Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Gay Online Dating Sites Targeted by Romance Scams












Online dating is a mega success, and it’s not uncommon these days to know someone or hear about someone who has even married a person they met via online dating. What was first somewhat embarrassing to admit, is not a part of our culture, and online dating is now a common practice in countries around the world. Almost all developed countries are using internet match-making services in masses. Dallas, Texas-based Match.com alone has reportedly over 20 million members worldwide , and websites serving 25 countries in 8 different languages. This industry is serious business, and gay online dating is perhaps the fast growing demographic of online dating services, with new gay online dating sites popping up each month. Private investigators and law enforcement, correspondingly, have reported a sharp rise in internet scams and fraud affecting gay online dating subscribers, and say a dating background check is essential.

Internet criminals and scam operations are concentrated in countries like Russia, the Ukraine, Malaysia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana, the U.K. and South Africa, among many others. With easy money on the table, and a global economic slump impacting most countries, scamming via the internet is too easy to pass up for many criminals. Complicating matters further, identifying and locating criminals operating from internet cafes who often use proxy servers can be a difficult task, one that law enforcement struggles to deal with. Private investigators believe gay online dating subscribers could be easier targets, on average, because they are relatively new to the online dating field, and criminals think they may not be aware of all the risks and red flags. Experts say it’s important for consumers to realize that no website, whether it’s an online dating site or social networking site, is immune from fraud. Match-making websites have no effective way to screen all members, and have stated that it’s up to subscribers of the site to watch out for the warning signs, and to get a background check when necessary. More and more people are connecting to a new friend or potential partner via the internet, and in many cases, such relationships are international. Gay online dating users should consider international background checks as a form of insurance or protection against romance scams and fraud, and all relationships begun via the internet should be verified to avoid being a victim.

Sites like Facebook and Match.com and countless others aren’t going away anytime soon, and in fact are a huge success in connecting people online and off-line. There’s no question about the benefits of sharing ideas, making new friends, and even finding love on the internet. Experts say it’s a wise decision to take advantage of these services while being aware of the potential risk for scam and fraud. Private investigators say that in many cases, a photo can be taken from an internet profile (there are billions of photos online) of a real person, and even use public records to assign a real address and background info on the fake or stolen identity. The result? It can be very hard to verify the identity of someone met via the internet. In many cases, a professional investigation or background check firm is required to screen for fraud.

Be safe and be skeptical when starting relationships online. Verify, and then decide.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway

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China Scams Put Pressure on China Private Investigators



International investment is flooding into China, and the country continues to boom from an economic and population standpoint. Its influence and reach is global, and everything today seems to be made in or sold in China. It is the new powerhouse and place of growth and influx of capital. As global investors and individuals and businesses seek to participate in the growth, private investigators report a significant increase in China scam and fraud activity. In fact, in Beijing and Shanghai, China private investigators have been overwhelmed with background check and due diligence requests to minimize the risk.

A recent investigation conducted by the Beijing Times, the English newspaper of Beijing, indicated that fraud and scam cases are rising most rapidly among stock market and foreign investment opportunities. Too many foreign companies and even individual investors are trying to get access to the Chinese financial market, as investment opportunities in other global sectors and markets remains limited. In this mad dash to chase financial gains, few investors are taking the necessary due diligence. The result? Market bubbles aside, business and investment scam cases, according to one Beijing private investigator, are up nearly 50% compared to 2009 levels and experts say the fraud risk is only expected to get worse.

Because bad news is bad for business (and China), law enforcement and government officials have yet to acknowledge the problem publicly. Efforts by law enforcement in China are lackluster at best. International private investigators say what the public needs to be aware of is that there is an increased need to conduct proper due diligence or a background check prior to entering into a Chinese business deal or investment. Scammers and criminals are taking advantage of the fact that many companies seem to be willing to invest in any idea in China, and many investors are learning the hard way. Reportedly, the estimated loss for financial scams and stock market fraud in China for 2010 was over $1 billion USD. The risk is real, and investors should consider a background check as a form of insurance, a way to minimize the risk and verify.

Whether or not the economic growth in China will continue is uncertain. It is a market of speculation and uncertainty. What is clear, however, is that criminal operations are on the rise in China and new business contacts, investment opportunities and stock purchases should be verified and due diligence is key. Law enforcement and private investigators agree that Chinese investment offers a classic risk-return relationship, and with high potential returns and reward, there is increased risk. To avoid being a victim of fraud or scam, investigators urge consumers and businesses to be prudent and do their homework. For complex cases or when information is not so transparent (common in China), contact a Beijing private investigator or reputable Shanghai or Beijing background check service for confidential verification.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway

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Saturday, June 11, 2011
Scam Ring Caught, Report Philippines Private Investigators

  • 6/11/2011
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It’s been almost six months since authorities in Southeast Asia have been working together to detain a major net of criminals operating from Taiwan to Indonesia, from Vietnam to the Philippines. This organized group of criminal scammers worked using low profiles by renting apartments or houses whose only request was to have a broadband connection. In that way, this international group of mobster were able to contact their victims through an internet telephone line such as those provided by Skype, leaving no trace of their location and making it hard for authorities to locate and prosecute them.

