Greater Cincinnati: Ohio - Kentucky - Indiana
513-263-8000
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Greater Cincinnati: Ohio - Kentucky - Indiana
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513-263-8000 or |
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BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
Persons involved in terrorist activity often exhibit indicators that if observed could identify a potential impending crime or terrorist attack. The following is a list of some of the characteristics of such persons that you should be aware of during the course of your business.
Table of contents:
Industry / Critical Infrastructure General Business Apartments
Banks / Financial Institutions Dive Shops / Boat Shops Hobby Shops
Hotels / Motels Rental Vehicle Businesses Self-Storage / Warehousing Units
On August 3, 2004, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released the memorandum; “Suspicious Activity Reporting Criteria for Infrastructure Owners and Operators.” DHS and the FBI request that owners and operators of the nation’s critical infrastructure / key resource facilities provide reporting on any suspicious activities potentially indicative of pre-operational terrorist planning.
Successful terrorist operations begin with extensive planning. An essential element of the planning process is the gathering of detailed reconnaissance and intelligence about a target: its defenses, vulnerabilities, and patterns of daily activity. This phase of a terrorist operation is called pre-operational surveillance, the purpose of which is to gather all the information possible concerning a particular target so that data can be assimilated into a precise plan of action which will greatly enhance the likelihood for success.
What type of information are terrorists after that will aid them in their planning?
Click here to read the types of surveillance / probing activity that might occur in an attempt to acquire the information listed above and for a listing of critical infrastructure / key resource facilities.
The local numbers to report such activity are:
FBI Cincinnati, Joint Terrorism Task Force: 513-421-4310
Click here to learn about critical infrastructure / key resource facilities and cyberterrorism.
General Characteristics
1) Surveillance and probing of potential targets
2) The following indicators may suggest logistical planning for terrorist attack
Attempts to gain sensitive information regarding key facilities or personnel through personal contact or by telephone, mail or e-mail.
Attempts to penetrate or test physical security or security response procedures at key facilities.
Attempts to improperly acquire explosives, weapons, ammunition, dangerous chemicals, flight manuals or other materials which could be used in a terrorist attack.
Suspicious or improper attempts to acquire official vehicles, uniforms, badges, access cards or identification for key facilities.
Presence of individuals who do not appear to belong in the workplace, business establishment or near a key facility.
Behavior which appears to denote planning of terrorist activity, such as mapping out routes, playing out scenarios, monitoring key facilities and timing flow or signals.
Stockpiling suspicious materials or abandoning potential containers for explosives (e.g., vehicles or suitcases).
Rents accommodations using a false name
Reluctance to give personal and/or work information
Uses a credit card registered in someone else’s name
Exhibits secretive and / or paranoid behavior about giving I.D. information
Appears to be secretive about how many individuals will occupy the apartment
Presents a questionable, fraudulent, or recently issued driver's license
Prefers ground floor apartment (which can facilitate escape)
Chooses secluded, least visible apartment
Keeps shades drawn at all times
Replaces rental unit’s locks and key
Receives frequent suspicious or unusual visitors
Follows no established departure or return routine, such as a work schedule
Lack of furniture
Banks / Financial Institutions
Banks / Financial Institutions are encouraged to report suspicious transactions that may relate to terrorist activity to the United States Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) directly via the Financial Institution Hotline at 1-866-556-3974. Click here to read more. Also, the USA PATRIOT Act Section 314(b) permits financial institutions, upon providing notice to the United States Department of the Treasury, to share information with one another in order to identify and report to the federal government activities that may involve money laundering or terrorist activity. Financial institutions wanting to do so may notify the Treasury Department by clicking here.
Reluctance to give complete personal or work information
Purchases or rents watercraft with credit card registered to someone else
Purchases or rents watercraft with cash
Rents watercraft for extended period of time
Acts secretive about the purpose of rental or purchase
Produces questionable, fraudulent or recently issued I.D.
