The explosion of sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn —most often referred to as “social media” sites — is providingunprecedented access to information for insurance claim and fraudinvestigators. Whether it's simply using the sites to help visuallyidentify a claimant who is under surveillance or gaining access todamning evidence freely available to anyone (justask Paris Hilton), investigators are doing themselves a greatdisservice if they aren't at least looking at these types of siteswhile doing their jobs.

But as with all things, you have to know where and how tolook for it. Below is a guide for claims professionals,attorneys, and special investigation units alike to educateand inform themselves on how to properly — and legally — use thesesites to their advantage while punishing criminals. We compiledeverything we've written about it in order to help you do your jobsbetter and more effectively; we hope you find it helpful.

Bookmark the page and come back often, as we'll update the guideas more information becomes available.

Using Social Media in Your ClaimsInvestigations - By Wayne Partenheimer

An attorney offers a legal guide for finding, handling, andusing information gathered from online social media sites, andoffers real-world scenarios for adjusters and investigators as away of answering questions about proper usage of information.

15Questions to Ask Claimants About Social MediaUsage

SIU investigators, attorneys, and data analysts can gainenormous insight into a claim by questioning insureds about theirsocial networking use. Here are 15 questions you should beasking.

Facebook Becomes a Questionable Friend of Workers’Compensation - By Jon L. Gelman

As Facebook and other sites expand their applications, thoseinvolved in the handling of workers' comp claims and cases must beproperly prepared to gain access to this vast library ofindividualized information for use in an evidential setting.

Featured Fraud: Facebook Status Set to'Sentenced' - By Marguerite Swallow,PropertyCasualty360.com

A Facebook post led to one woman's arrest and felony charges ofgrand larceny.

Social Media and Investigations:Tips from the Field — Podcast - By Eric Gilkey,PropertyCasualty360.com

We interview Investigator Michael Beagle to find out how claimsinvestigators can better use social media to help them in their dayto day jobs, what sites they should be looking at, examples ofsuccess stories, and of course the legal issues involved.

Speaking Of: Social Media Intelligence -By Christina Bramlet, PropertyCasualty360.com

Claims Magazine's Editor in Chief spoke with Attorney Deborah A.Lujan to learn about what is admissible in court and what ethicalconsiderations a prudent investigator should evaluate prior tomaking new “friends.”

Paris Hilton Arrest Provides Lesson For SIUInvestigators - By Eric Gilkey,PropertyCasualty360.com

Paris Hilton's recent legal troubles, which involved a photo ofa purse she tweeted about owning, served as perfect fodder for theworkshop, "All that Twitters: A Cyber Guide for Insurance FraudInvestigators and Their Attorneys."