Miramichi Crime Stoppers: Giving Your Information

Canadian Crime Stoppers Launches Tips via Text Message
Anonymous text messaging joins the fight against crime

The Canadian Crime Stoppers Association and N.B. Crime Stoppers, in collaboration with Anderson Software, added an exciting new tool to its arsenal in combating crime. Canadians in most major urban centres will now have the ability to anonymously text message their tips to Crime Stoppers at CRIMES (274637). This new program will allow cell phone users to make anonymous tips when voice calls may not always be possible or safe. This announcement coincides with a similar launch in the US and the UK.

How does my identity and cell phone number remain anonymous?

People provide anonymous information to Crime Stoppers to help police solve crimes. They do so knowing that their identity will never be revealed because Crime Stoppers does not know who they are.

As Crime Stoppers programs embrace new technology, it is essential that these strong anonymity protections remain in place. We want you to be 100% assured and feeling safe that your identity will remain anonymous!

Today the vast majority of cell phones offer a feature called Short Message Service (SMS) to send and receive short text messages. New technology is now available so that text messages to Crime Stoppers can be received and responded to anonymously.

In developing the TipSoft SMS system for Crime Stoppers, Anderson Software, a global leader in secure and anonymous tip management software and web applications, worked closely with a leading Canadian information security expert to build a system capable of two-way SMS communication without revealing the mobile phone number to Crime Stoppers. To accomplish this, the system uses a double alias approach:

SMS messages from mobile phones are sent to a secure server located in Canada that is independently operated by a leading Canadian information security company, where the mobile phone number is encrypted and assigned an alias.
The text message and alias are immediately forwarded to Anderson Software’s server in the United States. The Canadian server retains only the minimum information required to facilitate replies. The text message itself is not retained.
Anderson Software’s server assigns a second alias and then inserts the message, along with the second alias, into the TipSoft system where it becomes available to the appropriate Crime Stoppers program (i.e. N.B. Crime Stoppers).
The Crime Stoppers program receives only the content of the text message and the second alias assigned by Anderson Software.
Replies from the Crime Stoppers Program follow the same process in reverse. The reply is sent to the Anderson Software server, which substitutes the first alias for the second alias, sends the message to the Canadian server, which decrypts the original phone number, substitutes it for the alias, and forwards the message to the mobile telephone SMS network.

The system ensures that neither Anderson Software nor the Crime Stoppers Program have access to the mobile phone number.

The contractual arrangement between Anderson Software and the Canadian information security company requires that all information be held in strict confidence and that only the minimum information required to associate the encrypted alias with the mobile phone number is retained. This company will not release mobile phone numbers to any party. This position is supported by a Supreme Court of Canada decision that upheld the legal privilege extended to those who provide anonymous information to Crime Stoppers Programs.

The Canadian company has provided security and privacy consulting services to governments, financial institutions, insurance firms, and other public and private sector organizations in Europe, Asia, and throughout the United States and Canada. Anderson Software is pleased to work with this company to ensure that people contacting Crime Stoppers through their mobile phones receive the same level of anonymity associated with more traditional communication methods.

The major Canadian regions taking part in this new initiative include: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, Lethbridge, Northwest Ontario, Sudbury, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Edmonton and Calgary.

What do I need to include when texting my tip?

Text "TIP212 plus your message" to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or mobile device.

Each participating region has a specific tip number code, such as “TIP212” for cell users in New Brunswick. Tipsters will be required to include this code when they text their tips to CRIMES (274637). These codes determine routing through the system. For example: “TIP212 Drugs being sold at corner of Bank and Third” would route the message to N.B. Crime Stoppers officials. Standard text messaging rates may apply based on the subscriber's plan with their mobile phone carrier. An opt-out can be requested at any time by sending the keyword STOP to CRIMES.

Region Tip Codes:

TIP183 – Calgary
TIP250 – Edmonton
TIP201 – Halton Region
TIP232 – Lethbridge
TIP193 – Moose Jaw
TIP212 – New Brunswick
TIP262 – Northwest Ontario (Kenora)
TIP202 – Nova Scotia
TIP190 – Newfoundland and Labrador
TIP252 – Ottawa/Gatineau (National Capital Area)
TIP162 – PEI
TIP168 – Regina
TIP210 – Saskatoon
TIP267 – Sudbury
TIP312 – Toronto
TIP170 – Winnipeg

“We knew it was time to develop and provide a truly secure and anonymous means of easily communicating with tipsters via text messages,” said Kevin Anderson, CEO of Anderson Software and long-time supporter and IT Partner of Crime Stoppers. “Our new TipSoft v5 Online, hosted on our secure servers, provides for the seamless reception and management of information whether coming via phone, the Web or as a text message tip.”

Crime Stoppers believes this new system will entice more informants to come forward, especially tech-savvy youth. Text messaging is becoming an increasingly popular means of communication. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) reports that the number of person-to-person text messages in Canada totalled 10.1 billion in 2007, an increase of 133% over the 2006 total of 4.3 billion messages. Canadians are now sending almost 40 million text messages per day.

“Wireless technologies have long been lifeline for Canadians’ safety and security,” said Peter Barnes, President and CEO of CWTA. “We are extremely pleased to see that this innovative partnership between Crime Stoppers and Anderson Software will offer Canadians an additional way to help keep our communities safe.”

Complete instructions about texting tips to Crime Stoppers can be found at: www.smscrimetips.com.