Showing posts with label investigation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label investigation. Show all posts
Saturday, January 26, 2008
no image

  • 1/26/2008
  • 1
Avoiding the scams and knowing who to call.

Whatever it is that draws Western men to the Filipina is up for debate. Most likely, it is the sheer vast number of Philippine women seeking something different, an increase in their standard of living and an escape from the widespread corruption and poverty of the Philippines. Finding the right Filipina is no easy task, however, as the number of scams is higher than ever.

Opportunity Knocks

Distinguishing between the wholesome girl next door, and the scammer is getting tougher all the time. Good Philippine women are definitely out there. The country has no shortage of beautiful women seeking an honest relationship. On the other hand, there is no shortage of gold diggers either, not professional scammers but interested in pure financial gain at any cost. Love and physical attraction simply doesn't matter for these girls. Many girls with their profiles on Internet match making sites are seeking immigration to the U.S., Europe or Canada, and as long as the man has money, the Filipina will likely put out the For Sale sign.

Avoiding the Pitfalls

Sudden or frequent Filipina emergencies, followed by financial requests should be verified. Early in the relationship, if your partner in the Philippines makes requests for financial support, it would be wise to move on to the next potential partner. Fraud and relationship scams run rampant here, and what may start out as help with the bills, may be followed by a long list of bills and emergencies. In short, a scammer or gold digger can slowly create a financial and emotional nightmare.

Verifying her Story

If you've found someone in the Philippines and all looks good, it pays to get a background check. Many men find beautiful and decent brides from the Philippines, but finding the perfect Filipina is never easy. Taking the relationship to the next level has the potential to be costly. It's a prudent decision to be skeptical in a Philippine relationship. We recommend getting a professional and confidential Philippine background check, and for situations that require knowing exactly what the Filipina is doing, and with whom, we recommend Philippine surveillance.

The Investigators

Investigators in the Philippines, unfortunately, can be fraudulent themselves. We recommend choosing a U.S. owned and operated firm, such as Philippine PI or Wymoo International due to the difference in management styles, level of customer service, and reputable investigative techniques. Furthermore, if you have any problems in your investigation, you have the piece of mind that you're dealing with a U.S. firm rather than an individual.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2006-2009 A. Hathaway
Read more
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
no image

What to know and how to recognize the threat

Investment scams have been on the rise around the globe, and unfortunately, have been rising in sophistication. Fraud was introduced to the Internet most notably by the Nigeria 411 scams, i.e. advance fee fraud. Times have changed.

Criminals are using today's worldwide access to the Internet to their advantage. Webhosting accounts for a new website, bank and credit accounts can now be easily opened via the Internet, from anywhere in the world. Having some false identification gives the scammer the upper hand here, as he has essentially created an alias with little, if any, traceable information.

Beware of the False Website

Many investment scams are taking the form of the classic advance fee fraud, but with a higher level of sophistication and (seemingly) credibility. Websites are often created with templates or a design is stolen from another reputable and legal investment company. Once the site is complete, the criminal has created what appears to be a legitimate website and company. The headquarters for these fictitious firms are often located in the United States, so the website claims. These sites are mearly a tool for fraud.

How to distinguish a real investment website from a fraudulent one? Search Google and Yahoo for the company to determine if there are other sites referencing the firm. Check the site itself to see if the firm has contact information. A website without an address or phone number is a red flag for potential fraud or scam. Search phone directories for the firm's telephone number. Lastly, check with the SEC's website for signs on how to recognize these investment scams, and to verify registration of the firm.

The Warning Signs

Although the level of sophistication in these scams continues to rise, an educated consumer can know the difference. Scammers today always contact their victims with an offer - the potential victim has been selected. The firm representative may speak perfect English, and even understand investments and asset management. He may even request you submit an IRS form and other documents. Bottom line, this person will request personal data and/or payment promptly and without ever meeting you. Be skeptical and ask for the firms' references and SEC filing.

How to Be Sure

If you've searched the Internet for references, checked local phone listings, maybe even contacted the SEC for verification, and spoke with company representatives and claimed references - and you're still not sure? Contact a professional international private investigator like Wymoo International or Philippine PI for help. Get the facts on who you're dealing with - then decide.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2006-2009 A. Hathaway
Read more
Monday, July 16, 2007
no image

How to not be a victim of Relationship Fraud

It's no secret that the Philippines produces a good number of foreign brides each year to Western men. Many women seek a better life from the poverty and widespread problems there, others are looking for something different, the money.

There are many successful marriages and lasting relationships that come from the exportation of Philippine brides. There are an equal number of women (and men) scamming Westerners out of the hard earned cash. The Internet has made meeting these women easy, and with beautiful brides awaiting, how does one know the relationship is real? Is she who she says she is?

Most relationships today begin on the Internet, or for a few, with a business trip or vacation to the Philippines. Developing a relationship on the Internet raises the risk level considerably. The best way to avoid fraud and scams (mainly advance fee fraud) is to visit the person and see who exactly you're dealing with. Spend some time in her country and get to know her on a real and personal level. With today's professional fraud groups, it can be difficult to know the difference between love and scam.

Avoid sending money and be skeptical of "emergencies". Get to know the person slowly via the Internet, and follow up with phone conversations if the relationship progresses. Be wary of requests for money. And don't be crazy. If you're thinking of marriage, invest in the effort to visit the Philippines before beginning any serious commitment. Lastly, if all looks good and you think you may have found the real thing, get the confidential background check by Wymoo International, and sleep well at night!

