My Writing Narrative

Page 3 Research

Page 3

Hello everyone,

When I’m designing a character, I often run into little “stops” where I need more information before I can move forward. In this case, I needed some background on how things worked before modern cybercrime units existed, especially in connection with the Postal Service. Part of what I know came from a friend’s experience. The rest came from internet research. I don’t need to write a full essay. I just need enough to make the story feel grounded and believable.

Below is a bit of that research, so you can see why it matters.

Prior to the 1990s, the United States had no formal category for “cybercrime,” largely because digital technology had not yet become woven into everyday life. Federal agencies had no specialized units, standardized procedures, or clear legal frameworks for dealing with offenses involving computers or electronic communication.

Crimes that would now be classified as cyber offenses were handled under older federal laws. These included mail fraud statutes, interstate communications laws, wire fraud provisions originally written for telegraph and telephone systems, and federal regulations concerning obscenity and human trafficking. Investigators were using legal tools that were never designed with digital evidence in mind.

This created a fragmented system. Jurisdiction defaulted to whichever agency’s traditional mandate seemed closest to the evidence at hand. That might be the Postal Service, the Federal Trade Commission, or the FBI. Without centralized authority or a unified approach, many early cases were handled in pieces, and the system often struggled to keep up with emerging digital crimes.


Early Cybercrime Note Cards


Card 1
Title: Before Cyber Units
Summary:
Before the 1990s, the U.S. had no cybercrime divisions. Crimes involving computers, disks, or digital devices were handled under old mail and communications laws.

Card 2
Title: Postal Inspectors’ Jurisdiction
Summary:
USPIS investigated crimes involving mailed photos, disks, film, or packages. Early child-exploitation cases often used mail routes, giving USPS automatic authority.

Card 3
Title: FTC’s Role
Summary:
The FTC handled illegal communication systems, fraud, and interstate messaging. Early offenders used mail-order ads, bulletin boards, and 1-900 numbers.

Card 4
Title: Cross-Border Cases
Summary:
When exploitation crossed international borders, embassies, or treaty zones, State Department task groups joined in. This included off-book units like the one Rania’s father worked with.

Card 5
Title: Jurisdiction Gaps
Summary:
Before the 2000s, agencies did not coordinate well. Local police, USPS, FTC, FBI, and State each held fragments of the puzzle, leaving many cases stalled.

Card 6
Title: System Failures
Summary:
No single agency had the full picture. Jurisdiction conflicts caused delays and missed recoveries, especially in multi-state or international cases.

Card 7
Title: Why the Sting Needed Many Agencies
Summary:
The Virginia sting involved mailed materials (USPS), communication systems (FTC), interstate victims (FBI), and foreign links (State Department). It demanded a multi-agency effort.

Card 8
Title: Birth of Modern Cybercrime Units
Summary:
Only in the late 1990s and 2000s did agencies form dedicated cyber divisions, such as FBI Cyber, ICE/HSI child-exploitation units, and Internet Crimes Against Children task forces.

Card 9
Title: Why Rania Was Needed
Summary:
Rania’s insight helped fill the gaps when official systems were slow or fragmented. She stepped in when evidence fell between agencies and time was running out.

I also did a little area research on Annapolis, Maryland. I decided that a 15–20 minute distance was close enough and, taking a bit of dramatic license, chose a small community as Rania’s home base. Using Arden, Maryland as the address gives the setting a realistic anchor.

We’ll treat the home setting as: Arden on the Severn, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. I wanted her house to have a water view, and there is a cove nearby that I’m using as inspiration.
In the next post, I will show you the map I designed to give myself a realistic picture of her world. Step by step, the story begins to unfold. I start thinking about morning swims, and about a neighbor she doesn’t really know. Next, you’ll see my amateur map drawing and learn what comes after that.

Kind wishes,
Tee