Business Espionage & Business Intelligence

In this Information Age, protecting trade secrets and critical and sensitive information from loss through business espionage is an increasingly important management function. Business Espionage Controls & Countermeasures Association (BECCA) identified four primary areas of risk and called them the "Four Faces of Business Espionage," a term now widely used by controls and countermeasures experts. These risk factors are Pretext Attacks, Computer Abuse, Technical Surveillance, and Undercover Attacks.

BECCA began in 1986 as an informal network of controls and countermeasures experts brought together by William M. Johnson during research for his book, "Who's Stealing Your Business? - How To Identify and Prevent Business Espionage”.

The Four Faces of Business Espionage:

1. Delphi and Other Pretext Attacks.

Sophisticated pretext interviews and/or “surveys” are often the first steps in a spy operation. Pretext interviews may take place on the phone, at seminars and trade shows, in bars, in bed, or anyplace else the target is available. The questions used are worked out in advance, often by someone other than the surveyor. The people hired to ask the questions (college students, private investigators, retirees, etc.) may or may not know the real objectives of the survey. Pretext attacks through Internet newsgroups, chat lines and direct e-mail help hide the true identity of the attacker.

2. Computer Abuse.

Computer abuse takes many forms. It may take only a few seconds for a spy to break into your computer system if your computer access codes are known around the office. Other attacks may be much more complex and take place both on and off site.


3. Technical Surveillance.

Basic electronic “bugging” is quick and easy. A spy can buy a legal wireless microphone or other listening device, and then plant it illegally by simply walking through your home or place of business and tucking it out of sight. It took less than 30 seconds to plant a bug in one of the demonstrations author witnessed.

4. Undercover Attacks

These attacks are performed by spies inside the targeted organization, including people on the target’s payroll. Undercover spy operations may go on for months - or even years - depending on the spy’s objectives.

• What makes business intelligence or competitive intelligence different from business espionage? What are the key elements in business intelligence? What makes the business intelligence "intelligent"?

Let's look at the definitions of "intelligence" and "espionage." As defined by Merriam-Webster, intelligence is the ability to apply knowledge to change one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests), also the act of understanding.

"Espionage" is the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or a competing company.

“From these definitions it appears as if one could infer that "business intelligence" is directed at your own organization (what is the company doing that could be changed to improve its ability to function in the environment), while espionage is directed outside the organization to those companies that are in competition with your organization. "Espionage" also implies the act of gathering information that is not readily or openly available, whereas business intelligence focuses on making better use of the readily available data within your organization or readily available in the marketplace.” - Anne Marie Smith

Industrial Espionage and Business Intelligence

• “Federal prosecutors have been investigating whether Reuters Analytics (a subsidiary of Reuters Holdings PLC) is guilty of industrial espionage activities which involve break ins of computers at its competitor Bloomberg.”

... This one could be an indicator of the crime of the new century, the electronic break in. What makes this news is that computer break-ins are involved on a corporate basis. This kind of information stealing and espionage has been the norm for years in highly competitive industries. So has cracking computers to get at the information inside. This particular story polls the two of those together.

Expect more industrial espionage stories in the months ahead, and more corporate cracking into other computers. Industrial espionage is one of a few buzzwords that are starting to crop up more frequently in the business press and on TV.

EMERGING BUZZWORDS: competitive intelligence, business intelligence, industrial espionage, information warfare. Competitive Intelligence is sometimes referred as "competitor intelligence" after the seminal book by Leonard Fuld. In 1985 he defined it as "highly specific and timely information about a company."

How can Industrial or Corporate Espionage be compared to Competitive Intelligence? Competitive Intelligence (CI) research can be distinguished from industrial espionage, as CI practitioners in general abide by local legal guidelines and ethical business norms.