Be safe and happy hunting,

A. Hathaway

Copyright © 2005-2007 A. Hathaway
Read more
Sunday, July 8, 2007
no image

  • 7/08/2007
  • 1
An overview on Nigeria and its Scam Operations

With approximately 2 billion people now accessing the Internet, it's no wonder that online scams and fraud are affecting more innocent people. Even as the word gets out about relationship fraud, 419 fraud, dating scams, advance fee and other types of fraud practices via the Internet, the number of victims has risen substantially. One of the countries leading the increase in scams, along with S. Africa, Ghana, Philippines, and Russia, is Nigeria.

Nigerian criminals range from beginners to professional scammers. On the professional level, scams can be so convincing that it is truly difficult to differentiate the truth from fraud. In many cases, it is impossible for the average person outside of Nigeria. While many Nigerian relationships established online are fraudulent, such as misrepresentation, or as advance fee scams, it would be wrong to say that all Nigerians or foreigners working in Nigeria are conducting fraud. Many good citizens and foriegners in Nigeria are honest. With the overwhelming level of fraud via the Internet, the question is how tell the difference.

Some guidelines to avoid being a victim:

1. Be skeptical from the beginning with anyone in Nigeria.
2. Don't send money to any person whom you've never met.
3. Be skeptical of any claims of inheritance, or other reward.
4. Verify claims of emergencies with a Nigeria background check.
5. Know money sent via Western Union is likely lost if fraud.

Lastly, if you've been in a relationship with someone working or living in Nigeria, and you're aware of all the warning signs and the problems with fraud in that country, and you're still not sure, or if you are considering sending money, get a background check. The cost can be a small price to pay to prevent fraud and find out the truth. Wymoo International, based in the U.S. with an office in Lagos, specializes in verifying relationships in Nigeria.

Proceed with caution,

A. Hathaway
Copyright © 2005-2009 A. Hathaway
Read more
Thursday, June 14, 2007
no image

A Brief Comparison of Background Checks

International investigations and background checks are increasing in demand as businesses, organizations, corporations and even individuals are impacted by globalization. Whether or not globalization is a positive for the world and the existing cultures is up for debate. The need to verify individuals and organizations across foreign borders, however, is not.

Organizations and individuals increasingly require the service of a background check firm for due diligence and for peace of mind. A firm in Europe seeking an employment candidate in Malaysia wants to be prudent in its hiring decision. Management wants to confirm his identity and professional experience. In addition, the company likely wants to check for any criminal background, and other red flags. Individuals around the world are increasingly dating and establishing new relationship via the Internet. A background check to confirm a lover's identity overseas is not only important, but an essential path to preventing fraud.

So, what options are available if you want to confirm your business partner's identity in Colombia? How can you verify a website and small business located in Russia as a legitimate concern? How can you be sure about sponsoring your Russian fiancee for a visa? And how can the small business in London conduct due dilignece when forming a partnership with a firm in Mexico City? The examples are endless. The answers on where to find assistance, however, are suprisingly limited. We list a few below for our top choices for professional investigations.

From an international perspective, investigating outside of one's home country, we recommend three major firms who provide reliable, professional background checks and customer service.

Wymoo International, Owens Online and Kroll are at the top of our list. Depending on the services required, one of the three may be the best option. We suggest contacting each to learn about the services offered, and to determine which firm offers the best services and pricing for your specific situation. Wymoo offers a highly personalized client service and wide range of investigation in over 100 countries. Their signature market is in confirming international relationships, an area where they clearly lead the competition. Owens offers an impressive list of 250 countries, while Kroll may be suitable for more business clients.

Depending on the individual case, an international background check or investigation may cost between $200 and $800 USD. Pricing is usually based on what information the client requires, and in which country. Given the amount of fraud, scam and misrepresentation in the global marketplace, the background check is a key insurance policy against loss, whether emotional or financial, or both. Do your due diligence and verify relationships abroad. The alternative may be more expensive!

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway

Copyright © 2005-2007 A. Hathaway
Read more
Thursday, May 24, 2007
no image

A Consumer Report of Services Available

If you're new to the world of online or Internet dating, you're not alone. Millions of people are joining the long list of available match-making websites in the hope of finding someone special. The impressive growth in the number of online subscribers to such sites is not suprising, as many marriages and meaningful relationships are now being initiated via the Internet.

Along with the success stories, there are some dreadful losses and scams. Risks inherent in online dating include physical harm, financial fraud, scams and identity theft. The fact is, when someone is introduced via the Internet, it is nearly impossible to truly see who that person really is. Emails, beautiful photos, smooth phone conversations, and more, are often the real thing. The problem is knowing when this is actually fraud.

Relationship fraud indicates one of the members in the relationship has misrepresented him or herself, or has false intentions, and of course the most common false intention, is money. The most cautious of individuals dating online can be a victim of advance fee fraud. The scammers are convincing and are often professionial criminals with years of experience.

How do you know if you have the real thing? Know the warning signs. Beware of individuals falling in love too soon. Watch out for any money requests for emergencies, etc. Use extra caution when developing a relationship with an individual in a foreign country. Be skeptical. Move towards speaking on the phone before meeting in person. Never give personal financial information and last but not least, when meeting, do it in a safe and public place.

Be Safe, Get a Background Check

There are a few services that provide assistance to those who want to be cautious. In other words, these companies can confirm that yes, this person appears to be who he or she claims to be and there is no criminal record, etc. It is a smart move to verify his or her story. Below we list a few of our favorites options.

1. Wymoo International, specializes in background checks for online dating and Internet fraud in 100 countries. Based in the United States with offices around with world. Narrative reporting in 7 to 10 days. Offers full confidential investigations.

