Try our system for free for 30 days. You get access to the largest online investigation system used by law enforcement today.
LeadsOnline is the easiest and safest way to report transactions, helping you, your community, and law enforcement.
What is LeadsOnline and LeadsOnlabs?
LeadsOnline is the nation's largest online investigation system used by detectives for the investigation of crimes in order to catch crooks and cooks (meth). We take in transaction information from thousands of businesses that may lead to the right suspect.
What crimes are solved via LeadsOnline?
Detectives search LeadsOnline to find everything from guns used in homicides, grandma's stolen ring, company property sold online, locations of local meth labs, to that guy who destroyed the church air conditioning system to get $20 worth of copper. That last guy may really want an air conditioner some day.
How many law enforcement agencies use LeadsOnline?
Thousands. A few states contract for our metal theft system and our MethMonitor systems statewide. More than 2,100 local agencies contract with LeadsOnline to bring all their pawn and secondhand stores online. Another 2,000 or so use our eBay First Responder Service. There are more than 30,000 detectives using LeadsOnline and LeadsOnlabs to do their jobs.
What information is available to investigators through Leads?
Information crooks and cooks provide in the process of buying or selling merchandise related to the crime. In most cases, it's the driver's license information and a description of the item bought or sold. Crooks and cooks tend to be self-centered and think they're invisible. Imagine their surprise. And since LeadsOnline takes in a few hundred million transaction records every day, and that number grows by a couple hundred thousand each day, we provide a lot of information to law enforcement.
How do law enforcement agencies that don't use LeadsOnline work cases?
Without Leads, law enforcement personnel request PSE logs from pharmacies to look for meth cooks. They drive around to scrap yards and pawn shops in freezing cold and hot sun to find out if their suspect has been there. They sift through piles of paper and stacks of diskettes. Sound fun? It's a beating. Even if CSI filmed this drudgery with good-looking actors and very cool background music, no one would watch.
How are LeadsOnline and eBay working together?
LeadsOnline's eBay First Responder Service enables law enforcement investigators to access eBay listings and certain seller membership information to aid law enforcement in finding missing property. It is another way eBay is working hard to keep illegal transactions out of its marketplace.
Does LeadsOnline require businesses to use a specific point of sale software?
No. LeadsOnline interacts electronically with any store software. Businesses don't have to enter each transaction twice, and police don't find themselves selling software to businesses.
Do you provide training?
Yes. Training may very well be our favorite activity. We have a former detective on staff who makes sure detectives stay current on new updates. She orders a lot of pizza, and based on the stacks of empty boxes, we know a lot of training is going on.
Why do the businesses participate?
Businesses typically have an obligation to make transaction information available for law enforcement investigations. LeadsOnline makes that process a lot easier. Everyone seems to get along better when the process works.
Who sees the information?
Law enforcement personnel who access LeadsOnline to solve crimes. Businesses can see the information they report, but they cannot see anyone else's.
What else do businesses get from using LeadsOnline?
We help businesses satisfy some of their regulatory reporting obligations, such as getting rid of paper logs for pharmacies, creating special state-specific reports for metal dealers, and checking pawn shop customer names against federal lists of drug traffickers and terrorists.
Do pharmacies miss PSE (pseudoephedrine) sales with LeadsOnline?
No. Law-abiding allergy sufferers are processed faster. As for the meth makers, pharmacy employees have been trying to keep the creepers out of their stores for years. They steal more than they buy and tend to frighten the help.
Do meth makers call LeadsOnline?
Yep. We take all the calls on behalf of the agencies using LeadsOnlabs MethMonitor. The system works well, so we don't get many from the legit users. Meth makers call us all the time when they can't buy. It adds variety to our day.
Who pays for LeadsOnline and how?
State and local governments usually pick up the tab, and the cases solved on LeadsOnline are ultimately driven by illegal drugs. Most agencies use seizure funds, grants, and other programs designed to fight drug crime and recover stolen guns. Agencies are understaffed, and LeadsOnline helps them do a lot more with less.
Can we get the businesses to pay for LeadsOnline?
Businesses are willing to help law enforcement by participating, but from their point of view, LeadsOnline is a community benefit they sometimes think picking up the tab puts them on a slippery slope. You can take up the conversation with them from this point. Let us know how it goes.
What information security is in place?
The information coming in is encrypted. Our data center has passed SAS 70 Type II security audit (which is good – the federal government uses the same facility). If we tell you more we would have to shoot you, obviously.
Is either a city ordinance or state legislation necessary to use LeadsOnline? Does any law prevent us from using LeadsOnline?
No. The systems adapt to the laws and understandings that are in place between law enforcement and businesses and what information falls under permitted disclosure. Neither want crooks and cooks in their towns.
Is Leads a government agency?
No. We serve as an agent of law enforcement agencies. They contract with LeadsOnline to collect information to support investigations. Sending to us is sending to them….only safer and easier.
Does every transaction in LeadsOnline point to a crime?
Nope. Detectives aren't interested in you and your allergy medicine. They're not interested in the ukulele you listed online... unless of course it's not really your ukulele. Detectives know what they're looking for, and the bad guys stick out like a sore thumb.
Who owns LeadsOnline and what's their background?
Dave Finley. Technology and telecommunications services―taking care of customers―building great teams like the one at LeadsOnline.
Why doesn't everyone use LeadsOnline?
We thought everyone did. If you know an agency that should be using Leads, have them give us a call. It'll knock their socks off. Tell them to wear good socks.
What does LeadsOnline do to help make the world a better place?
You mean besides providing jobs, making the work of others more meaningful, and helping catch crooks and meth cooks all day every day? Our favorite thing is to award scholarships to "Future Leaders" – kids of law enforcement investigators who we think will do a lot of good in the world. In our first year, 14 kids received some help from LeadsOnline... from $1,000 of college tuition to a giant roll of quarters and a box of Tide.
We also support programs that cause behavioral change in prison inmates such as New Life Behavior and Prison Entrepreneurship. We figured we had something to do with them being there…we should support the people who work to keep them on the straight and narrow.
Our CEO is a big fan of CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates. He served as an advocate until we made him travel too much to keep up with his cases. CASA rocks.
Working on global warming next. Silly polar ice caps...
Where is LeadsOnline located? How many people work for LeadsOnline?
LeadsOnline is located in north Dallas. We won't say how many, but there are less than 50 of us. We travel everywhere. Some of us have an accent; some of us talk just like ya'll.
Is LeadsOnline hiring?
Sometimes. Check out our careers page for more information. And please see our "No Flakes Policy" before calling about a job.