Monday, September 12, 2011
International Due Diligence: Doing Your Homework



Investors around the world are seeking out new and profitable opportunities beyond their own national borders. Investment opportunities are hard to find in the global recession, so managers and business owners and CEO’s are looking to other countries and even other continents to find a more efficient way to compete in the new (and grim) financial landscape. This trend has created a sharp increase in the number of international business deals and foreign investment, especially in booming nations and populations of China and India. Many companies are eager to make a deal, snag an opportunity or find a lower cost supplier, and in the gold rush, many fail to do their due diligence. In today’s high risk environment, not doing your homework can be very costly.

International due diligence is the process of verifying individuals and organizations in other countries to minimize the risk in global business transactions and investment. It is a valuable tool that can save a company from serious negative publicity, serious financial losses or even bankruptcy. It is a form of insurance that can verify new business contacts, new suppliers, small business operations overseas, and determine if a person or business (or stock) is what it appears to be. It’s common news these days that more and more corporations down to individuals are being defrauded in international business and investment. The risk is high, and the demand for professional verification services is growing. Doing businesses offshore has serious potential, but there are also risks that should be identified and minimized before moving forward.

Victims abound in the U.K., U.S., Canada and Australia. Relatively rich countries in the developed world are seeking investment (typically) in developing nations, where there is less oversight, less regulation and less transparency. The result? High risk for fraud and scams. Experience investors know that even if you have met a company representative in Beijing, or a sales person in London, or a CEO in New Delhi, there is still significant risk on the table. Financial statements and operation figures can be falsified, exaggerated, etc. Offices may exist on paper, but when an investigator visits the address, it may or may not exist, or be as claimed. Contracts and relationships with other companies may not be true, and even if a company in China, India, Nigeria or Ghana or South Africa or Brazil claims to have IBM or Microsoft or General Electric as it’s major customer, such relationships should be verified in the due diligence and verification process.

In recent years, companies in the Fortune 500 have been seriously threatened by the risk from false companies based in China, India and Southeast Asia. Fraud operations in the Philippines and Malaysia are growing, and investments made in companies based in Manila and Kuala Lumpur are at high risk. Russia has presented serious challenges as well, and investments in Russia (a huge market with a lot of opportunity) are at serious risk for scams, business fraud, stock scams and misrepresentation as criminal operations operate in an organized and effective fashion from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Gold scams and precious metals and commodity investment scams are also out of control and being run by organized criminal groups in Ghana, Nigeria and Benin in West Africa. To make matters worse, even if the business contact or company never mentions one of these countries, it doesn’t mean the risk is gone. In fact, many scammers operating from these countries use VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) such as Skype to use local phone numbers in New York or London or Hong Kong, to pose as a local or business based in that country. It’s becoming very difficult to know who is who, and where he or she is operating from.

International due diligence is a form of insurance and doing your homework. International private investigators are now in high demand, as businesses and individuals see the need to verify and minimize the risk. Initial screening and scrutiny should always done in house, but before a deal or agreement is reached, experts advise relying on a professional private investigator who has offices or field investigators on the ground where you need them, to verify offices, relationships, operations, employees, management, business registrations and licensing, reputation and more. In many cases, having a professional and highly trained investigator on the ground with local contacts, access to local records, and who speaks the same language and culture is the only way to obtain the evidence and verify the information in question. Be safe and verify.
Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway

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Friday, August 26, 2011
Philippines Scams Keep Investigators on Alert

There’s no stopping for private investigators trying to solve multiple cases of internet fraud and scams from the Philippines. It’s been an ongoing problem and it just doesn’t seem to improve. As the internet evolves, fraudsters move ahead with and adapt to the most sophisticated methods possible to fool internet users around the world. Whether it be business fraud, romance scam, Filipina bride scams, dating scams, phishing scams, PPC fraud or identity theft, the Philippines ranks among Nigeria as a global scam capitol.

Poverty and poor education has made the Philippines a high risk nation for fraud that permeates all levels of society. Many unscrupulous men and women in Manila and Cebu, to all corners of the island nation, have found that cheating foreigners offers an alternative way to get money easily and with little risk of getting caught. The sad story perhaps is that most criminals are young people trying to get funds not necessarily to prosper, to invest, or to pay for college, but rather to use drugs and alcohol consumption.

In some cases, Philippines private investigators have joined forces with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippines National Police in the Philippines and other security forces in Manila, as well as with neighboring Asian countries such as Malaysia. (Malaysia is one of the fastest growing countries in the world for internet scams and fraud, and could soon surpass the Philippines). Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan have been able to prosecute criminals that have committed major fraud cases. With each success story and arrest, however, there are 20 to 50 reported new cases of major internet scams. The fact is government and law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia are ill-equipped to combat such internet scams.