2. Owens Online, provides a variety of a la carte services for each of their 250 countries covered. Based in the United States and offers a verification service and data reporting for checking criminal, education and employment references.

3. Kroll, offers a wide array of services to assist clients around the world with fraud prevention and background screening. Based in the U.S. with offices in 19 countries. Employment, education and public records. Company advisory but supports individuals.

Prices of these services may vary depending on the country involved and the information needed. If the relationship is progressing, especially if international, the price of an early background check is often a prudent investment.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway

Read more about warning signs of advance fee fraud at Wikipedia.
Read more
Friday, May 18, 2007
no image

What to know when seeking a Colombian Bride

Colombia is a poor country and has a rising reputation for relationship fraud. Of course there are plenty of good, beautiful and honest women seeking marriage with foreigners. There is also an active population of scammers, fraud schemes and old fashioned gold diggers. Some women seek financial gain and lifestyle upgrades, an escape from poverty. Others are actually seeking a loving relationship, marriage and something new and exciting. How to tell this difference is the big question.

If she asks for money, put the brakes on. Beware of family or medical "emergencies" where the woman needs cash and financial support fast. Know that sending money via Western Union is likely lost in the event that she's a scammer. Understand that the scammers are professional criminals and are very difficult to distinguish between an honest and trustworthy woman.

Educated yourself by reading about scam and fraud methods. Knowing about the different scams will help you recognize any foul play. The schemes and fraud efforts vary in strategy, but all have one thing in common, money. Money is usually requested in the form of advance fee fraud, where the criminal needs help with school, medical, rent, family, visa, etc. You can read more about the fraud types at Wikipedia's site for relationship fraud and advance fee fraud. This is a major step in prevention.

Once you understand the fraud types and warnings signs, consider a trip to Colombia. Get to know her and her country. See for yourself who you're dealing with. This is a key step in not only preventing fraud, but also important in establishing a meaningful relationship. Take time to get to know her. A Colombian woman in a hurry to marry is a major red flag and warning sign.

Lastly, if all checks out, get a professional background check by a firm with a local presence in Bogota and Barranquilla. Wymoo offers confidential investigations and has years of experience dealing with potential brides and relationships in Colombia.

Best of luck, and do your homework!

A. Hathaway
Read more
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
no image

What to know when considering a Russian Bride

Russia is a poor country and has a reputation for relationship fraud. Of course there are plenty of good, beautiful and honest women seeking marriage with foreigners. There is also an active population of scammers, fraud schemes and old fashioned gold diggers. Some women seek financial gain and lifestyle upgrades, an escape from poverty. Others are actually seeking a loving relationship, marriage and something new and exciting. How to tell this difference is the million dollar question.

If she asks for money, put the brakes on. Beware of family or medical "emergencies" where the woman needs cash and financial support fast. Know that sending money via Western Union is likely lost in the event that she's a scammer. Understand that the scammers are professional criminals and are very difficult to distinguish between an honest and trustworthy woman.

Educated yourself by reading about scam and fraud methods. Knowing about the different scams will help you recognize any foul play. The schemes and fraud efforts vary in strategy, but all have one thing in common, money. Money is usually requested in the form of advance fee fraud, where the criminal needs help with school, medical, rent, family, visa, etc. You can read more about the fraud types at Wikipedia's site for relationship fraud and advance fee fraud. This is a major step in prevention.

Once you understand the fraud types and warnings signs, consider a trip to Russia. Get to know her and her country. See for yourself who you're dealing with. This is a key step in not only preventing fraud, but also important in establishing a meaningful relationship. Take time to get to know her. A Russian woman in a hurry to marry is a major red flag and warning sign.

Lastly, if all checks out, get a professional background check by a firm with a local presence in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Wymoo offers confidential investigations and has years of experience dealing with potential brides and relationships in Russia.

Best of luck, and do your homework!

A. Hathaway
Read more
no image

  • 5/16/2007
  • 1
What to know when considering a Philippine Bride

The Philippines is a poor country and has a reputation for relationship fraud. Of course there are plenty of good, beautiful and honest women seeking marriage with foreigners. There is also an active population of scammers, fraud schemes and old fashioned gold diggers. Some women seek financial gain and lifestyle upgrades, an escape from poverty. Others are actually seeking a loving relationship, marriage and something new and exciting. How to tell this difference is the key question.

If she asks for money, put the brakes on. Beware of family or medical "emergencies" where the woman needs cash and financial support fast. Know that sending money via Western Union is likely lost in the event that she's a scammer. Understand that the scammers are professional criminals and are very difficult to distinguish between an honest and trustworthy woman.

Educated yourself by reading about scam and fraud methods. Knowing about the different scams will help you recognize any foul play. The schemes and fraud efforts vary in strategy, but all have one thing in common, money. Money is usually requested in the form of advance fee fraud, where the criminal needs help with school, medical, rent, family, visa, etc. You can read more about the fraud types at Wikipedia's site for relationship fraud and advance fee fraud. This is a major step in prevention.

Once you understand the fraud types and warnings signs, consider a trip to the Philippines. Get to know her and her country. See for yourself who you're dealing with. This is a key step in not only preventing fraud, but also in establishing a meaningful relationship. Take time to get to know her. A Philippine woman in a hurry to marry is a major red flag.

Lastly, if all checks out, get a professional background check by a firm with a local presence in Manila and Cebu. Wymoo offers confidential investigations and has years of experience dealing with potential brides and relationships in the Philippines.

Best of luck, and do your homework!