Business intelligence" refers to the practice of collecting and analyzing competitive information in the marketplace to assist an enterprise in self-analysis and redirection of its resources to maintain and improve competitiveness. There is a severe code of ethics followed by honest competitive intelligence practitioners, laid down by the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP). This includes the terms that CI professionals

• Must abide by all applicable laws - whether domestic or international. Thus bugging, bribery, and other such illegal practices would be a serious breach of the ethical code.
• Must accurately disclose all relevant information, including one's identity and organization, prior to all interviews. This ensures that primary research is conducted ethically without twisting. As such it also limits what can be done - and attempts to gain information through lies about one's identify would be viewed as industrial espionage. At the same time, the code of ethics recognizes that it may not be in the interests of the research to declare the final purpose for which the information is being gathered - hence it is only required to reveal relevant information to sources such as one's identity, organization, etc. It is not a requirement to say who the ultimate client is, and so many organizations employ consultants who can be absolutely honest about who they are while keeping their client's name confidential. Such consultants will say that the information is being collected as part of a benchmarking or industry study, for example. What is not said is that the benchmarking study is being done only on competitors to the client!
• Must provide honest and realistic recommendations and conclusions in the execution of one's duties. Competitive Intelligence can sometimes expose unpleasant truths that companies would prefer not knowing. At the same time, not knowing could lead the organization to failure. Competitive Intelligence professionals need to communicate both the good and the bad - strengths and weaknesses - even in cases when management would rather stay in lack of knowledge.
• Further, the CI professional should use their understandings to provide suggestions and recommendations for action. If the intelligence gathered is not used but ignored it has no value. As a result, competitive intelligence is a key discipline in enabling company’s preserves and expands competitive advantage in their business environment.
  

Espionage

Industrial espionage and corporate espionage are phrases used to describe espionage conducted for commercial purposes instead of national security purposes. Espionage is sometimes called the dark sister of competitive intelligence.

Espionage is more than the legal and ordinary methods of examining corporate publications, web sites, patent filings, and the like to determine the activities of a corporation. In business language the term covers more the illegal methods such as bribery, blackmail, technological surveillance and even occasional violence. In addition to spying on commercial organizations, governments can also be targets of commercial espionage—for example, to determine the terms of a tender for a government contract so that another tenderer can underbid.

"Industrial espionage" refers to the clandestine methods of obtaining competitive information that is not publicly available. As a legal matter, this distinction can have serious consequences. This case study of Boeing Company offers some suggestions for staying on the right side of the law not only in business intelligence but also for internal audit controls and business ethics : Bierce & Kenerson

How to Determine Competitive Intelligence Information Needs?

Effective implementation of its CIP requires not only information about the competitors, but also information on other environmental trends such as industry trends, legal and regulatory trends, international trends, technology developments, political developments and economic conditions. The relative strength of the competitor can be judged accurately only by assessing it with respect to the factors listed above. In the increasingly complex and uncertain business environment, the external [environmental] factors are assuming greater importance in effecting organizational change. Therefore, the determination of CI information needs is based upon the firm's relative competitive advantage over the competitor assessed within the 'network' of 'environmental' factors.
What are the General Uses of Competitive Intelligence Information?
The competitive intelligence information obtained using CIP can be used in programs that supplement planning, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, marketing, pricing, advertising, and R&D activities.
What is the Role of the Organization's Internal Competitive Intelligence Unit?
Despite the increasing sophistication of CI tools and techniques, the most important role in a CIP remains that of the organization or its internal Competitive Intelligence Unit. Once the CI needs have been defined, the CI-unit is responsible for collection, evaluation and analysis of raw data, and preparation, presentation, and dissemination of CI. The CI-unit may handle all the activities itself, or it may assign some tasks to an outside contractor. Often, decisions have to be made on assignments of data collection, and data analysis and evaluation.

The CI-unit has to decide upon the choice of sources of raw data. Should it use government sources or online databases, interviews or surveys, drive-bys or on-site observations? It has also to decide if and when to deploy 'shadowing' and defensive-CI. Other decisions may involve choice of specialized interest groups (such as academics, trade associations, consumer groups), private sector sources (such as competitors, suppliers, distributors, customers) or media (such as journals, wire services, newspapers, financial reports) as the sources of information. Very frequently, such issues involve balancing various constraints, such as those of time, finances, staffing, etc. and therefore are based upon individual judgment.

Are there any Methods/Methodology for a Competitive Intelligence Program?