The types of scam and fraud cases are seemingly endless. In some cases telemarketing type callers will contact potential victims claims to be government agents, informing the person that there are fees or taxes that are past due. When fraud and scams don’t work, criminals are turning to extortion, claiming to have dirt on the person and will threaten to damage his or her reputation, costing the person his or her job. The NBI in the Philippines has increased its cyber crime division, but professional Philippines detectives say it is too little too late. Criminals seem to understand this also, and they conduct crime openly from internet cafes and in many communities, it is an acceptable way to make a living, believe it or not. Poverty stricken areas tend to look the other way when young people turn to internet scams and prostitution. Anything to survive they say, and many locals claim they have no other choice. Experts say poverty and corruption is a factor, but never an excuse. For honest and hardworking individuals, there is always opportunity.

Investigators, law enforcement and the media have been emphasizing on the proper ways that people can keep themselves safe by using common sense and not being so open to strangers, above all, not sharing personal information that may put themselves at risk. If you’re communicating via Facebook, Filipino Cupid, Match.com or similar site, be safe and never reveal your full name, address and date of birth and photos. This information together is nearly enough to have your identity stolen. Be safe and skeptical.

Remember that if you’ve never met the person in real life, and have been only communicating via the internet, there is no way to know for sure if the person is legitimate. Experts advise a comprehensive background check by a reputable private investigator to minimize your risk. Verify the individual and then decide. Philippine background checks, due diligence or surveillance at the right time can save you a lot of trouble and unpleasant experience. Play it safe in the Philippines and verify.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2011 A. Hathaway




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Thursday, August 18, 2011
Lesbian Lovers Prone to Gay Online Dating Scams


Lesbians and gays are now out of the closet in most countries, and are proud to be gay and different. Homosexuals proudly frolic in public and even display their affection to their gay lovers. Lesbians are increasingly doing the same, butch or feminine. The world is accepting these people as normal parts and contributors of society. Despite their fundamental and genetically conflicting nature (female anatomy is designed for a male and vice versa), lesbians have overcome these unnatural and confusing challenges. They are now a driving force in developed nations. Now that lesbians are out in the open, online dating sites cater to gays and lesbians. Many lesbians who are out of the closet use the service, and even more lesbians who hide their masculine instincts subscribe to online dating sites as an outlet, where they can pursue love from the privacy of their own home. Gays and lesbians are perhaps the fastest growing segment of online dating site subscribers. As a result, they are also fast becoming a target for online criminals.

Internet scammers and criminals of online fraud use social networking and online dating sites as a hunting ground. Their target? People who are trusting, honest and lonely people seeking Mr. or Ms. Perfect. Many internet criminals are learning how to take advantage of lesbians who are seeking a discreet partner, or love abroad. A criminal can provide false profiles, beautiful photos and slowly build a relationship and trust with a lesbian. The result? A hot and steamy lesbian love affair online. Everything seems perfect. Men, after all, are the bad ones. Most lesbians never see it coming, and don’t suspect that their sweet, innocent and shy lesbian lover could ever be involved in any scam or fraud. The criminals understand this mentality, and they are busy exploiting it. Lesbians are urged to use caution, and be skeptical with partners.

Dating background checks are valuable tools for consumers to lower their risk for fraud. A true dating background check (like any other real background check) is a professional investigation conducted by a trained and experienced professional private investigator. It is a comprehensive verification process that screens for fraud, identifies risk factors, and answers the question – is this person who he or she claims to be? Points covered in a dating background check investigation may include, but not limited to: criminal records, travel records, employment and education verification, passport or ID verification, fraud screening, address verification, property records and asset searches, civil and marriage records, and more. It’s a smart way to be safe.

International private investigators say there is simply no way for sites like Facebook, Match.com, eHarmony and the countless other sites to screen all their subscribers. It’s important for consumers to know that no site is immune from fraud. To lower your risk, be very careful about revealing personal information. Never send money to anyone who has not been verified. Stay skeptical and if in doubt, contact a reputable private investigation firm for help.


Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway

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Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Philippines Detectives Say Senior Citizens Caught in Telemarketing Scam



Figures reveal that senior citizens who are living on their own might be a special target for telemarketing scams which originate from the Philippines. Scammers operating from Manila have been identified as operating telemarketing scams which target U.S. and Australia citizens mainly. Trained sellers would call their victims offering services and bogus products to them, free prizes, low cost vitamins, health care products or inexpensive vacations, with the aim to get your personal and banking information. The goal of the criminals is to have a friendly sales call with a senior, and to extract as much information as possible, later to be used for further phishing and identity theft tactics to eventually access the victims’ bank account or financial information. Philippines detectives say if the offer sounds too good to pass up, the best thing to do is hang up.