A. Hathaway
Read more
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
no image

International Scams and the new Methodology

So you've heard about the Nigeria 419 scam, and about the Russian and Philippine brides-to-be scamming American and European men out of thousands. You're street smart, and you're not going to fall for some foolish game. You won't be sending money off to Africa. You wonder, how can anyone be so foolish, to send thousands of dollars off to Ghana, Nigeria, Russia, the Philippines, Colombia or South Africa, to someone they've never even met? All you need is a little common sense, you say. But, is it really that simple to prevent? Does it really take a fool?

There are approximately 2 billion Internet users worldwide. Many have just recently discovered the world wide web. Many are senior citizens, many are honest, hard working and trusting folks who expect the same of others. The truth is, advance fee fraud has come along way since the early days of emails claiming the individual has won big, or has been selected to participate in an amazing business opportunity, with the only catch being the advance fee to release the winnings, the cash, etc. Sure, the public is more educated now about scams. So, why then is the number of victims rising rapidly in almost every country in the world?

Wymoo International, an international background check and investigative firm, recently reported on the methodology and fraud schemes employed, and how so many intelligent people worldwide become victims. According to David Wilkerson, Vice President of Wymoo, "criminals have evolved advance fee fraud into endless variations and use sophisticated techniques to conceal their identity. They seek out their victims on dating websites such as Match.com and countless others, where they proceed to establish long and seemingly meaningful relationships via the Internet. They make phone calls to the victim; they send flowers; they send email and instant messages. In other words, they invest significant time in their scam and victim. They may claim to be a doctor or relief worker in Africa. They may claim to be in love and making arrangements to leave the country. Or, they may have been in a terrible accident and need financial support, etc." In response to whether or not it takes a fool, Wilkerson replied that "victims are from all walks of life, doctors, lawyers, corporate executives, pilots to single mothers. Bottom line is that the criminals are professionals and very convincing." A scammer may work a plot for up to 6 months or even 1 year before requesting money. And a professional scammer in Africa or E. Europe can earn up to $200,000 USD annually.

What does all this mean? Approach relationships via the Internet with a skeptical eye. Beware of requests for money from persons in another country if you have never met that person. Lastly, even if you think you truly know the person, and you have every reason to trust him or her, get the professional background check. The hardest thing about being in this business, says Wilkerson, is too many clients get the background check after the fact, rather than being skeptical and safe from the beginning.

Play it safe,

A. Hathaway
Read more
Friday, April 20, 2007
no image

How to Answer: Who sent me that email?

With roughly 2 billion Internet users at the start of 2007, it can be difficult to determine who is actually sending an email, and from what country. Spam operators often use sophisticated software, server misrepresentation and other techniques to conceal their identity. Companies that spam often hire a third party company to do their mass mailing, and receive all the complaints. Individuals or small groups of spammers use any means available to send bulk email to as many recipients as possible (millions) and not be identified. A recent trend of spammers is to use "zombie" PCs, which are virus-infected PCs, where an average Internet user unknowlingly sends spam from his own system. The latest estimates put email spam at over 90 billion emails being sent daily. This amounts to over 80% of all emails in the world on any given day. Others send less volume but single out their victims by emailing lottery emails, Nigeria 419 scams and prize offers. Many unsuspecting Internet users initiate contact with criminals via chat rooms and dating websites. Once the relationship scam starts, it can be difficult to know that the individual claiming to live in Paris is truly writing from Ghana. Below we offer some options and general advice.

1. If it's spam, don't reply.

If the email is plain spam, never reply to the sender. Sending an email asking to be taken off their list, or telling the spammer exactly what you think, will only verify your email account as active. The spammer will then send more spam, and may sell your address to other spammers resulting in an overload of spam.

2. Who sent that email, and from where?

Tracing the IP address and routing will usually provide some basic information on the sender, depending on what, if any, efforts are employed to conceal the sender's identity. Many sites offer this service. Perhaps one of the best is Visualware's Email Tracker Pro. The software offers a free 15 day trial to test the program. After the trial period the user has the option to buy a license $29.95. We found this program to be reliable and current, i.e. Visualware regularly updates global server information which helps tracking. To trace an email received, you will need the IP address of the email message, and to do that you will need to examine the Internet header of the mail message. For more information on how to view the header of an email message recieved, ReadNotify offers good visual instructions.

3. Knowing the Limitations

Tracing the IP address from an email received, even if using a reliable software such as Email Tracker Pro, and when the sender makes no attempt to conceal his identity, may not provide all the information you're looking for. Remember, IP addresses are from servers and servers can be and usually are physically apart from the Internet user. For example, an author of an email in Tennessee sending email via AOL, may be labeled as Virginia given the location of AOL's servers. In fact, the geographical distance can be much greater than that, at times, even in a different country. Some users in England, for example, use IP address from servers in France, therefore an IP trace could indicate the user is in a different country. A woman sending emails from rural Russia, 400 miles from Moscow, may still show up as being located in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Knowing the limitations enables the user to use the IP and email tracing tools available as tools, not as conclusive location data.

4. Professional Services Available

Depending on the importance of confirming a sender's location, some professional options are available. Some international background check companies employ some of the same software available to law enforcement and federal agencies determined to track the sender of an email message. Wymoo International is one firm that specializes in confirming physical location of individuals and businesses around the world. The background check group usually conducts traces on email samples provided by clients, but also can verify results with physical visits and public records.

