Showing posts with label romance scams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance scams. Show all posts
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Russia Investigators Helping Clients Avoid Internet Scams
















Many years have passed by since Russia PI™, a U.S.-based professional private investigation firm, began conducting investigations in Russia and the Ukraine.  Like many private investigators in the region, the company reports a steady and rising demand from global clients concerned about internet scams and fraud, and how to lower the risk.  Whether it's a corporate or individual client based in New York, Hong Kong or London, people around the world are looking to do business or have personal relationships with those in Russia, but they need to do so safely.  For this reason, the international background check business has been booming.

Services by most private investigators in Moscow, Kiev and St. Petersburg include due diligence, dating background checks, surveillance, asset searches and complete background check investigations.  Criminals in Russia tend to be internet savvy, and many of the world's best hackers come from Russia.  Russia is also known for beautiful women, and this combination has proven to be a dangerous one.  When internet savvy criminals join forces with beautiful women, expert dating scammer and romance scams flourish. Russia investigators work hard to make sure their clients can carry on relationships in the region, but avoid the pitfall of such online crime.

Russia and the Ukraine are high risk countries for internet fraud. Romance scams from the region remain high despite all the awareness and efforts made by law enforcement.   As internet users and people become more aware of the risk, scammers change their tactics and evolve their strategy.  In short, online scams from Russia can be highly complex and even the most skeptical can be a victim.  That's why experts agree a dating background check is more important than ever.

Private investigators with the proper training and agents on the ground locally provide an invaluable service.  They speak the language, and they are your eyes and ears on the ground.  They have access to public and government records, and can verify identity, passports, documentation, education and employment, travel records, and screen your case for fraud.

As the world becomes more connected through the internet and mobile devices, scams are starting to occur in new ways.  For companies looking to invest in Russia, business fraud and investment scams are a serious barrier to entry, and international due diligence is strongly advised.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2013 A Hathaway 
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Wednesday, March 20, 2013
UK Private Investigators Busy with Online Dating













Internet frauds and scams from the U.K. keep rising as the economy worsens for the European Union and the U.K.  In the midst of a possible breakup of the Euro zone, bank runs, uncontrolled illegal immigration from developing countries, and other problems, internet crime and fraud are booming.  Perhaps the U.K. has other bigger fish to fry, but many U.K. victims are demanding their government do something to put the internet criminals behind bars, and online dating and social networking sites do more to protect users.  And the risk is only getting worse.

It takes guts, greed and certain strategic thinking to be a successful scammer. You also need to have certain expertise in internet marketing, psychology and a good source of internet access, that usually comes from internet cafés where it can be different to track your activity.  The availability of internet access all over the city of London, is a great advantage to the criminal conducting online fraud and scams, with even less ways to trace their location where they operate.

UK private investigators try to continuously raise awareness among the internet community, not only back home in Britain, but all over the world.  As romance scams are a growing threat in different parts of the world, targeting western countries mostly, it is important for internet users to know the warning signs.  The U.K. is an interesting market as it has both sides of the story; there are romance scammers located in the U.K. and also, there are many victims. Britain is the second nation in the world, after the U.S. that is most often targeted by romance scams, and loses millions of pounds each year from internet scams.  The global loss from romance scams and fraud is in the billions!  The exact numbers are not known, as most victims never report the crime.

Some experts explain that it is the gloomy weather and somehow the busy business life of average Britons that have kept them an easy target for scammers.  Scammers can operate within the U.K. or from Nigeria and Ghana, Malaysia or the Philippines, Russia and the Ukraine, South Africa, and so on.  British hearts get broke and their bank accounts drained along the way. It is no more about just getting spam mail in your inbox, but the intrusion and violation of trust and privacy.  Romance scams leave victims with a big financial loss and serious emotional heartache.

Dating background checks are now helping internet users stay safe in the U.K., and in fact, if the trend continues, the U.K. could see a meaningful drop in the crime.  More British citizens are now aware of the risk, and choosing to go with a reputable private investigation firm for background check investigation and due diligence, to be sure their online contact is legit.

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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Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Dating Background Checks Detecting Romance Scams













Demands of modern life have made dating complicated. Single people find it hard to cope with work, meetings, shopping for groceries, meeting friends and trying to find the perfect match.  Time just slips away from us, and often the internet can seem like an attractive opportunity to meet someone for those that have hectic schedules.  Internet dating sites and social networks more recently have become common places for those looking for love and relationships.

