Justin Lavelle

Justin Lavelle is the social media director and blogger for BeenVerified.com. He is based out of Northern Virginia.

'Angels of Paradise’ Reunite Families After California Wildfires Using BeenVerified

Justin Lavelle

December 11, 2018

In November 2018, the Camp, Woolsey, and Hill fires tore through parts of California. The Camp Fire alone has been named the deadliest blaze in California history, claiming more than 80 lives and destroying nearly 14,000 homes in Butte County. Friends and family of individuals in the path of destruction tried desperately to reach their loved ones during the aftermath of the 17-day blaze. Fortunately for some, an angel was there to help them.

6 Gray Areas of Public Records Law

Justin Lavelle

December 27, 2018

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) law primarily concerns public records held by federal agencies and does not necessarily create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, or state or local governments, though there are comparable state statutes, which nevertheless enable the various states to administer which of their public documents can be seen and which are protected. It can be confusing when you’re looking for specific information that you might think should be matters of public record and, instead, you hit a legal roadblock.

Acquaintance or Stalker? A True Story

Justin Lavelle

September 19, 2016

Stalking: It doesn’t just happen to celebrities. According to The National Center for Victims of Crime, “At some point in their lives, 15.2 percent of women and 5.7 percent of men have experienced stalking victimization.” Stalking is a serious crime that goes “largely unreported”, says the NCVS. Recently, a customer emailed us at BeenVerified about her harrowing experience with a stalker. Here is part of what she said: “A few years ago, I met a man at my office building who was trying to get me involved in his multilevel marketing business.

How to Reconnect With Family For The Holidays

Justin Lavelle

November 16, 2018

Spending time with family and friends is one of the best things about the holiday season. While many people stay connected with their extended family on social media throughout the year, time, distance, and other factors may cause you to lose touch with those you were once close with. The holidays can be a natural and much-needed excuse to get back in touch with loved ones. If you and the family member in question had a falling out, you may want to proceed with caution and consider whether now is an appropriate time to reach out (though most with the benefit of years will exhort not to wait until it is too late, lamenting that they didn’t ditch the drama and reconcile years earlier).

How to Say No When Friends or Family Ask for Money

Justin Lavelle

December 14, 2018

When your loved ones ask for help, your first instinct is probably to say yes, no matter the situation. No one wants to turn down a family member or friend in need, but constantly sacrificing your resources can become a dangerous cycle. This is especially true when it involves your finances. Lending money to someone you care about can be tempting, but it’s often ill-advised. Squandered funds and unpaid loans can seriously damage your relationship, and it’s better to avoid the situation altogether.

NFL Linebacker Ahmad Thomas Reunited with Biological Parents Thanks To BeenVerified

Justin Lavelle

December 19, 2018

The holiday season is a time for reconnecting with family and loved ones. Thanks to a BeenVerified search and a serendipitous meeting earlier this year, Ahmad Thomas, linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, will have the opportunity to spend his first holiday season with his biological family. In December of 1994, a 13-year-old Michelle Hooshing gave birth to a baby boy. For one month, she raised her son, whom she named Calvin Darnell, before acquiescing to her foster family’s wishes and putting him up for adoption.

Presumed Guilty: Amanda Knox on Netflix

Justin Lavelle

October 13, 2016

You probably have some strong opinions about Amanda Knox, the American student accused of murdering her British housemate, Meredith Kercher, while studying abroad in Italy. Knox’s multiple trials, convictions and then acquittals made for the ultimate tabloid fodder, and earned the accused the now infamous nickname “Foxy Knoxy.” With the case surrounded by lurid accounts of sex, drinking and drug use, all taking place in a country with a distinctly different judicial process than the United States, many casual followers of the case formed strong opinions about the guilt or innocence of Knox.

Starting 2019 Single? 5 Online Dating Resolutions for the New Year

Justin Lavelle

December 27, 2018

Making New Year’s resolutions is an old tradition that many participate in as January 1 approaches. If you spent the holiday season single, your resolutions might have to do with changing your online dating routine for 2019. If you’re planning to explore (or re-enter) the world of dating apps, you’re in luck, because early January is the height of online dating season. However, that doesn’t mean you should dive in head-first without a plan.

Think Someone Is Impersonating You? Here's What You May Want To Do

Justin Lavelle

December 28, 2018

If you’re like most Americans, you’re active on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Reddit, and more. The information you post on these accounts can reveal a lot about you. When you add in public records like addresses, phone numbers, birth and marriage certificates, driving violations, and court cases, anyone who searches your name online will find a fairly comprehensive overview of you. People run online searches on others all the time, and it’s important to occasionally search yourself, both on Google and a more thorough search tool like BeenVerified, so you know what they’re finding.

Which States Have the Most Cases of Identity Theft?

Justin Lavelle

December 12, 2018

Identity theft is a big problem in the United States. Cyber criminals have been hacking into big data banks to pilfer personal information, including financial data, for many years. Recently, data analyzed by WalletHub was used to determine where identity theft occurs most often, and how much money has been lost to these cyber thieves. In the past 13 years, there have been nearly 9,400 data breaches, which means more than 1 billion accounts have been compromised.

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Justin Lavelle

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