple advertisements.
I suppose befriending someone is a great way to get on their good side and check out the things they are doing but a glorified watchdog? Yeah that makes a good living in real life but come on. If someone seriously needs to know THAT much that they are ready and willing to spy on their virtual partner? You need to get the hell off Second Life and get a first life to start off with.
Thomas
Feb 6th, 2009
Thats just creepy. Stalkers…??? Think that is illegal in California where the servers are hosted. Hmmm.. Breaking RL law too?
We
Feb 6th, 2009
Didn’t you guys already do this article? Even about the same exact guy?
spurned
Feb 6th, 2009
I wonder, hey Mercury, will you do work in the Ravenglass sim if someone needed some help there?
Jessica Holyoke
Feb 6th, 2009
And I still say performing the work of a private investigator without a license to do so is illegal in some jurisdictions.
Alyx Stoklitsky
Feb 6th, 2009
Can someone hire an e-investigator to shadow me for a month? I want to see how useless they are.
Marine Sniper
Feb 6th, 2009
This has to be Lindens in alt’s. There is no way to do this without breaking the ToS. We can be griefed in game but if we out wit lets say the Nicholas POS’s with words they bomb us with AR’s. This place will never change.
Bunny Brickworks
Feb 6th, 2009
a safe and happy place? *rolls eyes* when will you guys stop taking a game and yourselves so damn serious? this is ridiculous. spying on my partner? stalking someone? oh well if I don’t have anything better to do… this is the first time I am saying this but you may quote me any time in this context ‘go get a life, freaks’
MachineCode
Feb 6th, 2009
“Thats just creepy. Stalkers…??? Think that is illegal in California where the servers are hosted. Hmmm.. Breaking RL law too?”
Not even kind of, you idiot.
Jumpman Lane
Feb 6th, 2009
@ profeccer c u need to get a 1st 2nd and a third life u chump
hehehehehehe
Rico Roizman
Feb 6th, 2009
Yes to SOME, SL is an extension to RL, But this “private eye” buisness has gone way to far, Its silly. You say you dont break TOS, but you are in a virtual society where you ethier follow the rules or break the rules there is no “bending” the rules, and in order to obtain your goals, you’re breaking them, But hell I can care less,
What are they going to create next a Witness Protection Program, haha,
Can I hire I private eye, just to see who silly it is.
Professor C
Feb 7th, 2009
@ Jumpman Lane
WOW I guess I really did have an impact on you. Did I hurt your feelings? Awwwww Poor little baby.
So just so we’re clear on this. I need to get a life but you are following me board to board to hunt me and see if you can get to me.
Let me just chalk up another win for pissing off yet another has been/never was. Pleasure doing business with you. I look forward to seeing you in world … again.
Stephie
Feb 7th, 2009
Cool bling arm, bro.
Weeaboo
Feb 7th, 2009
E-spys? In my Second Life?
Jumpman Lane
Feb 7th, 2009
@ a professor c u dumb mother fucker. im just readin the papers and poking lil kittens with a sharp pointy stick! PUSSEH! hehehehe
Jumpman Lane
Feb 7th, 2009
and i just might have some work for ya sl pi, i got some chumps need shakin up. so i can feed em to the lindens . see if i can get em forced logged out for kicks!
Caustic Overload
Feb 7th, 2009
I just threw up a little
Sigmund Leominster
Feb 7th, 2009
So let me get this straight: Some dude follows some other dude around, tracking their moves, keeping records, and building up a case that will prove some kind of wrong-doing. And they get paid to do it?
Mmh, sounds like a Herald reporter to me.
Professor C
Feb 7th, 2009
@ Jumpman Lane
Reading the paper and rather than sticking to the article top you try yet another pot shot at me. TWICE. Only After the fact do you actually finally comment to the article itself.
So I can get back to the article. To those that are commenting about the legalities of this guys business, since they are not actually doing any real investigating and reporting to the police there is nothing that can be done to stop them in any way. And their local police will likely not waste their time pursuing them at any legal standpoint. Though I still fall back to the comments I made earlier of those that actually feel the need to HIRE these people … Get the hell off the game. You’re not needed.
LULZ
Feb 7th, 2009
LOL,this is a video game.
I bet if you ever mentioned personal space in a MMO Game like Quake III then you would be laughed at.
LULZ
Feb 7th, 2009
and to add,the people who don’t view this as a game are the ones ruining second life.
Jahar Aabye
Feb 7th, 2009
I find it rather sad that these people are hiring private investigators, when it is quite clear that what they need is a good psychiatrist.
SL can be a lot of fun, whether you want to use it as a game, a virtual chat room, an unlimited “lego” set, or you just like being able to program random shit at your whim. It’s nice to be able to meet people who share your interests, and it’s nice that you can eject/ban/mute those who piss you off.
But once you feel the need to hire people to spy on other people for you, especially when it’s friends or partners….that should be a wakeup call that there is something seriously wrong going on in between your ears.
Also, sadly enough, Mr. Madsen is correct about the ToS only in the sense that he himself, as CEO, will likely not be disciplined for the obvious ToS/CS violations that his hired goons are performing. However, they are likely using throwaway alt accounts (or should be).