Many people join Match.com or Facebook or similar sites to meet new people, friends or possible partners.  Statistics show that the usage is widespread and all types of people from mostly developing countries use online dating or social networking sites for this purpose.  Facebook is not only about connecting with friends.  Many now use the platform to find love online.  Mixed in with the honest users on the internet are seasoned criminals and con artists who are targeting you, and they are becoming more sophisticated in their scam tactics.  Today’s romance scams can be difficult to detect and internet criminals can now fool even the most skeptical.

How to avoid being a victim of romance scam?

Reputable private investigators say it’s important not to look over the real world option.  Looking for love in the real world, in coffee shops or bars, university or school, bookstores, gyms or sports clubs, or through friends and co-workers, or parties, is clearly the safer option when it comes to scams and fraud.  Investigators say there is no safer way than to see in person who you’re dealing with.  Five minutes in the real world can be worth one year on the internet trying to get to know someone, experts say.  If your schedule allows, try to make time for this healthy option.

Dating online is a fair alternative, but it simply has a significant amount of risk for fraud, scams, identity theft, virus and malware, deception and misrepresentation.  How can you be sure the person on the other end of the internet is who he or she claims to be?  The answer to that question is, you don’t.  Internet criminals now use IP address masking software or proxy servers, use local numbers obtained from Skype, and even assume a real identity of a real person, so when you do your research to verify, everything seems legit.  Investigators see this on a daily basis.  In most cases, it requires the skills and resources of a trained private investigator to verify.

Never provide personal information such as date of birth, telephone or mobile numbers, social security number, bank account or credit card information, or an address.  Be advised that any webcam chat may be recorded to blackmail you in the future.  Be smart and safe.

More internet users are turning to trained professionals to verify their online partner.  In fact, the business of dating background checks is growing because consumers want to be safe.

Remember, Rome was not built in a day, and it takes time to build intimacy and worthwhile relationships.  Be skeptical of new contacts who seem to fall in love overnight.   Discreet dating background checks with a reliable investigation firm can also lower your risk.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2012 A Hathaway

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Saturday, August 25, 2012
Dating Background Checks Gaining in Popularity














As internet scams become more and more prevalent around the world, internet users become more educated about the risks.  There are many articles and warnings out there, but for some reason, the criminals keep finding victims, and the crime is actually growing.  Among internet crime types, romance scams are still the leading cause of identity theft and financial loss online.  The scams have a major financial impact for citizens and businesses in countries around the world, but the hardest hit are the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia, where English speaking targets are plenty.  Scammers in developing countries are targeting users on social networking and online dating sites.  To avoid detection, criminals continue to develop and change their tactics.

With more lonely hearts and eligible partners joining match-making and online dating sites, as well as social networking sites around the globe, there are now hundreds of millions of potential partners online.  It is tempting and there are certainly honest and rewarding relationships to be found!  The potential reward is real, as is the risk.  Social networking and online dating sites simply have no way to screen all of their users.  That isn’t their business, after all.  It is up to the users to carefully screen their new contacts and romantic partners online.  Be skeptical and be very cautious about sharing information online.  Remember the more a criminal knows about you, the more at risk you are for financial loss, identity theft, and even physical hard.  Share less when possible.

In the developing countries around the world, more internet users are turning to reputable private investigation companies to verify their online partners. Dating background checks  are now a valuable risk management tool available to internet users to verify their new partner or online romance.  Investigators can screen your case for fraud, verify the subject’s information such as passport or documentation, verify education and employment; check address and public records, search criminal and civil marriage records, and more.  In short, professional investigators can verify if your new online romance is who he or she claims to be.  Experts caution that such a service is best applied when done early in the relationship, rather than later when it’s too late.

Is the risk from romance scams really worth worrying about?  Doesn’t it take a fool?  What is the worst that could possible happen?  There have been multiple cases of suicide that have resulted from devastated victims left ruined after a romance scam.  Bank accounts can be drained, hearts can be broken, identities stolen.  In short, an honest visit to an online dating site can lead in utter ruin if you become the victim of a romance scam.  The risk and crime is serious, and should be taken seriously.  Screen your contacts carefully, and verify to be safe online.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2012 A Hathaway


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