Anonymous SMS Aids Crime Fighting

Mobile phone users in the USA and Canada can now send anonymous tips to their police via SMS - following the launch of a service from Anderson Software and mBlox. Using TipSoft SMS, tips may be anonymously received and securely replied to with complete confidence. Anderson Software has built this service specifically to allow text messaging informants to remain anonymous by encrypting the text messages and routing them through several secure servers, protecting the personal details of the informant.

"I have been a law enforcement officer for over 30 years and this is by far the most innovative, progressive tool I have ever seen in my career," said Myrle Carner, Director of Law Enforcement Services, Seattle Police Department. "There is no doubt that this program will dramatically increase our crime solving capabilities!"

TipSoft SMS also allows police to respond by text message to the originating cell phone without ever knowing the identity of the individual who left the tip. The user's information is always given an alias and a unique ID before being sent. This secure application allows the tipster and the investigator to have two-way dialog while always keeping the user's identity completely anonymous.

"Due to the massive popularity of text messaging, we felt it was necessary to develop a secure and anonymous means of easy communication between mobile phone users and law enforcement," said Kevin Anderson, CEO of Anderson Software. "With TipSoft SMS, everyday citizens will have the opportunity to offer an anonymous tip when they are mobile to a variety of law enforcement agencies via a simple text message." Anderson encourages tipsters to report information about any non-urgent illegal activity, such as unsolved cases, vandalism, theft and the sale and distribution of drugs.

TipSoft is currently launching in 32 cities in the United States and will soon be available throughout the UK. Sixteen cities in Canada have already launched the program.

Posted to the site on 30th April 2008