Technology is changing rapidly. As technology makes it easier to trace the senders of email messages, so too does the technology to conceal a sender's identity. We'll return to this topic soon with the changing methods to see who is behind the email.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
Read more
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
no image

Basics of security and protecting yourself online

Internet security, identity theft and fraud have become major issues recently as more people globally obtain access to the Internet. With the decrease in barriers to entry, i.e. lower webhosting costs, widespread highspeed and wireless Internet access, and website contruction software that truly enables anyone to create a website, the online players and number of new websites are increasing exponentially. With this increase comes a flood of new websites from countries around the world with various languages and business and regulatory environments. The question for the Internet user becomes, which of these websites can be trusted when making online purchases and revealing personal information to an unknown party?

Online fraud in auctions, advance fee fraud and romance scams, lottery and phishing emails, credit card and identity theft totalled well over $2B USD in 2006. The number is expected to increase in 2007 despite efforts to curb the trend. Criminals carry out the operations from countries all over the world, but many work from Internet cafes in corrupt countries like Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana. The truth is, however, nearly all countries in the world have criminals involved in this new crime. It is estimated that over 60% of all Internet users express privacy and trust concerns when shopping or providing personal information over the web, or over 1 billion people worldwide. How can you protect yourself from this growing crime? We provide some safety tips.

Search the Web for reviews, posts and information.

By searching Google and Yahoo for the company or website name, chances are excellent you can find reviews or at least comments from other users and customers. If not, try searching the Rip Off Report to see if the company has had a history of complaints. Sill no information? Try using Yahoo Answers to ask if anyone has any information on the site. If after these attempts little or no information is known about the site, chances are the website is new or a very small operation. In other words, the risk is higher as the company or website has yet to establish its brand and online reputation. Next, a look at the actual site.

Look for privacy policies and privacy associations.

The first step when judging an unknown website should be viewing its privacy policy. If the site has no privacy policy, consider it a questionable operation and move on. Reading the entire privacy policy and legal verbage isn't necessay, but do scan the document to see if the site or company appears to take privacy matters seriously. Truste is a non-profit group which offers its website seal to those sites which comply with their strict standards. If the website in question has this seal, chances are the website and or company takes the matter seriously with adequate steps to inform site visitors and protect your private information.

Check for security seals on the site like Hacker Safe.

If a website has a major security seal such as ScanAlert's Hacker Safe seal, visitors to that site know that the company or website has taken steps to protect users and customers from credit card fraud and identity theft. Although there are no guarantees, there is no comparison between a site with such a security seal and one without this safeguard. The Hacker Safe seal indicates the site is scanned daily to ensure the site meets strict security standards of secure website design and server applications.

Demand site encryption for personal information.

To protect personal information trasmission, such as credit card payments or home telephone and address data, a well designed and safe Internet website should have SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption of at least 128 bit. What does this mean? This indicates the website uses technology which ecrypts your personal data when being trasmitted from the website to its servers, and is therefore extremely difficult to intercept or steal. A major company offering this service is VeriSign and having the seal indicates that the site, or portions of the site are encrypted. There are many competitors, however, and as long as the yellow lock shows on the bottom right hand side of the browser, visitors to a website know that such a site page is being encrypted.

A website example of how it all looks and works.

Wymoo International makes a good case presentation of how all these elements come together to protect website visitors and customers. These same principles that a website is properly designed and maintained, however, can and should be applied to other websites when the choice is being made to do business via a website, or even to supply basic personal information. From viewing Wymoo's home page, we see on the bottom left hand corner the Hacker Safe and Truste seals. By clicking on either seal, visitors and potential customers can verify that the site is in current compliance with each online security group. On Wymoo's Free Quote page, visitors again see the Hacker Safe and Truste seals, but on the bottom right of the browser, there is the yellow lock indicating the page is encrypted. Also on the page are links to the privacy and data security policy. This is a good example of what to look for in quality e-commerce websites.

Lastly, there is no way to ensure 100% safety while shopping or providing personal information on the Internet. There are many steps you can take to judge whether or not the website is legitimate and offers protection from identity theft and credit card fraud. Research the company or website reputation on Yahoo and Google. Look for security and privacy seals such as HackerSafe and Truste. Check for website encryption (the yellow lock) on pages where you submit your private information. Lastly, make payments with a major credit card. In the event of fraud, your credit card company may reverse the charge.

Play it safe,

A. Hathaway
Read more
Saturday, April 14, 2007
no image

A Summary of the Crime, and How to Avoid it.

Kidnapping in Latin America, or express kidnapping, remains a prominent and serious problem in many countries from Mexico to Argentina. The popularity of the crime among criminals first gained popularity in Colombia and was used in conjuction with operations of drug lords, and other extortion and terrorist groups. With the widespread use among professional drug and crime families, the practice of kidnapping began to spread to ordinary street criminals in the hopes of obtaining the same large rewards, at a relatively low cost. The trade then made its way from Colombia to countries like Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. While the crime has been on the decrease in Colombia, other countries such as Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico have recently experienced a sizeable increase in cases. Argentina reports of kidnappings have remained relatively stable, primarily in and around Buenos Aires. Peru has also struggled to eliminate the crime. To date, kidnapping remains a serious threat to Latin America's residents, business persons and foreign tourists.

What is kidnapping or express kidnapping? Generally speaking, individuals of wealth are targeted for abduction and quick release upon payment. In one scenario, a victim may be taken from his or her home in an affluent neighborhood and kept for months until a large ransom can be paid for the victim's release. In some cases, body parts, especially ears, may be mailed to the abductee's family to terrorize those to make payment. Although safe release is the bargain made to those who pay ransom, only about 65% are actually released unharmed. Some victims are even murdered, regardless of the ransom. In an express kidnapping, a tourist or business person may be approached on the street, forced into a vehicle and taken to an ATM machine, where he or she is told to withdrawal money. These "express" kidnappings usually see the victim released without serious injury upon the withdrawal.

