Showing posts with label international investigator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international investigator. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
How to Find a Good International Private Investigator



Whether it's for business or pleasure, the demand for international private investigators is growing.  More companies, big and small, are doing business overseas with new business contacts, new companies, unknown connections and investors, and unverified websites.  That is where the opportunity is in many cases.  After all, with no risk there is no reward.  Online dating and social networks have also fueled the demand for professional private investigators around the world as internet users try to verify their online romance or friend they meet online.

International background checks are among the most sought after services provided by private investigator companies specializing in international cases. International investigators are those private investigation companies with offices or field investigators in multiple countries around the world, who can help you verify situations, people and businesses in other countries. 

In other words, international investigators are the private investigator solution for cases in foreign countries, for business and person reasons.  Services include background checks, due diligence, asset searches, surveillance, criminal cases, employment screening, and others.

Once you find a reputable professional to handle your case, the rest can be easy.  The trouble is how to find a good international investigator.  For clients needing due diligence on a company in China, West Africa, Russia or the Baltic region, it might not be easy to hire someone local.  There are language barriers and trusting someone you've never met on the other side of the world can be difficult.  Need surveillance on a girlfriend in the Philippines or Colombia?  Who can you trust to do the job?  Even a nice private investigator website isn't always a sign you can trust.

A good start would be searching Google for 'international private investigators' or 'international background checks' or 'international due diligence'.  You can also try an international private investigator directory and contact a few of them on the list to compare quotes and options.  Once you find some websites to compare, look for trust seals such as Truste, McAfee and the Better Business Bureau to be sure you're dealing with a legitimate website and company.  Check the contact us page to make sure the company has a real office and where they are located.

sk for references and search Google for the company name or investigator name to see what others are saying about the company.  See if the investigator is available for a phone call to discuss your case, and be sure the investigator has a team on the ground where you need them.

A Hathaway
© 2013 A Hathaway 


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Thursday, April 11, 2013
Private Investigators See Rise in Webcam Scams













Romance scam victims always ask, how could this happen to me?  Many internet scam and fraud victims report that they are skeptical and educated individuals.  Outsiders and those who have not been a victim often think it takes a fool to be a victim of scam or fraud.  Private investigators caution this is not the case.  In fact, international criminals are using more sophisticated scam and fraud techniques each month, and law enforcement and internet users are having a hard time staying current on all the warning signs.  In a new twist to romance scams and online dating fraud, internet criminals are now rolling out a new scam technique that has many victims dazed and confused.  Criminals are now using real models to talk to their victims on web cam to convince the victim they are real and beautiful, and they are truly in love or need your help.  It is the most effective scam technique being used today on the internet for dating scams and fraud.

Organized crime groups in Eastern Europe and West Africa and even Malaysia and the Philippines have found it very profitable to use live girls to talk to you to gain your trust and love, and to then steal your money or information to steal your identity.  The days of using fake photos taken from sites like Match.com and Facebook are slowly fading away.  With billions stolen and millions of fraud victims, the old method was a gold mine, but criminals and private investigators say, the new method is even more effective and dangerous to internet users on social networking and online dating sites.  When you’re talking  to a person on webcam, you think you’re safe.

Countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Russia, the Ukraine, Romania and the Philippines are known to use this new method in online dating scams and fraud. Dating background checks by prudent private investigation firms are still the most reliable for avoiding the fraud and lowering your risk.

In most cases, victims were clients of adult content websites in which they become involved with a girl online, and with time, a relationship develops.  The scammer poses as a model or online chat mate who wants to get to know your better.  He or she never asks for money or help or even your personal data until a solid communication is established and the criminals gains a part of your trust.  In some cases the criminals may ask for money or your help directly.  In other cases, the crook will slowly gather information about you, later to be used to steal your identity and drain your bank accounts!  Experts warn just because you can see someone in a video on the internet, does not always mean the video is live, and it does not always mean the person in the video is who he or she claims to be.  Extra caution is advised for anyone who meets someone online.  Be safe and contact a professional international investigator to verify and, investigate.  Then decide.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2013 A Hathaway 

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012
10 Tips to Avoid Dating Scams













Being a victim of scam or fraud on the internet is a horrible experience. It can take a major emotional and financial toll on you and your loved ones, and can be completely devastating. Making matters worse, many victims find that law enforcement is unable or unwilling to assist in these cases, where criminals often reside and operate overseas in developing countries. Even when the evidence is clear, it can be hard to go after criminals and recover losses.

Among the global victims, the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia lose the most. Annual losses in these countries are in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Experts say that even though internet users have become more educated and skeptical about meeting people online, criminals continue to stay ahead of the curve, and by using new techniques and methods, scams are rising.

International investigators urge internet users to be skeptical, and guard your personal information such as full name, address, date of birth, and so on. Never share ID numbers or credit card numbers with individuals you have never met in person, and if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Although scams are evolving, the request for money is always the traditional and most important red flag. Be very skeptical of anyone who claims to be in trouble, danger or in a bad situation that requires your help and your money. Be extra careful when communicating with companies or individuals in high risk countries, such as Nigeria or Ghana in West Africa; Russia, Romania or the Ukraine in Eastern Europe; Philippines or Malaysia in Southeast Asia; and Colombia in Latin America. Ignoring the risk online can lead to major real world problems.

To lower your risk, investigators advise background check investigations to determine if the person is real or a scammer. Professional investigators can verify a person’s identity and background.

Below are some tips to avoid romance scams and internet fraud.

1. Keep personal data to yourself. Scammers rely on the confidence they get from you to have you provide them with information such as full name, date of birth or any other data to use against you, whether to scam you or blackmail you. Share less!

2. Google it! A good start can be searching the subject’s name and email address on Google. It may not tell you much, but it is worth checking to see if someone else has commented on the person. Sometimes, a quick internet search can reveal past fraud cases.

3. Use paid online dating sites only. While major sites like Match.com and eHarmony are not immune from fraud, by any stretch of the imagination, they do have a slightly higher level of protection than some of the other free sites, so it’s worth considering.
4. Stay on the dating site. Many criminals soon after meeting you want you to stop communicating through the dating site or social network site like Facebook. They want to email you directly and call you directly. Keep the barriers between you in place to keep you safe, and use secure emails provided by Match.com and Facebook and others.

5. Don’t open attachments from strangers. Some criminals now send attachments to their chat mates which can install viruses on your computer to steal your passwords and even your identity. If you don’t know the person well, avoid opening email attachments.

6. Be skeptical of soldier stories. Military scams are up sharply, so if you are communicating with a soldier who claims to be in Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, be skeptical!

7. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. If you met Mr. or Ms. Perfect online and they fell in love with you overnight, don’t get too caught up in the story. Ask yourself if there are any red flags. If you’re not sure, contact a reputable international investigator for help.

8. Avoid scams with emergency or money needed. If you’ve met someone online who claims to have a major emergency, traveling abroad, or needs money, this is a major red flag and you may be communicating with a criminal. Stop and consider the risks.

9. Never send money to any person you’ve never met. No excuses.

10. Consult a professional. International private investigators and professional background check investigations can verify individuals, check identity, and screen for fraud. If you have met someone on the internet and think there is potential in the relationship, minimize your risk and contact a professional investigator for advice. A background check can save you time and money and protect you from fraud. It is wise insurance to have!

If you suspect you are dealing with a criminal or a scammer, cease contact immediately. If you think you have truly found someone, consider a dating background check to be safe.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2012 A Hathaway 
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