Whether it’s an email address, phone number date of birth or address, experts says it’s always best to reveal as little information as possible. One piece of information may seem harmless enough to give out over the phone, but law enforcement and reputable Philippines private investigation firms like Philippine PI™ say criminal use information they already know to put the pieces together, and then use that information to their advantage. For example, criminals in Manila recently were using public records to target seniors. They used the phone book to find the subject’s full name, address and telephone number. Then, by making scam phone calls pretending to be a bank or government official, scammers were able to obtain many dates of birth and even ID numbers. Taken together, criminals were able to steal some senior citizens’ identity, and even in some cases, access bank account information and steal significant amounts of money.

Philippines investigators explain that telemarketers can often be recruited by criminals to use their sales skills for illegal purposes. The person on the other side of the phone will pressure you to make a fast decision because the offer will expire in 30 minutes, or will be a serious security issue for your bank account, and you have to act fast or your account could be at risk. With a skilled sales person and convincing pitch, and pressure to act, many seniors fall for the scam and reveal their account numbers (for verification) or also their ID numbers (also for verification). The convincing criminal explains it is for their own security of their accounts that they verify. In some cases telemarketing scams can also use emails to further increase credibility and trust.

Unless the company identifies itself and is a company or institution you are familiar with, it’s best to hang up. If they offer you something free, be skeptical, and end the call for your own safety. Nothing in this world is free, unfortunately. If it is a bank or institution you are familiar with and have an account with, explain to the caller that you will call the bank back directly, at the number that is listed on your statement from your bank, to be sure you’re conversation is secure.

Never send any money to anyone you don’t know. Avoiding providing your credit card or bank account number, and never reveal your ID number. A big warning sign is when the telemarketer tells you “You don’t need to speak to anyone about this offer” or “You need to act now if you’re interested in the offer” which are major red flags for fraud and criminal activity.

Legitimate companies identify themselves accordingly and often inform you of good promotions and offers they have in a different way, such as via the physical mail or on their company website. A respectable company will never call you directly and pressure you to make a decision.

Stay skeptical and be aware of the risk for fraud and scams. If seniors have any doubt about the legitimacy of an offer or company, they should contact a reputable private investigation company or their local law enforcement or Better Business Bureau for assistance.     G48HWKZRSP63
Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway

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Friday, August 12, 2011
International Investigators Busy in Emerging Markets



Emerging markets are nations with activity in the process of rapid growth and industrialization, in which China is considered the largest. India is next on the list, but the truth is, more nations are in the developing status than those that are developed. Outside the major economies of Germany, U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia, the world is undergoing rapid economic change which includes the infrastructure, method of conducting business and rule of law. Developing nations are still the Wild West, and are inherently full of risk. With risk comes reward, so the saying goes, but international private investigators are busy trying to minimize that risk for global clients. They're working overtime.

Countries like Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Brazil, China, Ghana, Colombia and Nigeria, among the other top emerging 65 economies around the world are undergoing a rapid transformation to participate in globalization and the new economy. But, stifling much of this growth and transformation is the threat from scams and fraud, which can be costly to investors, governments and individuals. We live in an imperfect world, so while getting in at the ground level on a gold mining company in Ghana, or an internet start up in Hong Kong may sound like a great idea with major potential rewards, it is not without major risk.  The unknowns are greater than ever.

Southeast Asia countries are seeing a sharp rise in more fraud and scam types than what most people are aware of on the internet. International commerce, investment and communication by default involves the internet, making international business and deals in emerging economies even more risk prone. The internet offers criminals anonymity and protection. It’s no longer just online dating, advance free fraud or investment scams. China, Malaysia and the Philippines, together with Thailand and Taiwan have seen recent arrests of organized criminals groups surprisingly large and specialized in their illegal operations online. There is serious money to be made, and developing countries often have ineffective and underfunded law enforcement agencies, not to mention corruption problems. These factors combined create a haven for scams and fraud.

Criminals are taking advantage of the global recession. Investors, both individuals and corporations, are looking abroad to find opportunities, seeking a profitable deal in places that are unknown and new, where language and cultural barriers make it hard to conduct international due diligence. It can be hard enough to verify contacts, business operations and proposals in your home country. Throw in a different language and continent, and due diligence and screening for fraud can get complicated. For this reason many investors and consumers are relying on highly trained international private investigation firms like Wymoo® International to verify business contacts, companies and relationships. Having a professional investigator on the ground where you need him, speaking the same language, utilizing local contacts, checking references, accessing local records and providing details of facilities is an invaluable tool at minimizing risk.  Not doing your homework can be costly.