As the crime has propagated, the fear itself may be used alone. In recent years, victims have received a call that a family member has been abducted. The victim may even hear the family member crying out for help. He or she is then instructed to deposit money to an account for the loved one's safe release. The situation can be real but at other times, the "kidnapper" is only using the phone to conduct the crime, and the claimed abductee is never actually abducted or in harm's way. Hence, the fear alone of kidnapping in Latin America has become a widespread and serious problem.

How to avoid this horrible crime? Avoid taking unregistered taxis, and taxis off the street at night in cities like Mexico City, Bogota, Caracas, Sao Paul, Rio and Buenos Aires. Use safe "sitio" taxis or take taxis from restuarants and hotels, whenever possible. Avoid the green beatle taxis in Mexico City at night. Avoid wondering the streets of Caracas, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City at night. Dress down, and understand the risks of flaunting wealth in the form of cars, clothing and jewelry in Latin America. By doing so, you increase your chances of becoming a victim. If you receive a call that a loved one has been abducted, and the caller requests a ransom, first, cooperate and inform the caller you are going to get the money and make the deposit. Second, hang up the phone and contact that loved one to confirm that he or she has indeed been kidnapped. Lastly, if someone other than a police officer approaches you on the street and attempts to force you into a vehicle, or force you to walk in any direction, fight like hell to escape and yell for assistance.

If on business or soon to be traveling in Latin America and wish to obtain additional information, contact Cinnamond Global, an international consulting firm specializing in Latin America, or Wymoo International for confidential background checks, and Kroll, also for advisory and background checks in any of these countries. For more reading, visit ERRI's page on the subject.

The future of the kidnapping trade depends largely on Latin America's ability to fight widespread corruption among police ranks, and to overhaul its corrupt and inefficient legal systems. Fixing those problems from Mexico to Argentina, however, is no easy solution. While these economies remain in the developing stage, crime and poverty - and kidnapping - will remain a real threat. Until the future arrives, exercise extra caution.

Be safe,

A. Hathaway
Read more
Thursday, April 12, 2007
no image

Investment Opportunities - How to Enter the Game

Since the arrival of Colombus, Cortes and the subsequent invasion of the conquistadors, Latin America has suffered a difficult past and struggled to establish an open and fair democracy with modern economic policies. Cortes and his men in 1518 led the destruction of Mexico's Aztec Empire, followed by Pizarro's brutal annihilation of the Incan Empire in modern day Peru. A similar course of events in Brazil, and other Latin America countries completed the change in history. Unfortunately, nearly 500 years later, corruption and inequality are widespread, arguably as a direct result from the conquest, its poor leadership from the Spanish, the slow healing wounds from the conquest, and the reluctance of the European blood to share the wealth.

In 2007, Latin America shows some promising signs of change, both in economics and government reforms. With this slow social change, comes a rather rapid economic and market change with potential opportunity for foreign investors. First, let's sort out the good from the bad in terms of economic and investment - based mainly on leadership and the division within Latin America of left and right, or closed and open economies. Major countries with less prospects include Ecuador, Venuezuela, and Paraguay. While those countries in Latin America with a wide margin for growth are Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico.

How to enter this market, diversify your investment, and take part in the growth? Without expanding your business into Latin America, international investors have the opportunity to purchase these shares directly via an ETF (exchange traded fund). We recommend the iShares MSCI Brazil Fund (EWZ) which has a 3 year annualized return of 46.25%. Or, for Mexico, the iShares MSCI Mexico Fund (EWW) with a 3 year annnualized return of 40.15%. Clear signs that indeed the Latin American markets are emerging, and moving at a good pace. For a more diversified and simple approach to enter these markets, iShares offers the Latin America 40 Fund covering several countries and sectors.

Interested in a more direct investment, or expanding your operations into Latin America? We offer some general advice. Make every effort to establish relationships or offices in one or more of Latin America's major cities: Mexico City, Bogota, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires or Santiago. It's safe to say that nearly all of the action is here. Learn the language, hire someone who knows the culture and the language, or hire an outside consultant such as Cinnamond Global to screen opportunity and liason with the foreign business. Be skeptical and approach offers with caution in this market with slack regulation. Understand the risk-reward relationship. Lastly, when dealing with a small or medium-sized firm in Latin America, and especially when dealing primarily with an individual, get a professional background check from a firm like Wymoo who can validate the company and contacts.

Buena suerte,

A. Hathaway
Read more
Monday, April 9, 2007
no image

The appeal of foreign brides and the primary risks.

From a United States, Canada and Western Europe perspective, we can examine the demand factor for foreign brides, and it doesn't take long to uncover the reasons explaining the interest. For some of those living in the leading developed world, find something different or "exotic" can be the appeal. For others, the appeal may be to find someone from a different culture, who offers a fresh perspective, and arguably, a more natural and pure mentality not driven by the West's competitive economics. The physical attraction is easy to pinpoint, as some of the world's developing nations offer the most incredible women in the world - this is not debatable. Countries such as Russia, Romania, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela produce what many consider the best female talent available on the planet.

The potential reward of a woman from a foreign country and culture is real, but so are the risks. Some in nations such as the Philippines, Colombia, Russia and others in Eastern Europe have begun to cash in on this foreign interest, scamming foreigners out of millions of dollars each year. Scammers mix themselves in with the honest women on websites, typically, sending beautiful photographs and gaining the foreigner's trust before asking for money, and more money. In addition to the relationship, advance fee and Internet fraud, there is the risk of blending two cultures in the form of language and cultural barriers, and pulling one away from his or her own home country to live. As in the financial markets, the risk-reward relationship here is directly related. For those willing to take sizeable risks, the potential reward can be substantial. On the other hand, it is wise to proceed with caution and do your homework to avoid the many pitfalls.