The purpose of CIP is to gather accurate and reliable information. The groundwork for the CIP is done through an internal Competitive Intelligence Audit which is primarily a review of the organization's operations to determine what is actually known about the competitors and their operations. As a starting point for obtaining CI data, the organization generally has some knowledge of its competitors, and its own CI needs. In absence of a definition of its information needs, the organization may not be able to deploy its resources effectively. To avoid such a scenario an organization may conduct a CI audit which is effectively a review of its current operations to determine what is actually known about the competitors and their operations. The CI audit helps in pinpointing the organization's CI needs.

When the organization has some knowledge about its competitors and its own CI needs, it proceeds to the stage of gathering CI data. Based upon the CI needs, relevant data can be gathered from the organization's own sales force, customers, industry periodicals, competitor's promotional materials, own marketing research staff, analysis of competitor's products, competitor's annual reports, trade shows and distributors. Specific CIP techniques include querying government resources and online databases, selective surveys of consumers and distributors about competitor's products, on-site observations of competitor's plant or headquarters, "shadowing" the markets, conducting defensive CI, competitive benchmarking, and reverse engineering of competitor's products and services.

Raw data is evaluated and analyzed for accuracy and reliability. Every attempt is made to eliminate false confirmations and disinformation, and to check for omissions and anomalies. Omission, which is the seeming lack of cause for a business decision, raises a question to be answered by a plausible response. Anomalies (data that do not fit) ask for a reassessment of the working assumptions (McGonagle & Vella, 1990). While the conclusions one draws from the data must be based on that data, one should never be reluctant to test, modify, and even reject one's basic working hypotheses. The failure to test and reject what others regard as an established truth can be a major source of error (Vella & McGonagle, 1987).

Evaluation and analysis of raw data are critical steps of the CIP. Data that lacks accuracy and reliability may be marginally correct data, concoction of very good data, bad data, or even disinformation. All data is produced or released for some certain purpose. In CIP, reliability of data implies the reliability of the ultimate source of the data, based upon its past performance. In CIP, accuracy of data implies the [relative] degree of 'correctness' of data based upon factors such as whether it is confirmed by data from a reliable source as well as the reliability of the original source of data. Evaluation of CI data is done as the facts are collected and unreliable or irrelevant data is eliminated. Analysis of remaining facts includes 'sifting' out disinformation, studying patterns of competitor's strategies, and checking for competitor's moves that mask its 'real' intentions (McGonagle & Vella, 1990). The resulting CI information is integrated into the company's internal planning and operations for developing alternative competitive scenarios, structuring attack plans and evaluating potential competitive moves.

What are the Tools and Techniques for Competitive Intelligence Activities?

Different types of CI tools and techniques are available for different requirements of the Competitive Intelligence Program -

• Contacting Government Agencies can yield valuable data for the CIP, but may often require excessive lead time.
• Searching Online Databases is a faster method of finding competitive information, although it is more expensive. With increasing sophistication and affordability of information technology, this technique is expected to become less expensive. Database search does not provide information that has not been released to the public or that has not yet been collected.
• From Companies and Investment Community Resources Some types of data that are not widely available from databases can be procured by contacting the corporation itself or from investment community sources.
• Surveys and Interviews Surveys can yield plenty of data about competitors and products, while Interviews can provide more in-depth perspectives from a limited sample.
• Drive-by and On-site Observations of the competitor's [full or empty] parking spaces, new construction-in-progress, customer service at retail outlets, volume and pattern of [suppliers' or customers'] trucks, etc. can yield useful CI information about the state of the competitor's business.
• Competitive Benchmarking is used for comparing the organization's operations against those of the competitor's.
• Defensive Competitive Intelligence involves monitoring and analyzing one's own business activities as the competitors and outsiders see them.
• Reverse Engineering of competitor's products and services may yield important CI information about their quality and costs.

Any 'Standard' Tools and Techniques for all Competitive Intelligence Activities?

Not all CIP tools and techniques are suitable for all CI objectives; the CI-unit has to use judgment in determining the relevant CI needs and the most appropriate tools and techniques. Specific tools and techniques are chosen depending upon various factors such as CI needs, time constraints, financial constraints, staffing limitations, likelihood of obtaining the data, relative priorities of data, sequencing of raw data, etc. While government sources have the advantage of low cost, online databases are preferable for faster turnaround time. Whereas surveys may provide enormous data about products and competitors, interviews would be preferred for getting a more in-depth perspective from a limited sample. Therefore, human judgment is an essential element of the decision regarding which CI techniques to deploy in a specific situation.