According to Philippines private investigators, the criminal net had over 600 members located along the islands of Southeast Asia, and they would make phone calls over the internet to many victims in China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam, and target developing countries such as the United States, Canada the U.K. and Australia. Scammers in the criminal ring would pose as an official agency or official to extort money from victims, explain Manila based Philippines private detectives. It was hard to determine the identity and location of the criminals because details of the scam varied from one country to the next, and all lines used were internet phones, such as Skype. Con artists used various techniques and scripts to extort money from their victims. Some caller claimed to be local police or government officials, or to be conducting a census, anything to get personal data to be used to steal the victim’s identity. Other callers in the criminal operation would claim to be from a bank, and get the victim to reveal his bank account details over the phone. These criminals worked around the clock for month, and the damage done is estimated to be over $1 million USD. Fortunately, investigators were able to shut them down.

International private investigators say the group in Taiwan collected victims’ bank accounts and phone numbers and pass them to the teams in Vietnam and the Philippines, where they would call victims and ask them to transfer money to a bank account in Thailand. “The tactics used were to surprise the victim, by scaring the person by saying their bank account or credit card had been accessed," a Manila private investigator, explains. Although most people are aware of the risk for fraud and scams, criminals continue operate successfully, and law enforcement is struggling to keep up with the growing threat.

Although the internet is a vast camp for criminals, this time it was possible to trace the callers and arrest them because authorities worked together and more importantly, victims made a big effort by informing law enforcement and cooperating with cases. Working together made the arrests possible. Law enforcement and Philippines private detectives warn never to reveal personal information or financial data to anyone via the internet or phone who has not been verified. If you’re not sure, ask if you can call the bank or government office bank, or contact them through the official website. This way you can be sure you know you’re dealing with the actual agency or financial institution, and avoid fraud.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway
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International Background Screening: A Priority for Online Dating









Romance scams are growing risk for online dating subscribers and social networking sites. Sites like Match.com and Facebook offer a lot of benefits, but the risks should not be ignored. Many scams are originating from countries like Ghana, Nigeria, the Ukraine, Russia, the Philippines, Malaysia, the U.K. and even China. Law enforcement agencies like the FBI are receiving daily complaints and reports of victims across the United States, and Canada and Australia law enforcement agencies report a similar and alarming increase in online fraud and scams. The global economic problems are fueling the problem, as criminals seem to be coming out of the word work. Since the internet began, access to global markets and the global economy has increased beyond all estimates. Criminals too, unfortunately, now have access to individuals around the globe and are taking full advantage. International background checks are advised for relationships that are initiated online and when the person on the other end resides in a foreign country, or is traveling in a foreign country. Experts say verify first.

 No county is immune from fraud. Even the U.S. is now forming internet criminal organizations and private investigators and law enforcement agencies are struggling to keep up with the rising crime. Wymoo® International, a full service private investigation firm based in Florida, United States, reports that internet fraud and romance scams are rising faster than most consumers realize. A company spokesperson said that subscribers to social networking sites and online dating sites have a false sense of security when they publish their information on Facebook or Match.com or similar sites, and even the most skeptical consumers can be a victim. Law enforcement agencies agree. Internet users should use caution when publishing details about their personal life on the internet, such as date of birth and address. These details can be used to steal your identity. In addition, a seemingly harmless relationship online can be more dangerous than you might think. Only a professional international private investigator can verify the story behind the profile. Especially in cases involving a foreign country, it can take an expert to verify if your internet flame is who he or she claims to be, and if the photos really match the identity.

Most of the time, online crime organizations are run by men; but this is an equal opportunity world, and women are now starting their own scam operations. The potential monetary reward is significant, so men and women in many developing countries and even countries like the United States are being enticed to commit these types of crime. One of the famous is based out of Chicago.

“The Sweethearts” is a group of women in their 20s to 40s targeting men in their 60s. They go after men who are vulnerable and lonely, and strike on their ego, making them feel that they are back on their game again. Once they make contact, the women work hard to gain the victim’s trust. It can take a week, a month or even a year. Once the trust is establish, the bait and trap is set to request the money, which can come in the form of an emergency or otherwise dire situation, such as a medical condition or accident or economic problems. One of the known victims reportedly lost $400,000 USD in a week! This criminal
organization operates nearly in the open, and Chicago Police Department officers say that many victims don’t press charges against these women, because victims willingly send money.

Under the Obama Administration, the U.S. is in a period of decline, economically and from a cultural standpoint. All superpowers and great nations fall, and the U.S. is no different from Rome, Spain or England. As conditions worsen, criminal activity will rise.

A Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway
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Friday, June 3, 2011
Gold Scams Target International Investors Seeking Opportunities












Gold scams are now a major threat for companies and individual investors seeking to profit from gold by investing internationally. A dismal global economy has firms, hedge funds and individuals looking for larger profits and returns than in the low interest on bank savings accounts and U.S. T-bills. Many expect a complete collapse of the U.S. dollar under reckless spending of the Barack Hussein Obama Administration and his corresponding large government policies. With soaring inflation in many markets, including the United States, precious metals have been all the boom and hype, outpacing nearly every other financial instrument in market. Gold is king, as global real estate prices, stock markets and bonds offer little returns. Investors worldwide are now chasing the Gold rush, and with more experienced and inexperienced investors and companies seeking opportunities abroad, Gold scams are up significantly. International background checks and due diligence is advised.

Much of the gold scams are coming from Africa. Many criminals claim to be entrepreneurs from West Africa or South Africa, in countries like South Africa and Ghana, Africa’s two largest producers of gold. Scammers claim to be established gold trading businesses or mining companies and offer international investors big opportunity for investment. Gold sellers and mints in the U.S. and Australia are also being fooled, as they seek out new gold suppliers. Such high demand and limited supply is causing gold sellers to establish relationships with new suppliers and contacts, many of which are unverified.

Companies can claim to be registered with agencies such as the Precious Mineral Marketing Company (PMMC) in Ghana to gain the confidence of potential investors (and victims) and often have website that appear to be legitimate. A closer analysis and investigation often reveals some experienced criminals in West Africa, who are savvy con men with utmost knowledge of the gold industry. Many even obtain government issued contracts and official looking certificates to prove they are authentic.

and others claim to be growing and have agents in the African countries and North America.

Professional private investigation agencies have received plenty of requests for international background checks to verify some of these entities just to find out most of them are taking advantage of a globally depressed economy. The problem is so big in the U.S. that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has released a communication to warn Americans about this fraud. These fraudsters often offer deals too good to be true, but some deals, experts say, are nearly identical to the real thing. In many cases, only a professional field investigator or private investigation firm with a team on the ground can verify facilities, government registration, mining operations, business contracts, and check for reputation and check local references. The scams are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated. Investors should conduct due diligence to avoid Ghana gold scams.

Some false entities and criminals claim to have offices in the U.S. but are really are located as far away as Ghana or even China. China is probably the fastest gold scam market in the world at this time. A competent private investigation or background check firm with field investigators in the country can verify the location of the company, if it is legally established, if your contacts are actually who they claim to be, and more importantly, investigators will let you know if the gold seller is really registered with a positive reputation. Large amounts of money are being lost to gold scams on a daily basis. Some have lost their entire life savings. Be safe and verify any international gold investments.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway.

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Russian Private Investigators Reveal Patterns of Romance Scams












It is getting more difficult for scammers to defraud people these days, so many people think. Media, especially the internet and social networks, and private investigators around the world have been warning people about preventing and being aware of all sorts of fraud types. And yet, thousands of people become victims every day. Internet companies have restricted mass emails and educated users about the risks of posting personal information online. Many companies even go as far as blocking emails and websites using words that have a strong connection to scams, such as ‘Nigeria’. Although consumers and companies are now more aware of the risk, criminals are finding new ways to scam people around the world. Experts warn that in fact, it appears the criminals are advancing their methods faster than the global public can become aware of the new risks. Investigators from Moscow say Russia background checks are now essential to avoiding this type of online fraud and scams.

Russian private investigators says that many scammers are now keeping a low profile and not even sharing information on what they do with friends or family. The profit is too high, the risk too great. They do not even open bank accounts in their name, but instead hide cash in safe deposit boxes or at home. Professional scammers can earn as much as $50,000 USD a day, according to recent research conducted by the Free World Economy Report! These kinds of profits are seriously guarded secrets, and Moscow based criminals are guarding their secret tactics and online strategies like inside information to a stock transaction. Once the information becomes public, consumers will become more aware of the risk, and the tactic less effective, and less profitable. The industry is booming.

Hundreds of background checks are conducted year round by Russia private investigators in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and the Ukraine. They have uncovered patterns from the known criminal cases which have affected victims around the globe. Most cases target English speakers in the U.K., U.S., Canada or Australia. This is where the money is. Secondly, criminals will often target men in these countries who are seeking a beautiful foreign bride or online romance. Again, this is where the money is. Most criminals are organized groups of men that work from an internet café or from an office using proxy servers, making IP tracking of little or no value. These men are expert con artists who use the right photos, right approach, and right form letters to establish a relationship begun online (usually Facebook or Match.com or similar) and they gain your trust. Then, when the trust is established after a period of several weeks or months, or even years, the financial requests will start. Requests for money will not stop until the criminal gets every penny possible. Or, in many cases, criminals will only seek personal information, such as a copy of your passport, and your address, etc to steal your identity, open a financial account in your name, and steal your money without you knowing until it’s too late.

Sometimes the girl in the photo is simply taken from the internet. In other cases, the criminal groups use real girls to convince victims, and can even use recorded or live webcam feeds with the women talking to their victims. These women are controlled by the men and criminal organization, and will receive a very small payment for their services. Law enforcement and private investigators in Moscow agree that Russian background checks performed by competent private investigators is key.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway.

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