I’d like to thank the Herald for this informative article, letting us know that there are these creepy psycho stalkers out there.
janeforyou Barbara
Feb 8th, 2009
@ Professor C
Am glad its not up to you who can play in SL..if any need to leave SL its negativ persons that do all thay can to ruin for others,, you dont like anyone.. no matter whos post you comment here you ALLWAYS argue,, and use bad words or you insult others here,What is it? what can i be? Is it some for of jalusy on any that get to do somthing in SL? I dont like to be spyed on.. and i got no reason to hire a “priv eye” I been in this games 7y i manage any my self,, but i dont comment others post rude and insulting, get a grip on your self Professor C.Wash your mouth.
Jessica Holyoke
Feb 8th, 2009
@ professor C,
Its not that the investigators report to the police, its that they investigate and monitor people for money. If you believe it violates your state’s licensing laws, there are many people to report it to, not just the police, like the Attorney General or the licensing board. And believe me, licensing boards would care.
Now they might find this small time and not bother with it. Or they might find the cost of investigating and stopping it not worth the end result. But it would still be illegal.
Professor C
Feb 8th, 2009
@ Janeforyou
Let me guess. You want to hire this guy? Maybe? Possibly? Because last I checked I said it was because they wern’t doing any ‘Real Investigating’ they they weren’t really doing anything illegal. And even if they were I would like to see it proven in a court of law. What are you going to do point fingers and say that his virtual character beat your virtual character or something foolish? That’s as bad as playing World of Warcraft and trying to sue someone because they made you look foolish. Not that you have any problems with looking foolish your inability to use a spellchecker and flagrant disregard for the English language always has been amusing to me.
Oh and incidentally I want to point and laugh at you for a moment for not noticing that I was taking shots at those that would HIRE these people not at the people themselves and in fact I made an attempt to defend them and their legal standings in game. You yourself have agreed with me yet I think it’s the fact that I have insulted you and upset you with my posts that make you feel you need to look and pick over the things I say with a fine toothed comb and search for things to nitpick about. It’s getting childish and you wouldn’t want that look would you?
@ Jessica
If you noticed dear I said there wasn’t a way to stop them not that what they were doing was illegal or not. If you asked me they are just praying on the weak minded trying to weed money out of those that take this game far too seriously. There is only a few select people on the grid that really need to take the game seriously. And that is the ones that make a real living from here. Other than that I would ask you to refer back to my comments to Jane in regards to my statements on the legalities of what these people are doing. I have stated in the past that I have the utmost respect for you and I apologize if anything I have stated here is hurtful to you. But you know by now that I can be rather outspoken at times.
As a final note? Is this Legal or Illegal? Since what they are doing is basically a form of internet stalking and there are laws against that, it all comes down to the way they are doing it on if it is illegal or not.
Jumpman Lane
Feb 8th, 2009
@ professor c, u furry turd bucket I know who are. You think you can talk SHIT to me caws u callin urself Professor C and nobody dont know who the fuck u r. well Corsi, I’m The Man on this motherfuckin grid. I know ya. you better keep it real small and in Furnation u furreh turd. Stick to stealin sex beds and keep my name out ya mouth before u end up with my foot in ya crack. You remain as chump (that is to say Corsi Mousehold) and i remain, as ever Jumpman Lane.
LOL
Feb 8th, 2009
Professor C is Corsi Mousehold… OMG now that explains ALOT!
The Patriotic Nevas
Feb 9th, 2009
Me hates them Mices to pieces!
Rudiger
Feb 9th, 2009
Professor C needs to stop playing spelling Nazi – if he is going to use such horrible grammatical structure. Ever heard of a “comma” “Professor”?
What are you compensating for that causes you to constantly (and rather weakly) go after people? Your insult fu is pathetically ineffective, champ.
Get a life, seriously. Trolling the Herald daily != a life.
Witness X
Feb 9th, 2009
<-- loves how Jumpman thinks he knows who Professor C is.
<-- loves how the /b/tards think they're right, and the other 99% of SL is wrong, but get b^n-hammered and party vanned on occasion anyway.
<-- having a great morning so far, thanks for the light entertainment!
Professor C
Feb 9th, 2009
@ Jumpman
Looks like we have another guess as to who I am. Sorry to disappoint but you are again incorrect. I am not Corsi though I have sat and talked with them. He’s out of his tree. Just bring up the subject of griefers and talk about looking to hunt them down and they totally lose it. Corsi’s a lunatic and I really don’t recommend using them for anything other than a good laugh.
@ Rudiger
You state this like I am going after you. No, I pick and choose certain people that really need to be taken down a few notches. For example. Jane had attacked back at me in a few boards because of my opinion. There were several that shared my opinion and I had to find it amusing that out of all of them, I was the one singled out. And he did it in a way that was hard to understand. People make typo’s and grammatical errors. I do all the time. Nobodies purfekt. But when an entire post looks like a bunch of scrabble tiles tossed in a box. They’re begging for it.
janeforyou Barbara
Feb 9th, 2009
If hireing a private eye in SL are leagal or not may depend on the methods thay use i guess.I find out tings my self usly, and i got a zillion friends in SL that inform me on any that hapens round,, i guess a lot of us got that as its been loong time known that “Professor C is Corsi Mousehold” That info i had loong ago.And when it comes to MY own spelling i had a ton of not so nice comments on that, it dont get to me, but am trying to learn
Professor C
Feb 9th, 2009
Sorry I just feel I really need to put in an afterthought. I can’t just leave this one alone.