How can the Competitors Foil Your Competitive Intelligence Program?

Very likely the target competitor would be aware of the organization's CI moves and could make all possible efforts to thwart or jeopardize the organization's CIP. The competitor may have its own CI activities targeted at the organization. Or it might intentionally generate disinformation to mislead the organization's efforts. In fact, the organization's CI activities may find data which the competitor has 'planted' to keep the organization "preoccupied" and "off-balance"

The competitor could also create the problem of false confirmation by releasing similar, but misleading (or incomplete), facts to different media sources. The competitor may also use common ploys to pump information from the organization's employees. Such ploys include "the phantom interview", "the false flag job seeker", "the seduction," and "the non-sale sale."

• Phantom Interview The competitor, posing as a potential employer, inquires from the organization's employees about their duties and responsibilities.
• False Flag Job Seeker A competitor's trusted employee , in the guise of a potential job seeker, tries to learn about the organization in the course of the employment process.
• Seduction Involves flattery of organization's employees to encourage disclosure of important facts. In the non-sale sale technique, the competitor pursues the organization's non-employee associates such as distributors and suppliers to elicit information about the organization's pricing structure, customer service, etc.
  

What are the Information Hazards of Competitive Intelligence Information?

The objective of the Competitive Intelligence Program is to gather relevant information that is valid and accurate. Incomplete or inaccurate information may jeopardize the organization's CI efforts.

• False Confirmation There might be instances of false confirmation in which one source of data appears to confirm the data obtained from another source. In reality, there is no confirmation because one source may have obtained its data from the second source, or both sources may have received their data from a third common source.
• Disinformation The data generated may be flawed because of disinformation, which is incomplete or inaccurate information designed to mislead the organization's CI efforts.
• Blowback Blow-back may occur when the company's disinformation or misinformation that is directed at the competitor contaminates its own intelligence channels or information. In all such cases, the information gathered may be inaccurate or incomplete.

Conclusion

In the age of merger and acquisition, the business intelligence has acquired an important dimension. There very important strategic information which are required to be obtained and gleamed -through for making the decision involving heavy amount that there is no scope of there being wrong or late! The delivery is important and also equally important is trustworthiness.

This therefore is not left to unprofessional and it is very logical that security professionals with sound knowledge of finance and operational knowledge of the targeted business entity step-in so that they play the role of decision facilitators of the management. There are also imperatives on them to be ready to counter similar attempts on their own organization ‘cause it is jungle out there!’

Remember – what you do unto others – others can do unto you too!

A SAFE TRIP ABROAD

Millions of people travel abroad each year and use their passports. When you travel abroad, the odds are in your favor that you will have a safe and incident-free trip. However, crime and violence, as well as unexpected difficulties, do befall travelers in all parts of the world.

Fortunately, most problems can be solved over the telephone or by a visit to the Consular Section of the traveler's nearest embassy or consulate. But there are less fortunate occasions when consular officers are called on to meet travelers at foreign police stations, hospitals, prisons and even at morgues. In these cases, the assistance that consular officers can offer is specific but limited.

In the hope of helping you avoid unhappy meetings with consular officers when you go abroad; we have prepared the following travel tips. Please have a safe and secure trip abroad!

BEFORE YOU GO

What to Bring

Safety begins when you pack. To avoid being a target, dress conservatively. A flashy wardrobe or one that is too casual can mark you as a tourist. As much as possible, avoid the appearance of affluence.

