As computer and cell phone forensic experts, ICFECI uncover a lot of
private messages. Whether it’s emails, texts, social media messages
or private IMs, this kind of data can become incredibly important evidence.
Some messages may not seem obviously incriminating, but there could be a lot of
revealing information for authorities or clues as to the authorship of the
documents. While forensic investigators are concerned with retrieving, storing
and presenting this evidence, we understand that it is the meaning behind the
messages that makes all the difference.
Forensic
linguistics
Forensic linguistics
is the process by which experts analyse texts to establish authorship.
Linguists look at syntax, grammar, word choice, conjugations, spellings and
more to find patterns in a person’s writing style. If repeated patterns emerge,
experts may be able to identify who originally authored the message. Certain
spellings and word choices can help investigators build an offender profile –
previous cases have allowed authorities to correctly identify age, education
level, location and more.
The applications for this field are seemingly
endless. Not only can forensic linguistics reveal who has written the message,
but it can also establish if there is any perpetrator at all. Suicide notes,
for example, can be examined to check if someone is covering up a murder, or
suspicious texts sent from a loved one might be uncovered as the work of a
kidnapper.
Handwriting
analysis
While forensic experts deal mostly in digital
communication, we may also come across written evidence on the devices we
analyse. This is often the case with legal documents,
certifications and contracts.
Handwriting analysis claims to study documents like
these and identify the author through their written word. This is particularly
useful when it comes to disputes about signatures for instance, or in cases of
forgery. This kind of analysis can be performed either by a human investigator
or machine systems that identify patterns and idiosyncratic lettering,
comparing ‘known’ documents with the materials in question.
If you believe a message could make or break your
case, hiring a forensic investigator in Texas
is the right course of action. We can uncover deleted and hidden messages, and
we are experts in retrieving evidence from even
the most damaged device.
Resource: https://www.icfeci.com/the-meaning-of-messages/
