Showing posts with label background check international. Show all posts
Showing posts with label background check international. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
International Due Diligence Showing Signs of Growth



When companies want to start merging or the acquisition processes on domestic or foreign companies, prudent due diligence investigations can save both time and money.

In the fall of 2004, Lockheed Martin Corp was interested in buying a company based in the state of California and offered $2.4 billion dollars in cash and stock. Risk Management department advised that before moving forward, it was a good idea to verify the company just to make sure there wasn’t dirt hidden under the carpet. Lockheed followed the advice and in the due diligence process uncovered that top executives of the prospect company did some embezzlement overseas and led the Justice department to investigate. The company was not was it seemed.

Lockheed slashed the initial offer by $20 million and also conditioned to the company’s settlement with the U.S. government. The business in California could never reach an agreement with the Justice Department and Lockheed decided not to proceed with the acquisition.

This is a good example of the surprises that can arise when a company decides to merge or buy another one and they do their homework. This case is a domestic case of American companies doing business and risk could be detected on time and a good decision could be made to protect the investor’s reputation and millions of money. When a company is based in New York and the other in China or Malaysia, South Africa or Brazil, things get far more complicated. In international deals, the risk is inherently greater, so due diligence is even more important.

Domestic cases are rather straightforward and are often more of an accounting process. In international deals, verifying the numbers alone can leave significant risk on the table. After all, regulatory agencies and transparencies in Africa, Asia, Europe and South Africa are not the same as in the U.S. Verifying operations, reputation, facilities and offices is key. If the company looks perfect on paper, what does its office truly look like in Beijing or Moscow? Does it even exist? What do the company’s current customers say about the company? Is it real?

For companies that are interested to doing business abroad, more and more managers are realizing the importance of vetting potential business partners, both individuals and companies. Professional private investigation firms now offer international due diligence as valuable risk management tool for companies, and for global business, it’s smart insurance.

Poor economic conditions around the world, has led many companies to look abroad for cheaper labor, more profitable business deals, and new ideas and suppliers. When your new employee or business partner resides in a different country where customs, regulations, transparency and language are all different, it can be very hard to verify your potential investment or employee. In most cases, only a qualified professional investigator with investigators on the ground where you need them can verify, uncover valuable evidence and mitigate your risks. Reputable international investigators conduct international background checks and due diligence and have local contacts, speak the language, and are highly trained.

Paul Fletcher, Vice President of Due Diligence at Wymoo® International, says that demand for such services is growing. The company offers full service private investigation services in over 100 countries. “We have seen an increasing demand for international due diligence services over the past three years, ranging from corporate due diligence in global business deals to wealthy individual investors screening their investments for fraud or misrepresentation,” said Fletcher. “In many cases in international deals, a potential business partner, acquisition or investment is not exactly what it claims to be, and much is unknown or unstated. We bring those light.”

Be safe and skeptical. Verify, and then decide.

A Hathaway
© 2012 A Hathaway

Read more
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
International Background Screening: Be Safer Online



The U.S. Consular Affairs Bureau receives a ton of daily calls regarding internet scams.  Not only the U.S. but also Australia and Canada seem to be major targets for online criminals, who usually cover their true intentions behind a false veil of kindness and success. From employment offers to Hollywood type romance, fraudsters always promise some gain in return –after gaining some dollars out of your pocket, or even ruining you financially, of course. And you can be next as there is no age or income group immune to internet criminals and their fraud tactics.  Increasingly, consumers and businesses are turning to international background screening to be safe.

Advance- free fraud, business fraud, investment scams and romance scams target those eager to profit or who have wishful thinking in a business deal or personal romance.   Victims all too often  believe there’s something of great personal or business value to be had, e.g. endless love and happiness, financial independence, business expansion and other promises and potential.

Scams evolve constantly and the list is endless. But some of the most popular frauds to watch out for are romance scams, investments, international financial scams, gold scam and precious metals, China stock market scams, and identity theft.  Though there are several variations like mobile extortion, phishing and even calls claiming a loved one has been abducted, the common factor is always the request for money.  In Latin America, criminals take on more aggressive tactics, and often call their potential victims claiming that a family member has been kidnapped, and if they want to see their loved one again, they had better deposit money in a bank account.  Surprisingly, the person who is supposedly abducted is at work or school, a situation all too common in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.  Risk from scams is at its highest level in international relationships.  

What to do to avoid these atrocities? International private investigators suggest the following guidelines to prevent being a victim:  1) Never reveal your personal data to someone you’ve never met, 2) Never send money to any person or entity overseas who has not been verified, 3) Get a professional due diligence service to verify any potential business partner, contact or entity that is in a foreign country, and lastly 4) If something does not feel right, or if something seems too good to be true, listen to your instincts, and contact a professional private investigator.

Online scams can be reported to authorities like the FBI sponsored website, the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or embassies around the world, but usually these cases receive little attention, if any.  The volume is simply too high, and law enforcement lacks the resources to track these criminals down, who often hide behind proxy servers and random internet cafes.