Scam operations in many developing countries have become experts in business fraud, where their main targets are Western companies or English speaking investors. Experts say Africa, Latin America and Asia are the highest crime rate regions for business fraud and scams. China may be the up and coming world power, but by no means is it there yet. China suffers from severe overpopulation and also a serious problem with fraud. The ethics and policies of trading and business practices vary significantly from what Western businesses are used to.

Latin-American emerging markets are no exception. If fraud or scam isn’t present, there’s the risk for hyper-inflation and devaluation of the local currencies, not to mention kidnapping of executives in Mexico, or extortion from drug dealers. Each region is unique, and only a reputable international investigation firm with field investigators in the local area can prudently screen the case for fraud and risk factors, since each country and case is unique.  Be safe and verify the facts.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway




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Russia Private Investigators Discuss Dating Scams


After several months of writing back and forth and even phone calls and web cam chats, there has never been a single request for money. And then, you take the relationship to the next level and would like to meet this beautiful woman. She seems perfect, but you are aware of the risk. Finally, the two of you agree that you will fly her to your home country. You agree to help her with her plane ticket, passport and visa. It will be an investment, and relatively expensive. You can’t put a price on love. You might also need to pay for a travel agency to help with her visa, or even help her with some bills so that she can leave work and visit you. Everything seems legit and you don’t mind helping out. You even provided her with a copy of your passport, so her travel agent has all your information and can expedite your visa. She has pictures of you, your address, a copy of your passport, and your home phone number and date of birth. You send the money, and she has all your personal details. You’ve just been a victim and it’s about to get worse.  Welcome to Russian dating scams.

Next you might find yourself in London or Toronto or New York or Sydney airport waiting for your online romance. She’s your perfect match. You might buy some roses or chocolates to surprise her when she lands. You’re ready for the grand rendez vous. All passengers are finally arriving and you’re looking for her among the passengers. She never showed. What happened?

You rush home to check your email to find out what happened. Finally, she contacts you. There’s been a problem. Things are complicated. For one reason or another, she wasn’t able to visit you and she’s in serious problems. She’s sorry but she needs your help more than ever.  What should you do?

Russia private investigators say this is a common scenario in romance scams involving Russian women. The sad fact of the matter is, in this case, the victim lost thousands of dollars, and even had his identity stolen (after providing all his details). Romance scams and Russian internet fraud is serious business, and there are many victims. The risk is high and relationships should be verified. Experienced criminals can fool just about anyone, so don’t think it couldn’t happen to you – it could. Scammers target victims on sites like Match.com, eHarmony and Facebook, and Russian bride sites, but if you’re on the internet meeting people, you’re at risk.

Detectives in Moscow deal with these situations on a regular basis. American, Canadian and British and Australian men have been duped and devastated, by the thousands. And to make matters worse, experts say the internet crimes and scam levels are actually rising.  Investigators say caution is advised.

Money often flows down the drain after falling for a beautiful blue eyed Russian or Ukrainian woman. Investigators say be skeptical, very skeptical. Avoid providing personal details and data, and any request for money should be a major red flag. If in doubt, contact a reputable Russia private detective such as Russia PI™ for verification and evidence on the subject.

Private investigators around the world and particularly in Russia and the Ukraine keep telling us to be careful and not to hesitate to verify any relationship that begins on the internet. Professional and discreet background check investigations can save you time and money, and lots of heartache. Experts say it’s a wise form of insurance to lower your risk online.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway




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Tuesday, July 26, 2011
International Due Diligence Keeps Companies Safe from China Fraud



Some criminals in China have been giving the country a bad name, and scamming Western businessmen and companies and investors. Since the internet has become a major tool for trading and business relationships for Chinese investment are often built or initiated online, some illegal companies and fraudsters have found ways to cheat investors and importers by taking their money and disappearing. The Chinese economy is still outperforming most countries, and with dismal opportunities elsewhere, investors and businesses are eager to get into the China market, and many are forgetting to do their homework. As a result, scam cases are rising.

Fake companies and false representatives are now the biggest threat facing China investors. Companies and investors in the U.S. by stock on companies that don’t exist, sign business contracts with companies that don’t exist, and so on. Victims pay for items and cargo which is never shipped, and imports are paid for with no delivery. The list goes on. How do companies and business people fall for such scams? The answer is simple. The criminals conducting these scams and fraud are good at what they do, and they use very convincing support documentation and claims. They’re familiar with the industry and use professional looking websites, email addresses and local Chinese phone numbers. The crooks are excellent sales people.