@ Jumpman
I think I know why you called me out as being Corsi Mousehold and made the stealing beds comment.
Have a look at Jumpman’s profile. Right in there is the group. The Bimbo Cheerleaders. Who do the Bimbo’s support? Strokerz Toyz. Who owns Strokerz Toyz? Stroker Serpentine. And who does Stroker Serpentine hate? Corsi Mousehold.
In the future Jumpman, please do not use me as your middleman to get at your friends enemies. I’m not going to fight your battles for you.
@ Jane
I can see you are now trying harder to correct your typing errors. For that effort I will stop using that aspect as a way to cut you down.
@ Everyone else that have thoughts of getting my identity,
I am and choose to be anonymous for a reason. If there ever comes a day I do reveal myself I’ll post it here. Until then … I’ll see you on the next post that deserves a trolling.
Marine Sniper
Feb 9th, 2009
Hey can I hire you to stalk Road Map and Raine aka Cal whatever he is using these days? I have called road map and he want pick up his phone.
Ole Ole Oxen Dine
Feb 9th, 2009
The question is:
Will JP Morgan Chase allow corporate infrastrucure abuse during or after business hours?
And can these P.Eyes help with that dilemma if paid enough?
Inquiring minds want to know…
LOL
(we make no apollogees for this)
Jumpman Lane
Feb 9th, 2009
@ witness x with ot the jokes professor c is corsi mousehold period
@ corsi mousehold professor c or w/e the fuck ya call ya self today. keep playin dumb keep playin crazy. who aint in the bimbo cheerleaders group. i might not be by the time u read this lol. i dont know stroker serpentine and dont give a fuck whose shit u stole. MY point is THIS: I. AM. JUMPMAN. LANE. YOU ARE CORSI MOUSEHOLD. i’m the man on this motherfuckin second life grid. see how easy it was to find out who the fuck u is!
No U
Feb 9th, 2009
This proves that Corsi had her stuff stolen from her.
http://furnation.com/index.php?s=fe4e04fd3b8fe2db3d35dcd34c190081&showtopic=36739&st=0&p=89582&#entry89582
Jumpman Lane
Feb 9th, 2009
@ NO U man fuck corst and mother fuck professor c lmao
No U
Feb 9th, 2009
No U
No UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUuuuu
Desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu desu
janeforyou Barbara
Feb 9th, 2009
Ø_Ø Eh! @_@ Uh! Gigglesnorts! Bad Bad! English shure got a lot of bad words! Geeeaz.
No U
Feb 10th, 2009
Well i know that Corsi is better than that scat loving Stroker.
Corsi Mousehold
Feb 10th, 2009
Jumpman, you are the one who is mentally unstable. If you honestly believe that I would ever make the statements or positions that ‘Professor C’ makes, even anonymous, then there is no hope.
I have no idea who the fuck professor c is. If I get one more idiot IMing me inworld about Professor C, I’m afraid I’ll have to do something about it.
Archie
Feb 10th, 2009
A stalker is a stalker and wearing a badge is a stalker with a badge.
Someone hiring ones of these stalkers is stalker by proxy.
There are specific laws in Europe that prohibit this sort of activity; unless a Private Dickhead, sorry dick, has a legally issued and verified licence.
Do you have a licence?
Thought so – just a stalker then.
LOL
Feb 10th, 2009
Can this Private DICK figure out who Prof. C really is? or has Jumpman already done that and put the Private Dick out of a job!
MarineSniper
Feb 10th, 2009
Yes we need to hire you to see what illegal SL Activites goes on at JP Morgan. We will pay big bucks. Also I need you to see if Road Maps secretary is pretty. Most women that sounds good on the phone is hugeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!
Jumpman Lane
Feb 10th, 2009
@LOL yup i did and i di it forfree that stupid furry rat’s “super secret” nod d’ merde is unmasked. wtf has this professor c done lol other than mess with thewronf motherfucker (ME). somebody outhg to pay the pi to verify it if anybody cares (someone keeps iming mewanting to know the truth)
@ Professor c (corsi moushold) do all u can do u stupid pile of turds. just ask urself this. if i can find out who you are when NOBODY else seemd to beable to just guess what all else icanfuckin do. like i told u before. keep it small lil rat REAL small when it comes to that man named Jumpman Lane. You act like i pulled ur name outta hat. It is you. deal. have the courage of ur convictions and not stand behind some anonymous bull shit. Like my daddy told me when he madesure i knew how to figet.”you can say w/e u want to anybody if you can put your foot in their crack” I’m Jumpman Lane in second life and i’m signin that name in big letters on everything. Chump
Jumpman Lane
Feb 10th, 2009
er fight not figet lmao!