The internet is here to stay, and its value is great.   People around the world enjoy the value added by networking, socializing and even doing business online.  For every case of fraud, there are 9 cases of success.  To manage the risk, and to make sure you don’t fall into that 10% category, more businesses and individuals are using international background checks to be safer online.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway

Read more
Thursday, April 21, 2011
International Due Diligence Questions Answered


Globalization has benefited many businesses around the world, in most cases, as there are plenty of markets that can be reached by nearly any sized business, or even an individual, from one country to another. With the new global market, how can you tell if the company or person you’re dealing with is trustworthy or the company or business person they claim to be? Is your money and reputation secure in dealing with an known business contact or company in a foreign country? What do you really know about the foreign business environment, the language, the customs, the rules and regulations or the financial practices, and the company and person you’re going to do business with?

That’s what international due diligence investigation is all about. The objective is to minimize the risk in international investment and foreign business transactions, to know your clients well before engaging, to verify potential vendors and business partners. Prudent investigation and diligence is strongly advised when dealing with a new business or business contact in a foreign country. The risk for fraud and scams in international business deals is estimated at 5 to 10 times higher than domestic transactions. Don’t ignore the risk. Private investigators and fraud experts say companies should think of due diligence as a form of insurance policy, and can help you avoid serious financial losses.

An international due diligence investigation is more than just gathering, checking or verifying information; it is an essential process to identify unforeseen risk. International private investigators, local investigation agencies, or professional background check services should have a local team who speaks the local language, knows the local laws, speaks the language, and can verify and uncover the evidence you need to move forward. Identifying red flags early is key to avoiding fraud.

Professional investigators can help you verify contacts, associates, business partners, relationships, source of funds, criminal records, misrepresentation, corruption, criminal activity or fraud. Due diligence can provide you with valuable information to make an informed decision. International private investigators can physically verify the facilities, interview representatives and customers to verify relationships, check the identities of the directors and top executives, and even provide you with references of other companies and contact persons.

Because every company and situation is different, international due diligence should be customized to the needs of every client. And depending on the information to be verified and investigated, a due diligence investigation can include some or all of the following fact checks: Past and current financial performance, ownership and shareholders, board of directors background checks , property and assets verification, legal history including outstanding legal action against the company, tax compliance, major customer contacts, criminal records on executives and contacts, photographs of facilities, business registration documents, identification of associates and other business partners, and more.

If you are considering an international merger or acquisition, international joint venture, a new foreign supplier, or engaging in business with overseas business partners, or if your company is facing a new risk by association with unknown counterparties, be safe and verify. Do your due diligence!

Best of luck,

A.Hathaway.
© 2011 A. Hathaway
Read more
Friday, April 15, 2011
International Private Investigators – The Basics

Film industry and love- crime stories have portrayed investigators like good looking, clever and strong men. Yet, in real life, there are some important facts you should consider when hiring a private investigation firm. Many investigators are scams themselves.

In the internet era, most investigators use databases to uncover valuable information about legal, financial or personal matters. But there is a significant difference between websites offering background checks and companies that truly investigate with professional private investigators, and those that “investigate” by clicking on search for a database. In fact, for international cases, the difference is even more important and often customers and clients don’t understand the difference. This article will help shed some light on the industry of professional international private investigators, and the hundreds of websites claiming to offer “background checks” for $19.99, which misleads the public and takes advantage of many unknowing consumers.

As in any purchase, it pays to do some homework. Professional private investigation can refer to verifying facts by performing numerous types of record searches, asset searches, birth and marriage records, document, ID, passport verification, infidelity, fraud and scams, corporate due diligence, missing persons, criminal cases, background checks, surveillance, advance fee fraud, dating scams, online dating verifications, etc. The list goes on and on. In a professional private investigation, clients pay for the labor of a skilled international private detective with the proper training perform surveillance, international background checks, due diligence and many other services for global clients in different locations around the globe. Depending on the company, the international private investigator may offer services in a group of countries, such as Western Europe, or North Africa, or all of Asia, Latin America, or even across several continents.

Field investigators can conduct discreet interviews to gather as much information as possible on subjects, conduct pre-employment screening, international due diligence and much more. In most international cases outside the U.S., court, government and criminal and civil records cannot be accessed online, so professional field investigators are required. Most professional private investigators hold a college education, have served in the military or have some law enforcement background. Knowledge of criminal justice, police and computer science is essential. No real private investigator can offer any services for less than a few hundred dollars, so beware of prices for $39.99, etc. You get what you pay for. International cases involving investigators abroad and foreign agents can be costly. Location is also important to consider, mostly if your case involves a specific country. To hire a local private investigator might seem like a good idea, but sometimes language and cultural barriers might difficult to overcome. Not to mention finding someone you can trust. Companies like Wymoo® International with established reputations and international operations and a team of professional field investigators, agents and support staff might save you time and money, and provide the evidence.

Checklist when searching for an international private investigator: Chose a company that has a secure website, verified by companies like Trust-e, McAfee or the Better Business Bureau Google for references about the company you are interested to hire and see what others are saying about them Make sure the company has international operations, field investigators or offices in the country you need to conduct your investigation Make sure that the investigator replies promptly to your emails and phone calls Check if there is a “Contact Page” and look for a real address, email and phone numbers. Be skeptical of companies showing free email accounts like Yahoo, Gmail or Hotmail or websites that don’t look professional. If you want professional results, expect to pay a realistic price. To be safe, when hiring professional private investigators, do your homework.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway.