Acts secretive about giving I.D. information
Asks to purchase or rent sophisticated re-breather dive equipment
Purchases or rents dive equipment with credit card registered in someone else's name
Purchases high-dollar diving equipment in cash
Requests information about local dams, water treatment plants, and other companies located along water ways
Exhibits nervous behavior
Exhibits secretive and/or paranoid behavior
Uses cash for large transactions
Uses a credit card registered in someone else’s name
Presents a questionable, fraudulent or recently issued driver's license
Resides in distant city / state
Purchases remote-controlled aircraft but has no knowledge about how to operate it
Interest in remote-control hobby aircraft does not seem genuine
Inquires about remote-control aircraft, aircraft payload capacity and maximum range of aircraft
Wants to learn how to fly giant scale aircraft without first learning to fly small aircraft
Purchases several large aircraft, engines or transmitters
Arrives without reservations and insists on paying cash
Checks into room for extended stay and pays cash in advance
Appears to be secretive about how many individuals will be occupying the room, and their identity
Requests a room away from others
Requests specific view of bridges, airports, military or government installations (for observation purposes)
Refuses housekeeping services that prohibits staff from entering room or displays the “Do not disturb” sign
Acts paranoid, secretive
Has limited activity or seems to be waiting for someone
Receives frequent, suspicious or unusual visitors
Uses payphones or cell phones only, not room phone
Leaves for a day or more without checking out between days
Strange or suspicious items or documents in guest room
Makes anti-American comments
In addition to the characteristics previously listed, other signs of terrorist activity may be found within the rooms rented by the suspected person(s).
Flight manuals or other similar materials
Weapons or ammunition
Electronic surveillance equipment in room
Area Maps (possibly depicting high profile targets such as government buildings, religious buildings, event sites or water, gas or electric plants)
Photographs, sketches or blueprints of buildings and landmarks
Unusual odors emanating from the room
Industrial chemicals being stored within the room
Customers who are reluctant to provide identification, provide fraudulent identification or provide identification other that state issued identification cards
Customers who pay in cash
Customers who do not request information on how to go about returning the vehicle
A customer who rents a vehicle then gives the keys to another unidentified person before leaving the area
Customer who rents a vehicle for an unusually long period of time paying in advance with cash
Customer who appears overly nervous or distracted when renting the vehicle
Customer who avoids any conversation as to the intended use of the vehicle
Self-Storage / Warehousing Units
Customer insists on paying cash, sometimes weeks or months in advance
Customer seems overly concerned about privacy
Customer frequently visits the storage facility late at night or at unusual times
Customer exhibits suspicious behavior when approached by rental employees or security personnel
Customer has unusual fumes, liquids, residues or odors emanating from storage unit
Customer displays burns or chemical exposure symptoms and provides vague or irrational explanation for the injuries
Customer discards chemical containers in storage facility dumpsters
Storage of the following items may also be cause for concern:
Pesticides
Weapons or ammunition
Flight manuals or other similar materials
Large delivery vehicles, vans, cargo containers, trailers or related equipment
Laboratory equipment (e.g., flasks, sealed containers) or protective clothing (e.g., surgical masks, gas masks, rubber gloves, self contained breathing apparatuses), incinerators, incubators, cell cultures, agricultural sprayers, improvised showers or eye baths, and textbooks and journals discussing biology, chemistry, explosives or poisons
Large quantities of fuel
Agricultural or industrial chemicals and/or equipment
Explosives, blasting caps, fuses and / or similar items
NOTE: None of the listed actions or characteristics mentioned above, in and of themselves, constitutes a criminal violation. However, when coupled, the acts may indicate suspicious activity that warrants law enforcement scrutiny. If you observe or suspect terrorist activity, contact the Terrorism Early Warning Group (TEWG) or the local Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) immediately at the numbers below. If there is an emergency situation call 9-1-1 or your local law enforcement agency.
FBI Cincinnati, Joint Terrorism Task Force: 513-421-4310
Click here for information on the Recommended Emergency Action Steps for businesses.
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