Is obtaining a beautiful and honest woman from Russia, Colombia or Brazil really an option? If so, what is the best way to make it happen? Based on experience we recommend visiting the country of interest in person, seeing not only the country's women but also the culture first hand. If you don't speak the language, seek out a woman in the country who speaks your language, at least basic conversation. This hurdle alone can save a great deal of money and heartache. Remember that with poverty (as in Russia, Colombia and Brazil) comes cases of women seeking financial gain, and nothing more. Approach women with a skeptical eye, and if visiting the country isn't an option, use utmost caution and due diligence in screening these women. We recommend a confidential background check from a firm like Wymoo once any relationship starts progressing - before any money is ever sent. Too many people have lost big. That being said, there are no shortage of winners out there who are happily married.

Are there any websites that are immune to such cases of fraud? The answer, unfortunately, is no. No website is immune from gold diggers, relationship or advance fee fraud. It just isn't possible to screen all the individuals paying for memberships on Internet matching sites. There are many beautiful women in the market. Sifting through those is only becoming more difficult.

Best of luck in the search,

A. Hathaway
Read more
Monday, April 2, 2007
no image

A rough guide for dating online, and avoiding fraud.

Welcome to the world of online dating. The Internet romance and match-making business has existed since the early days of the web, but only in 2000 did the industry become a major global service. Internet dating website services have gone from an emerging market in 2000 to a full-blown competitive corporate industry with well over $2B USD in revenue at stake annually, as of 2006. As Internet usage and access continue to increase worldwide, as well as a decline in barriers to entry for new competitors, the industry is expected to continue to grow and attract new customers worldwide and maturing in 2010.

Who are the players in this market? Many names have done well establishing their brands early, such as Match.com, eHarmony, AmericanSingles, LavaLife and FriendFinder. Smaller and niche dating market sites continue to enter the game, as more and more Internet users are becoming more comfortable online, and therefore more comfortable with the idea of meeting someone special via the Internet. Success stories are out there, but so are the cases of fraud, international scams and big financial losses. More than ever, people are getting involved emotionally with someone they've never met, or someone who lives in another state or country. With this less personal contact comes the need for a professional background check from a confidential firm.

Buyer Beware: A few of the warning signs
Be skeptical and exercise caution if the individual:
1. Claims to be working, traveling or living in Nigeria.
2. Falls in love quickly, too quickly without reason.
3. Suddenly has an emergency, requesting financial aid.
4. Requests assistance with visa, airfare from Russia.
5. Requests financial assistance via Western Union.
6. Sends pictures that appear to be from a magazine.
7. Claims to be from S. Africa, Ghana or the Philippines.

Recommendations: The Basics
These tips could save you time, money and heartache:
1. Don't rush; take your time getting to know someone online.
2. Never give personal information to somone you've never met.
3. Never send money to anyone you have never met in person.
4. Use caution: Philippines, Colombia, Russia, Ghana, Nigeria.
5. If appropriate, use the phone to get to know the person.
6. If meeting the person, always meet in a public, safe place.
7. If progressing, obtain a professional background check.

Finally, the industry provides more options for more individuals around the world to find friends, romance and meaningful relationships. In this view, online dating is clearly beneficial to consumers. With this new market, however, comes new risks and safety concerns. There are many success stories that have helped fuel the growing trend of Internet dating. Unfortunately, this growth has also been equalled in the number of criminals and professional scammers seeking monetary reward. We stress the need for caution, and if progressing, to obtain the services from a reputable firm such as Wymoo International for assistance.

All the best and happy hunting,

A. Hathaway




Read more
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
no image

An Emerging Market for Fraud?

Colombia has struggled to overcome its reputation as a corrupt country, where narcotic production and cartels run rampant. Even though Pablo Escobar was eventually murdered in 1993 in Medellín, numerous other cartels have sprung up to salvage the remaining business. And of course, the export opportunities continue to support the illegal operations. The drug operations have decreased, however, with improvements in Colombian law and police efforts throughout the nation. Colombia's economy continues to improve and Bogotá resembles more of a European city than perhaps any other Latin American metropolis, more so than even Buenos Aires. But, poverty still reigns in Colombia, driving the growth of international fraud and scams.

The drive toward a free market economy and increased pressure on narcotics has led to a rise in other types of crime, particulary white collar and Internet fraud. In recent years the number of e-commerce or Internet scams originating from Colombia has increased 500 to 600% from December 2000 levels. One group that has been quick to cash in on the existing opportunity is the beautiful Colombian women, or the men who often control those women. Globalization has made love for sale big business.

Scam operations are increasingly widespread, targeting websites that cater to American, Canadian and European men. The fact that Colombia has some of the most beautiful women in the world, with limited rule of law, has made the South American nation a competitor with operations in the Philippines and Russia. Victims are targeted on sites like Match.com, Barranquillagirls.com, and many others. Some ladies are honest and seeking relationships. Others, however, sell romance at a heartbreaking price.

How to avoid these scammers? Understand that no website is immune from fraud, and money sent to Colombia via Western Union or other wire service, is likely lost in the event of fraud. These are the best "gold diggers" in the business, so approach relationships with caution. Visit Colombia and see the true story, if possible. When in a relationship that is progressing, have her checked out. Only a reputable and professional firm like Wymoo with a physical presence in Colombia can uncover the truth.

