Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Online Dating Investigations

Background Checks Rise with Internet Dating














More and more websites are popping up in the search results each week that offer Internet dating, online match-making, or ways to meet new people locally, or internationally. As a result, more consumers are trying this method in meeting new friends, business contacts, or potential mates. It's not uncommon these days to here about a married couple who met via the Internet. This booming industry has not gone unnoticed by criminals looking to cash in. Hence, the need for background checks.

Match.com and countless other sites offer the opportunity to meet Mr. or Mrs. Perfect via the Internet. Often times, this potential mate can reside, be employed, or be traveling overseas. It can be very difficult to verify someone's identity through email, photographs and phone calls, especially if he or she is from another country. Scammers use this fact to their advantage.

To avoid being a victim, we recommend the following steps. Never send money to anyone who is not known personally overseas, for any reason. Never reveal any personal data such as bank accounts, credit card number, date of birth, address, etc, to an individual who is not known personally. Get a professional dating background check before proceeding in a serious relationship started via the Internet, especially if this person is in another country, or if the situation is international in nature.

Paul Fletcher of Wymoo International states that "too many clients come to us after the damage is already done. We try to encourage consumers to think of a confidential investigation as a prudent insurance policy, and a way to verify identity."

Industry experts agree that an increase in e-commerce and trends in globalization should continue to fuel the market for online relationship services. Avoiding fraud, it seems, will be an ongoing and increasingly difficult battle.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2006-2009 A. Hathaway
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Saturday, February 21, 2009
Global Employment Screening

Growing demand creates options for businesses








Global over-population, globalization, and increasingly international markets continue to fuel the trend in international hiring, or hiring that takes place abroad. This increase in foriegn hiring worldwide, has in turn, caused a rising demand in the need for good international employment screening.

As firms continue to seek the best labor at the cheapest cost, foreign and international hiring trends should continue to rise. Companies are increasingly finding themselves in a new and difficult situation. How do we know this person is who he or she claims to be? This question is precisely the reason for the growing demand in background checks and pre-employment screening that involves the task of verifying a foreign candidate.

Many candidates come from countries where the hiring firm doesn't even speak the same language. It can be hard to verify addresses, credit history, crminal records, employment and education history, etc when the candidate is from a different continent. Often the the language, customs and access to information is entirely different. What's a firm to do?

Because each candidate is different, and each case is unique, we recommend contacting a background check or investigation firm that specializes in real investigation, with field investigators located in the local market that needs verifying. This will ensure the information comes back current and accurate, as the field investigator will know the local language, customs and technique in verifying a candidate's background. Checking databases from abroad isn't enough, and can be costly in the long run.

Wymoo International is one firm that has scrapped the old database model and instead gone with a network of professional field investigators located around the globe. If more employment screening firms would do the same, quite frankly, employers would be at less risk of hiring the wrong candidate.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2006-2009 A. Hathaway
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Thursday, February 12, 2009
Nigeria Investigation and Scams

The rush for background checks in Lagos













Nigeria has been hit hard by the recent global economic downturn. Police have worked hard to take down fraud rings and criminal groups operating scams from Nigeria. With commerce at a near stand still, and opportunity hard to come by, the fraud is on the rebound. Nigeria is not alone. The FBI in the United States has reported a similar rise in fraud cases as criminals get more desperate to bring in the money during the depression.

Corporations continue to operate in Lagos despite the rising cases of fraud, and the risks that come with it. Business and investment activity is down, but deals are still getting done, and international ties continue to exist with individuals and businesses in Lagos. One industry that is booming is there is private investigation, since verifying businesses and individuals is essential.

Selecting a private investigator or background check firm in Lagos can be just as risky. Many corporate and individual clients report having their money stolen, or receiving unacceptable work. Paul Fletcher of Wymoo International urges clients to check references and to do their homework prior to choosing a Nigeria investigator. Wymoo is based in the U.S. with a new field office in Lagos. "Choosing a firm based in Europe or the U.S. with a field office in Lagos offers the best chance for quality work."

Nigeria will continue to develop, and as the global economy recovers, Nigeria law enforcement may once again be successful at shutting down the fraud and scams. For now, businesses and individuals are advised to proceed with caution.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2006-2009 A. Hathaway
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