• Always try to travel light. If you do, you can move more quickly and will be more likely to have a free hand. You will also be less tired and less likely to set your luggage down, leaving it unattended.
• Carry the minimum amount of valuables necessary for your trip and plan a place or places to conceal them. Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe. When you have to carry them on your person, you may wish to conceal them in several places rather than putting them all in one wallet or pouch.
• Avoid hand bags, fanny packs and outside pockets which are easy targets for thieves. Inside pockets and a sturdy shoulder bag with the strap worn across your chest are somewhat safer. One of the safest places to carry valuables is in a pouch or money belt worn under your clothing. If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. Bring them and any medicines you need in your carry-on luggage.
• To avoid problems when passing through customs, keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Bring a copy of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug. If you have any doubt about the legality of carrying a certain drug into a country, consult the embassy or consulate of that country first.
• Bring travelers checks and one or two major credit cards instead of cash.
• Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy of your passport information page to make replacement of your passport easier in the event it is lost or stolen.
• Put your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality and if possible, lock your luggage.
• Consider getting a telephone calling card. It is a convenient way of keeping in touch. If you have one, verify that you can use it from your overseas location(s). Access numbers to U.S. operators are published in many international newspapers. Find out your access number before you go.

to Leave Behind

• Don't bring anything you would hate to lose.
• Leave at home:
  - valuable or expensive-looking jewelry,
  - irreplaceable family objects,
  - all unnecessary credit cards.
  - Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to contact you in an emergency.

A Few Things to Bring and Leave Behind

Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver's license and the credit cards that you plan to bring with you. Leave one photocopy of this data with family or friends at home; pack the other in a place separate from where you carry your valuables.
Leave a copy of the serial numbers of your travelers checks with a friend or relative at home. Carry your copy with you in a separate place and, as you cash the checks, cross them off the list.

Local Laws and Customs

When you travel overseas, you are subject to the laws of the country where you are. Therefore, before you go, learn as much as you can about the local laws and customs of the places you plan to visit. Good resources are your library, your travel agent, and the embassies, consulates or tourist bureaus of the countries you will visit. In addition, keep track of what is being reported in the media about recent developments in those countries.

THINGS TO ARRANGE BEFORE YOU GO

Your Itinerary. As much as possible, plan to stay in larger hotels that have more elaborate security. Safety experts recommend booking a room from the second to seventh floors above ground level to deter easy entrance from outside, but low enough for fire equipment to reach.
Because take-off and landing are the most dangerous times of a flight, book non-stop flights when possible. When there is a choice of airport or airline, ask your travel agent about comparative safety records.
Legal Documents. Have your affairs at home in order. If you leave a current will, insurance documents, and power of attorney with your family or a friend, you can feel secure about traveling and will be prepared for any emergency that may arise while you are away. If you have minor children, consider making guardianship arrangements for them.
Credit Cards. Make a note of the credit limit on each credit card that you bring. Make certain not to charge over that amount on your trip. In some countries, Americans have been arrested for innocently exceeding their credit limit. Ask your credit card company how to report the loss of your card from abroad. 800 numbers do not work from abroad, but your company should have a number that you can call while you are overseas.
Insurance. Find out if your personal property insurance covers you for loss or theft abroad. More importantly, check if your health insurance covers you abroad. Even if your health insurance will reimburse you for medical care that you pay for abroad, normal health insurance does not pay for medical evacuation from a remote area or from a country where medical facilities are inadequate. Consider purchasing one of the short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers. Also, make sure that the plan you purchase includes medical evacuation in the event of an accident or serious illness.

PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHILE TRAVELING

Safety on the Street

• Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home. Be especially cautious in or avoid areas where you are likely to be victimized. These include crowded subways, train stations, elevators, tourist sites, market places, festivals and marginal areas of cities.
• Don't use short cuts, narrow alleys or poorly-lit streets. Try not to travel alone at night.
• Avoid public demonstrations and other civil disturbances.
• Keep a low profile and avoid loud conversations or arguments. Do not discuss travel plans or other personal matters with strangers.
• Avoid scam artists. Beware of strangers who approach you, offering bargains or to be your guide.
  · Beware of pickpockets. They often have an accomplice who will:
  · jostle you,
  · ask you for directions or the time,
  · point to something spilled on your clothing,
  · distract you by creating a disturbance.
• A child or even a woman carrying a baby can be a pickpocket. Beware of groups of vagrant children who create a distraction while picking your pocket.
• Wear the shoulder strap of your bag across your chest and walk with the bag away from the curb to avoid drive-by purse snatchers. Try to seem purposeful when you move about. Even if you are lost, act as if you know where you are going. When possible, ask directions only from individuals in authority.
• Know how to use a pay telephone and have the proper change, calling card or token on hand.
• Learn a few phrases in the local language so you can signal your need for help, the police, or a doctor. Make a note of emergency telephone numbers you may need: police, fire, your hotel, and your nearest embassy or consulate.
• If you are confronted, don't fight back. Give up your valuables. Your money and passport can be replaced, but you cannot.