Finally, most Colombian women are very, very beautiful and decent. The corrupt minority, however, is growing fast.

All the best,

A. Hathaway
Read more
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
no image

Sifting through the Competition

In recent years, as the access to the Internet has increased significantly, the number of brick and mortar and e-commerce firms offering background checks has truly exploded. Fraud has existed for over 5,000 years, since the civizations of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and it's been growing ever since.

Most clients today find their background check or investigative firm via the Internet. This leads us to the question: How can one sort through the pages and pages of background checks on the web? Many of the investigative or background check sites are fraudulent themselves, i.e., false advertisments misleading website traffic, offering substandard service, and never produce any service representative of a real background check.

The search is less complicated when choosing an international background check firm. Few players are successful at obtaining results on a global level. Thus, we divide our rankings into two divisions: 1) National or U.S. and 2) International or Global.

* Quality Score reflects pricing, services, client service and cases
** Quality Score Ranking is between 1-5 (1 = excellent, 5 = poor)

National or U.S. Rankings
1. Owens Online (General, National & International, QSR = 1)
2. Wymoo (General, National & International, QSR = 2)
3. HireRight (Employment Screening, QSR = 2)
4. Intelius (Strictly U.S., Automated Reporting, QSR = 3)
5. Kroll (Employment Screening, Corporate Service, QSR = 3)
6. Abika (General, National & Some International, QSR = 4)

* Results are general in nature and should give the consumer an idea of services and quality offered. Depending on the client's situation, additional information can be found at the Company websites.

International or Global Rankings
1. Wymoo (General, International 100+ countries, QSR = 1)
2. Owens Online (General, International 250+ countries, QSR = 2)
3. HireRight (Employment Screening, 200+ countries, QSR = 2)
4. Kroll (Employment Screening, Corporate Service, QSR = 3)
5. Abika (General, International 12 countries, QSR = 5)

Owens Online, while offering more than 250 countries worldwide, earned a lower score than Wymoo with 100 countries. Wymoo's personalized client service, wide range of services with fully customized cases, and narrative reports boosted its ranking.

As stated previously, each of the above firms (or websites) offers a different range of service, products, client service, investigative methods and reporting styles. These rankings should only be used to aid in the initial screening of the many services available.

Yes, it still pays to do your homework!

A. Hathaway
Read more
no image

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Fraud

Most men agree that Russian women are some of the most attractive in the world, up there with the best of nations such as Brazil, Venezuela and Romania. But, is finding a beautiful Russian who is honest and legitimate, and who wishes to marry a Westerner a real option anymore? Fortunately, the answer to that question is still Yes. Finding those quality women, however, is an increasingly difficult task in today's Internet marketplace.

The best option for finding a Russian bride is to travel to Russia, explore and travel the country, get to know the culture and feel for the language, and take care of business the old fasioned way - that's right, walk right up and talk to her. If she doesn't speak English, you're on to the next. If traveling to Russia is out of the question, for financial or other reasons, finding a beautiful Russian bride is still possible, but requires additional caution.

Searching Google or Yahoo for Russian women will quickly uncover thousands of sites such as Date Russian Brides.com or Single Brides.com and many others. How do you know which is legit? You don't. No dating site on the Internet is immune from fraud and international scam, not one. This knowledge alone can save the customer a lot of time, money and heartache.

The warning signs:
1. A woman who falls in love quickly, too quickly.
2. A woman with model like photos, like out of a magazine.
3. A woman who soon asks for money for visa or "emergencies".
4. A woman who writes very general, almost form-like letters.
5. A woman who never speaks about herself or her family.

Now that you're aware of the warning signs and you understand that fraud and scams from Eastern Europe are rapidly rising, you're on the right track. But, what if the relationship progresses and you're considering a serious committment? Get her checked out with a professional investigation from Wymoo. You've been talking with this woman for 6 months, and you trust her, you say. Too many victims have said the same, and still lost big. How does it happen? In short, the scammers are professionals.

More than ever... be skeptical and get her checked out!

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
Read more
no image

Proceed With Caution

A word of caution about the growing popularity of dating websites and marriage match-making sites catering to the Philippines. During the past 10 years, with the rapid growth and increased access to the Internet, the websites have boomed in number, offering relationships and dating opportunities with beautiful women from the Philippines. The number of sites offering single Philippine women seeking marriage is in the 1000's, with some of the most popular being those like Cherry Blossoms and many others. Please be aware that NO website, no matter its reputation or claim, is immune from relationship fraud or scams.

Relationship fraud can come in the form of advance fee fraud (need help with visa, family emergency, etc) and many others - with the underlying factor always being money in advance. There are many decent women in the Philippines who are honestly seeking a life change, an opportunity to marry a Western man and leave the Philippines. Others, however, are out purely for the monetary gain and recent estimates (U.S. losses alone) are well over $5M USD annual that is going directly to scammers in the Philippines. Many of these fraud operations are ran from Internet cafes and are often managed by men, or committed by men portraying themselves as women. With that said, finding a decent bride or meaningful relationship in the Philippines is certainly possible. However, a professional background check is not only a wise investment financially, but the information uncovered can often bring peace of mind, and save one from a whole lot of heartache. Get her checked out early whenever possible!

Some firms, such as Wymoo International, can bring criminal operations to justice in the event that fraud is uncovered. This cannot be overlooked, as many victims (between 80 and 90%) do not report these crimes to the appropriate authorities due to embarrassment or lack of know how to report the crime. Lastly, these scam operations are growing, so please use caution!! If she asks for money and falls in love fast, watch out!!

Best of luck as always,

A. Hathaway
Read more
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)