Showing posts with label malaysia private investigators. Show all posts
Showing posts with label malaysia private investigators. Show all posts
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Malaysia Scam Cases Rising, Say Kuala Lumpur Investigators



Real estate, business fraud and internet scams are putting Malaysia on the international map for a known fraud operations center, where internet criminals are quickly increasing their business and profits.  The recession has caused an environment where there is limited opportunity, and more and more criminals are choosing the easy money of the internet to make a living.  Targeting victims online is profitable, and as a result is fast becoming a major problem in Malaysia.

Malaysia private investigators advise business persons, individuals and investors to verify their connections and potential companies if interested to put their money in this region of the planet. Comprehensive background checks and international due diligence should be conducted to protect your company, assets and reputation, as law enforcement has seen business in the Western world suffering real damage out of scams from Malaysia.  Such scams often take the form of false companies, false suppliers or fraudulent investments, and victims usually send their money to invest or start a partnership, later to learn the company or person was a fraud.  Online dating scams are also growing at an alarming rate.  Criminals are working all angles to turn a profit.

Experts say be very skeptical about anyone on the internet asking for personal information or money.  NEVER provide a copy of your passport to anyone via the internet who has not been verified by a reputable private investigation firm.  Doing so can quickly lead to identity theft and financial loss.  Revealing your full name, date of birth and address to someone over the internet, especially Malaysia, is ill-advised.  Verify first, and then decide.   Professional private investigation companies like Wymoo® International have investigators on the ground in Kuala Lumpur and can verify individuals, companies, offices, identity, business registration, etc.

If you are in a business and you are contacted by email or receive a cold call from a company based in Malaysia requesting information, proceed with caution. Be skeptical of new contacts via Facebook or Linkedin and other sites, when someone appears to have an opportunity that seems the perfect fit, or dream opportunity.  If you have to move fast to get the deal, that is another red flag.  Take a step back, and contact a private investigator with operations in Malaysia or in the country where you need them for a discreet consultation.  Make sure the person or company you are dealing with is real, and the offer is legit before you provide the details on yourself or company.  Too many victims report being scammed online, and the risk in Malaysia is growing.  U.S. and Australia and Canadian Embassy officials receive over one hundred complaints each week!

Malaysia background checks can help you minimize the risk of fraud and provide you with relevant information to help you make a more informed decision.  It’s smart to be covered.

The internet opens wide doors to numerous opportunities and international relationships.  Unfortunately, those doors are not only open to those who are honest and ethical.  Talk to a private investigator about how to lower your risk, and verify new internet relationships.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2012 A Hathaway
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Thursday, December 22, 2011
Malaysia Background Checks Rising in Malaysia as Year Ends



Worldwide economic problems have made the Southeast Asia region one of the hottest spots for internet scams. Cyber crime in the zone has really gone farther than the previous 419 scams, or the Russian brides or even the romance scams in the Philippines. The problem is only getting worse, and as in most countries, law enforcement is struggling with the problem.

With a population close to 30 million people, a rather industrialized country, Malaysia still has major problems with transparency and the conflicting social nature of Islam to deal with. Muslim culture has made economic and liberal social advance difficult, where women still have less rights than men, and radical ideology continues to be a concern for possible Islamic terrorists. Even though the country has made some great advances for a Muslim country, many people are still struggling to pay their bills and had a good life. It is this slow industrialization that has made the Malaysian people wise with technology, and many of the computer savvy have turned to scamming for easy money. Malaysia criminals now use the internet as their hunting ground.

Malaysia private investigators have shared a list of the most popular scams you should be aware of when dealing with individuals or business from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Scams types change by the month, so it’s important to stay skeptical when dealing with anyone in Malaysia to avoid being a victim. Obviously not everyone from Malaysia is engaged in internet fraud, but some extra due diligence and skepticism can help keep you safe online, and not be a victim.

Malaysian scammers have discovered that good money is in Money transfers, phishing scams and charity email scams, business and investment scams, and romance scams on the internet. But in this holiday season people in developed countries should open their five senses and be extra careful. Malaysia scammers online are targeting English speakers from Canada, U.K., Australia and U.S. say Malaysia police in Kuala Lumpur. Popular Christmas season scams involve Free Xbox scams and other gimmicks to trick holiday shoppers on the internet.

Private investigators advise internet users to never provide any personal or banking information to any suspicious contact, especially in Malaysia. If involved in a personal relationship and the person asks you for your address, credit card number, phone number or social security number, do not provide it. This is a major red flag. If you have to send money, make sure you first have the company or individual verified with a professional international background check.

Both personal and business relationships from that region should be treated with a high dose of caution and skepticism. The alternative can be costly and a painful experience. Remember, many internet criminals and scammers operating online are professionals and they can portray or put forward a very believable story, business proposal or sales pitch. They can even provide authentic looking supporting documentation or identification. Be safe, verify and then decide.

It is better to conduct a background check or a due diligence early. Private investigators say most clients get a verification too late, once they have already been a victim. Consumers and businesses should think of verification services as a form of wise insurance.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Malaysia Private Investigators Caution Parents on Social Networks

  • 7/19/2011
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In the past five years the internet has been playing a major role in marketing and communication. With the declared media war between Facebook and Google, the two companies have been updating applications, partnering with other companies to provide users with new services and novelties. The social network frenzy is in full swing, and millions of young people are connecting online like never before. In Malaysia and many other countries, law enforcement has seen a sharp rise in the reported crimes involving romance scams, relationship fraud, identity theft and hacking. Internet criminals are now targeting social networks for easy victims, particularly young people, and Malaysia private investigators warn parents to talk to their children about the risk.