Safety In Your Hotel

• Keep your hotel door locked at all times. Meet visitors in the lobby.
• Do not leave money and other valuables in your hotel room while you are out. Use the hotel safe.
• Let someone know when you expect to return if you are out late at night.
• If you are alone, do not get on an elevator if there is a suspicious-looking person inside.
• Read the fire safety instructions in your hotel room. Know how to report a fire. Be sure you know where the nearest fire-exit and alternate exits are located. Count the doors between your room and the nearest exit. This could be a life-saver if you have to crawl through a smoke-filled corridor.

Safety on Public Transportation

Taxis. Only take taxis clearly identified with official markings. Beware of unmarked cabs.
Trains. Well organized, systematic robbery of passengers on trains along popular tourist’s routes is a serious problem. It is more common at night and especially on overnight trains. If you see your way being blocked by a stranger and another person is very close to you from behind, move away. This can happen in the corridor of the train or on the platform or station. Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Criminals have been known to drug food or drink offered to passengers. Criminals may also spray sleeping gas in train compartments. Where possible, lock your compartment. If it cannot be locked securely, take turns sleeping in shifts with your traveling companions. If that is not possible, stay awake. If you must sleep unprotected, tie down your luggage, strap your valuables to you and sleep on top of them as much as possible. Do not be afraid to alert authorities if you feel threatened in any way. Extra police are often assigned to ride trains on routes where crime is a serious problem.
Buses. The same type of criminal activity found on trains can be found on public buses on popular tourist routes. For example, tourists have been drugged and robbed while sleeping on buses or in bus stations. In some countries whole bus loads of passengers have been held up and robbed by gangs of bandits.

Safety When You Drive

When you rent a car, don't go for the exotic; choose a type commonly available locally. Where possible, ask that markings that identify it as a rental car be removed. Make certain it is in good repair. If available, choose a car with universal door locks and power windows, features that give the driver better control of access to the car. An air conditioner, when available, is also a safety feature, allowing you to drive with windows closed. Thieves can and do snatch purses through open windows of moving cars.

• Keep car doors locked at all times. Wear seat belts.
• As much as possible, avoid driving at night.
• Don't leave valuables in the car. If you must carry things with you, keep them out of sight locked in the trunk.
• Don't park your car on the street overnight. If the hotel or municipality does not have a parking garage or other secure area, select a well-lit area.
  · Never pick up hitchhikers.
  · Don't get out of the car if there are suspicious looking individuals nearby. Drive away.

Patterns of Crime against Motorists

In many places frequented by tourists, including areas of southern Europe, victimization of motorists has been refined to an art. Where it is a problem, embassies are aware of it and consular officers try to work with local authorities to warn the public about the dangers. In some locations, these efforts at public awareness have paid off, reducing the frequency of incidents. You may also wish to ask your rental car agency for advice on avoiding robbery while visiting tourist destinations.

Carjackers and thieves operate at gas stations, parking lots, in city traffic and along the highway. Be suspicious of anyone who hails you or tries to get your attention when you are in or near your car. Criminals use ingenious ploys. They may masquerade as good Samaritans, offering help for tires that they claim are flat or that they have made flat. Or they may flag down a motorist, ask for assistance, and then steal the rescuer's luggage or car. Usually they work in groups, one person carrying on the pretense while the others rob you. Other criminals get your attention with abuse, either trying to drive you off the road, or causing an "accident" by rear-ending you or creating a "fender bender."

In some urban areas, thieves don't waste time on ploys, they simply smash car windows at traffic lights, grab your valuables or your car and get away. In cities around the world, "defensive driving" has come to mean more than avoiding auto accidents; it means keeping an eye out for potentially criminal pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders.