© 2011 A. Hathaway

Read more
Thursday, February 10, 2011
UK Private Investigators - Buyer's Guide

Insider Tips on Choosing a UK Private Investigator










There is no shortage of UK private investigator and UK background check websites offering services in major cities throughout England, Ireland and Scotland. What is suprising, however, is that few of them are highly recommended. Many private detectives or websites, even some ranking very well in Google, are scams. Clients often find themselves sending money to a UK private investigator only later to see the work isn't done at all and their money stolen, or receive an unacceptable service. Such complaints are increasingly common. As an international private investigator, I receive a lot of requests for recommendations on a UK private detective or background check firm. Hopefully this article will make choosing a UK based PI much easier.

When shopping for a professional and trained UK private investigator, be very skeptical of anyone asking for payment to be sent via Western, Money Gram, PayPal or bank transfer. A real company and professional firm should accept payment via a secure website, using your credit or debit card. Criminals and scammers prefer Western Union or bank transfer, because once the money is sent, there is no way to get the money bank. A professional investigation firm offers payment by credit card. If for any reason there is a problem, you have the option of calling your credit card company and reporting the fraud. Payment by PayPal is fine, just be advised that this is often the sign of an individual, and not a real company. PayPal accounts are easy to set up, and it's not the hallmark of a big company or firm. If this is the only form of payment offered, be very skeptical.

Don't overlook the obvious. Make sure the investigator has offices or field investigators in the UK. No exceptions. No excuse.

ASK FOR A CLIENT REFERRAL. The UK is one of the countries where scam private investigator websites and criminals posing as private detectives is all too common. Be sure to get a client referral or even two before deciding. Ask where he or his investigators received their professional training, and if they have military or law enforcement training experience. In some cases someone with a professional looking website will take a client's money for surveillance, and provide an email paragraph for a report, with no photos! Equally bad, a company or person will purchase a UK background check, and the person won't do anything, and send an email or generic report claiming everything came back clean. This is plain fraud, and criminal acts conducted by individuals in the UK or elsewhere. Always ask for a referral. Also search Google for the name of the investigator or company to see what others are saying. Good companies have people talking, so consider no reference the same as a bad reference.

After your initial research, see if the investigator responds promptly and professionally to your email questions. If you have additional questions, or just want to chat about your case, see if the investigator is available for a phone conversation. This is an excellent way to see what kind of service to expect. Red flags should go up if the investigator claims to be "in meetings" or otherwise unavailable. Most scammers prefer to do their dirty work over email, although some will also take phone calls, so use this as just another tool in the selection process. Lastly, check the website for trust seals such as Verisign, Truste, Better Business Bureau and McAfee. These are organizations that help narrow the options down for you, and BBB makes it easy to see if there have been any previous complaints or problems.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway
Read more
Thursday, September 2, 2010
International Background Check - Buyer Beware

What You Should Know Before You Buy





International background checks are the latest among the many scams offered by so-called background check websites. While there are certainly some reputable investigation companies to choose from, the vast majority of websites offering background checks fall between worthless and deceptive, and fraud.

We should define what a real background check investigation is. A true background check is precisely that, a prudent investigation conducted by professional investigators designed to minimize risk from the unknown; i.e. it is a verification and investigation process that can include many factors. Searching criminal records is only one element of a background check investigation, and criminal records cannot be checked online for most international cases. International cases require actual field investigators.

If a company is offering an "international background check" for less than $200 USD, it would be wise to save your money, because true professional background checks and private investigations don't exist for $19.99. For consumers serious about verifying a company, an individual or potential employee, or spouse, it's important to know that real background checks are investigations which cover many factors, including but limited to, education and employment history, criminal and civil records, ID and passport verification, neighbor and informant testimony (character check), travel records, and the list goes on. It is essentially imposible to conduct an international background check if there is no office or field investigator, or agents in the country where you need the evidence. If the company fails this test, keep shopping!

Remember to ask where the company offices and investigators are located. If they are based in New York and nowhere else, or London and nowhere else, you know the company may be able to conduct a professional investigation in that city, state and region, but not elsewhere. To conduct an international background check, an international private investigator, or a company with an office or investigators where you need them is required. Ask or check the company website to make sure the investigators exist, and they are where you need them. Searching databases is not an option for most international cases, especially in the developing countries. Be very skeptical of such claims.

Wymoo® International, Kroll and Owens Online are just a few companies with established reputations and international operations worth mentioning. Wymoo® is based in the U.S. and maintains professional field investigators in over 100 countries, and they offer confidential services for both organizations and individuals. For any of these professional services, expect to pay a realistic price. Professional investigation can be expensive, but not having a foreign person or a foreign company verified can be even more costly, so think of the service as a due diligence or insurance policy, to be sure you know who you are dealing with.

Background checks international and domestic require some careful shopping. Doing some research is advised.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2010 A. Hathaway
Read more
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)