Some Malaysian entrepreneurs with a criminal mind are fast becoming masters of spam and other forms of deceptive mass marketing. Such spam and internet targeted scams can impact people around the world, and because criminals are now targeting Facebook, this site alone has more than 750 million reported users to choose from. Criminals can set up free accounts and begin to hunt for new victims, gaining their trust by becoming “friends” and then slow extracting their personal information such as address, date of birth, full name, etc. The pieces soon come together and the criminal is able to steal his young victim’s identity. Adults too are at risk, but experts say youth victims are perhaps the easiest targets online, as they are more trusting.

Kuala Lumpur investigators say scammers in Malaysia and the Philippines have been evolving the techniques of reaching more and more victims with two main objectives. First, stealing your money through advance fee fraud or romance scam, and obtaining goods or gifts from their new “friends”. According to the National Security Office based in London, England, UK and Malaysia private investigation firms are working together with international private investigators to prevent scammers, spammers, identify theft criminals and pedophiles from reaching children online.

Experts say globalization and an online world has replaced important values, and families are now different around the world. Children are growing up in single parent homes, homes with lesbian or homosexual “parents” and kids are spending more and more time behind the internet. Kids used to be couch potatoes, stuck behind the t.v. Now, children are spending countless hours in front of the computer, and law enforcement and Malaysia private detectives in Kuala Lumpur urge parents to talk with their children, and make sure they are aware of the risks online.

The fact is, despite what websites may want you to believe, there is no real privacy online. A good example of this is Google Maps, which provides a photograph, street view and even direction on how to get to your child’s address. If a criminal is a friend of your child on Facebook, chances are he knows when your child is home alone. The result, unfortunately, can be deadly. Such services and social networks are helping criminals in a big way, as they provide crucial information about you, your family, job and everything on your profiles. Investigators urge caution.

For online relationships involving Malaysia, it’s important to be aware of the risks online, and also the growing number of reported scam cases in the country and the region. If you believe you have met someone honest and trustworthy, be safe and consider a confidential background check to verify the subject’s identity and background. A professional Malaysia private detective can help you minimize the risk, know who you’re dealing with, and avoid being a victim.

All the best,

A. Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Malaysia Private Investigators Take On Investment Fraud



Law enforcement agencies like the Metropolitan Police Service, Interpol and the FBI, as well as U.S. Embassies around the world are warning the public about the risk for investment fraud and scams.  Online relationships and especially those involving international investments are especially high risk.  Around the world, there are concentrations  of groups pertaining to various investments, and Malaysia seems to be leading that global race, with China and Ghana a very close second on the list for fraud. 

For reasons that are not entirely clear, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the global capitol of investment scams, surpassing Chinese stock market scams and Ghana gold scams.  Law enforcement in Malaysia is not equipped to handle the threat, say outside observes, and the problem is getting worse.  Scam and criminal operations are now growing, and these days everyone in Malaysia knows about the once tiny problem.  Malaysia private investigators, driven by demand from clients, hope to shut them down.

We won’t speculate on why Malaysia has focused on investment scams and not romance scams like neighboring Philippines.   One simple reason may be that the Philippines is good at what they do, and in Malaysia, they just happened to be experts at investment scams.  No one can argue that conducting such investment scams and internet fraud can be highly lucrative.  Kuala Lumpur scammers can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars.  In fact, an expert scammer in Malaysia can earn over $1M USD a year if he scams the right victim.  And investigators say the victim can be a wealthy individual in the United States, Canada, Australia or the U.K., to a director of a large company or even a CEO.  Once the supposed business  deal is agreed upon, and the payment is made, the scam is complete and the money lost.

International private investigators say the modus operandi of the scammers and criminals conducting investment fraud via the internet is not so easy to classify.  “Creativity is keeping these guys alive,” according to one New York based private investigator.  Tactics being used are no longer straightforward, not in all cases.  Some Malaysia based criminals now understand the laws and regulations of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and talk the talk and walk the walk of a hedge fund manager.  Some of best in the business are now based in Kuala Lumpur.  Kuala Lumpur investigators are one industry that is doing quite well, as a result of the increase in demand to screen for fraud when investing in Malaysia.

There are now organized criminal cells operating in Kuala Lumpur, and their reach, thanks to the internet, is global.  Scammers may claim to be hedge fund managers from the U.K., they may offer private placement, inside information, precious metals and gold offerings, and share offerings on the next big Chinese company.  The criminals appear to be well established and honest corporations or individuals, defrauding investors and businesses around the world of billions of dollars each year.  “Most of these companies operate using proven techniques and are savvy in their area of specialization,” explains a London risk management firm.  “Their local headquarters are well set and their websites look professional, and they know the lingo to get the investor’s attention, so people fall easily.” Investors hoping to minimize this high risk are contracting Kuala Lumpur private investigators for international background checks, due diligence, and discreet private investigation services to verify businesses, contacts and investment offers.

Some investment scams are executed through bank transfers, deposits to fake companies, wire transfers, payment for shipping, etc.  Some scammers can partner with western companies, get contracts that have a tricky clause in which the Asian company is in no way obligated to pay earnings to the investor once the business is profitable.  Companies in the U.S. have lost billions of dollars in these types of scams, and won’t ever see their money back.  Such clauses are actually legitimate under Malaysian Commerce Law, according to legal offices in Kuala Lumpur.  Malaysia private investigators have their work cut out for them.  If they will have an impact remains to be seen, but in the meantime, clients can benefit from their services as an extra layer of protection against the growing threat.  In Malaysia, buyer beware!

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway 


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