How to Handle Money Safely

• To avoid carrying large amounts of cash, change your traveler’s checks only as you need currency. Countersign traveler’s checks only in front of the person who will cash them.
  Do not flash large amounts of money when paying a bill. Make sure your credit card is returned to you after each transaction.
• Deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money, buy airline tickets or purchase souvenirs. Do not change money on the black market.
• If your possessions are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to the local police. Keep a copy of the police report for insurance claims and as an explanation of your plight. After reporting missing items to the police, report the loss or theft of:
  - checks to the nearest agent of the issuing company,
  - credit cards to the issuing company,
  - airline tickets to the airline or travel agent,
  - Passport to the nearest Indian embassy or consulate.

How to Avoid Legal Difficulties

When you are in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws and are under its jurisdiction NOT the protection of your home country laws.. You can be arrested overseas for actions that may be either legal or considered minor infractions in your own country. Be aware of what is considered criminal in the country where you are. US Consular Information Sheets include information on unusual patterns of arrests in various countries when appropriate. Some of the offenses for which travelers have been arrested abroad are:

Drug Violations. Some countries do not distinguish between possession and trafficking. Many countries have mandatory sentences - even for possession of a small amount of marijuana or cocaine. A number of travelers have been arrested for possessing prescription drugs, particularly tranquilizers and amphetamines that they purchased legally in certain Asian countries and then brought to some countries in the Middle East where they are illegal. Other travelers have been arrested for purchasing prescription drugs abroad in quantities that local authorities suspected were for commercial use. If in doubt about foreign drug laws, ask local authorities or your nearest embassy or consulate.
Possession of Firearms. The places where travelers most often come into difficulties for illegal possession of firearms are Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. Sentences for possession of firearms in Mexico can be up to 30 years. In general, firearms, even those legally registered in the native country cannot be brought into a country unless a permit is first obtained from the embassy or a consulate of that country and the firearm is registered with foreign authorities on arrival. Photography. In many countries you can be harassed or detained for photographing such things as police and military installations, government buildings, border areas and transportation facilities. If you are in doubt, ask permission before taking photographs.
Purchasing Antiques. Travelers have been arrested for purchasing souvenirs that were, or looked like, antiques and which local customs authorities believed were national treasures. This is especially true in Turkey, Egypt and Mexico. In countries where antiques are important, document your purchases as reproductions if that is the case, or if they are authentic, secure the necessary export permit (usually from the national museum).

Protection against Terrorism

Terrorist acts occur at random and unpredictably, making it impossible to protect oneself absolutely. The first and best protection is to avoid travel to unsafe areas where there has been a persistent record of terrorist attacks or kidnapping. The vast majority of foreign states have good records of maintaining public order and protecting residents and visitors within their borders from terrorism.

Most terrorist attacks are the result of long and careful planning. Just as a car thief will first be attracted to an unlocked car with the key in the ignition, terrorists are looking for defenseless, easily accessible targets who follow predictable patterns. The chances that a tourist, traveling with an unpublished program or itinerary, would be the victim of terrorism are slight. In addition, many terrorist groups, seeking publicity for political causes within their own country or region, may not be looking for American targets.

Nevertheless, the following pointers may help you avoid becoming a target of opportunity. They should be considered as adjuncts to the tips listed in the previous sections on how to protect yourself against the far greater likelihood of being a victim of crime. These precautions may provide some degree of protection, and can serve as practical and psychological deterrents to would-be terrorists.

• Schedule direct flights if possible and avoid stops in high-risk airports or areas. Consider other options for travel, such as trains.
• Be aware of what you discuss with strangers or what may be overheard by others.
• Try to minimize the time spent in the public area of an airport, which is a less protected area. Move quickly from the check-in counter to the secured areas. On arrival, leave the airport as soon as possible.
• As much as possible, avoid luggage tags, dress and behavior which may identify you as an American.
• Keep an eye out for suspicious abandoned packages or briefcases. Report them to airport security or other authorities and leave the area promptly.
• Avoid obvious terrorist targets such as places where Americans and Westerners are known to congregate.

Travel to High-Risk Areas

If you must travel in an area where there has been a history of terrorist attacks or kidnapping, make it a habit to:

• Discuss with your family what they would do in the event of an emergency. Make sure your affairs are in order before leaving home.
• Register with your embassy or consulate upon arrival.
• Remain friendly but be cautious about discussing personal matters, your itinerary or program.
  Leave no personal or business papers in your hotel room.
• Watch for people following you or "loiterers" observing your comings and goings.
• Keep a mental note of safe havens, such as police stations, hotels, hospitals.
  Let someone else know what your travel plans are. Keep them informed if you change your plans.
• Avoid predictable times and routes of travel and report any suspicious activity to local police, and your nearest embassy or consulate.
• Select your own taxi cabs at random. Don't take a vehicle that is not clearly identified as a taxi. Compare the face of the driver with the one posted on his or her license.
  If possible, travel with others.
• Be sure of the identity of visitors before opening the door of your hotel room. Don't meet strangers at unknown or remote locations.
• Refuse unexpected packages.
• Formulate a plan of action for what you will do if a bomb explodes or there is gunfire nearby.
  Check for loose wires or other suspicious activity around your car.
• Be sure your vehicle is in good operating condition in case you need to resort to high-speed or evasive driving.
• Drive with car windows closed in crowded streets. Bombs can be thrown through open windows.
• If you are ever in a situation where somebody starts shooting, drop to the floor or get down as low as possible. Don't move until you are sure the danger has passed. Do not attempt to help rescuers and do not pick up a weapon. If possible, shield yourself behind or under a solid object. If you must move, crawl on your stomach.

Hijacking/Hostage Situations

While every hostage situation is different and the chance of becoming a hostage is remote, some considerations are important. When travelers are abducted overseas, most countries look to the host government to exercise its responsibility under international law to protect all persons within its territories and to bring about the safe release of hostages. Your government work closely with these governments from the outset of a hostage-taking incident to ensure that it's citizens and other innocent victims are released as quickly and safely as possible.

Normally, the most dangerous phases of a hijacking or hostage situation are the beginning and, if there is a rescue attempt, the end. At the outset, the terrorists typically are tense, high-strung and may behave irrationally. It is extremely important that you remain calm and alert and manage your own behavior. Avoid resistance and sudden or threatening movements. Do not struggle or try to escape unless you are certain of being successful.Make a concerted effort to relax. Breathe deeply and prepare yourself mentally, physically and emotionally for the possibility of a long ordeal.
Try to remain inconspicuous, avoid direct eye contact and the appearance of observing your captors' actions. Aoid alcoholic beverages. Consume little food and drink. onsciously put yourself in a mode of passive cooperation. Talk normally. Do not complain, avoid belligerency, and comply with all orders and instructions. f questioned, keep your answers short. Don't volunteer information or make unnecessary overtures.

Don't try to be a hero, endangering yourself and others.

ASSISTANCE ABROAD

If you plan to stay more than two weeks in one place, if you are in an area experiencing civil unrest or a natural disaster or if you are planning travel to a remote area, it is advisable to register at the Consular Section of your nearest embassy or consulate. This will make it easier if someone at home needs to locate you urgently or in the unlikely event that you need to be evacuated in an emergency. It will also facilitate the issuance of a new passport should yours be lost or stolen.
Another reason to contact the Consular Section is to obtain updated information on the security situation in a country.

If you are ill or injured, contact your nearest embassy or consulate for a list of local physicians and medical facilities. If the illness is serious, consular officers can help you find medical assistance from this list and, at your request, will inform your family or friends. If necessary, a consul can assist in the transfer of funds from family or friends in your home country. Payment of hospital and other medical expenses is your responsibility.

If you run out of money overseas and have no other options, consular officers can help you get in touch with your family, friends, bank or employer and inform them how to wire funds to you.
Should you find yourself in legal difficulty, contact a consular officer immediately! Consular officers cannot serve as attorneys, give legal advice, or get you out of jail. What they can do is provide a list of local attorneys who speak English and who may have had experience in representing foreign citizens. If you are arrested, consular officials will visit you, advise you of your rights under local laws and ensure that you are held under humane conditions and are treated fairly under local law. A consular officer will also contact your family or friends if you desire. When necessary, consuls can transfer money from home for you and will try to get relief for you, including food and clothing in countries where this is a problem. If you are detained, remember that under international agreements and practice, you have the right to talk to your consul. If you are denied this right, be persistent. Try to have someone get in touch for you.

Wish you a safe, secure and wonderful journey!!