International private investigators have seen a significant rise in the demand for due diligence investigations from companies in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia interested to do business with local Chinese companies. The risk is becoming more widely known, and more CEO’s and investors are taking the risk head on, and minimizing their potential losses with a professional international due diligence service. A due diligence services conducted by a reputable international private investigation company can verify the contact, the business, operations, start date and registration, reputation, legal filing and more. In short, due diligence can save you a lot of money.

Investigators say that most of these so called businesses take advantage of the fact that being online they do not really register themselves as entities and may not even be legally established in their country. Often scammers will claim to be based outside of China to avoid the reputation and perception of risk among Asian nations. In fact, the criminals could be Chinese nationals or even from Malaysia, operating from anywhere in the world using the internet and proxy servers.

Fraudsters are really experts of deception and know how to appear legal. They can get forged legal documents, open temporary bank accounts, get your money and go. Foreign companies interested in investing money in China should check their contacts and the history of the companies they represent. As always, ask for and check the references. Have a professional investigation firm verify their claims and screen the case for fraud, which will also include verifying any documentation and identifications provided. Don’t go it alone, get the help of a professional before closing a deal with a company based in Beijing, Shanghai and even Taiwan.

International due diligence in China can save you a lot of trouble, time and money. Professional investigation firms like Wymoo® International the FBI and Interpol have seen big companies fall for these scams, losing millions of dollars and in some cases even face bankruptcy. Basically, no one is immune from these scams and it’s important to know that the risks are a serious threat to business and investment in China. Wymoo and law enforcement also agree that many crimes go unreported, as companies don’t want their shareholders to know that they’ve fallen for such a scam, and executives are also concerned about personal and company reputations.

Doing business in China is still a good idea if one takes the necessary precautions. When looking for opportunity abroad, do your homework, check references, and get due diligence.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway

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International Private Investigators Offer Tips to Stay Safe Online



The internet is growing and it seems nearly everyone in the world now has access. It is becoming the most important place to do business, contact friends and even get a good job. New businesses open every day because the web offers low investment and nearly no barriers to entry. Romance and partners are available by clicking different profiles in Match.com and other dating sites. And connecting with friends and making new friends on social networking sites like Facebook has made life less physical, and more electronic. Everything we do is now online, it seems. Connecting with people, learning about new places, booking travel, meeting meeting new friends, finding new jobs, researching new investments, connecting with businesses and companies, and reaching out to new contacts, and submitting forms and sending emails and even payments online. We all do it and it seems so common in fact, that most of this forget or don’t know the risks involved.

That’s the power of internet. Making life easier, some say. With all this easy access to information and people and businesses around the world, there is an equal rise in new forms of crime, many of these involving scams and fraud via the internet. Identity theft, romance scams, investment fraud, advance fee fraud, and visa scams, travel scams, marriage fraud, online dating scams, immigration scams, phishing scams, spam email, hacking and countless others are on the rise. The FBI and embassies around the world report that complaints and crime victims are up. Crimes and scams range from losing several hundred dollars and having a broken heart to a ruined life and your complete life savings stolen from you, and your identity taken. Some crime starts via the internet, but can end in murder, rape or abduction, as many trusting users of dating and social network sites publish their private information on line, and let criminals know where they live, what time their home, their photos and date of birth, and even more.

Scammers can leave you a strong feeling of deceit, frustration and loss of control as most crimes cannot be prosecuted. Internet criminals have the advantage of anonymity via the internet, and law enforcement and investigators often struggle to identify, locate and arrest them.

International private investigators have been working overtime with international background checks, international due diligence, dating background checks, and other professional investigation services to minimize the risk for clients around the world. Through their experience, they offer some telling advice on how to stay safe online, and how to mitigate the risk.

All online relationships, whether business or personal should be verified for your own good.

Online Safety Check List

- If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If the offer is truly worth it, it’s worth some time and research to make sure it’s done right. This is true with love and investments.

- Be very skeptical of any emails asking for your password or login information. Never provide that information to anyone via an email, and if you’re not sure, call the business directly.

- No job offering is serious if you have to pay a fee upfront. 99% of the time, this is a scam.

- Be very skeptical of anyone claiming to offer you an easy visa or passport, or unknown travel agency. Ask for references and proof that you are dealing with a reputable company.

- Never provide indecent photos of yourself to anyone online. These can be used as blackmail.

- Be skeptical when online dating. Never reveal too much personal information and never send money to anyone who has not been verified by a professional private investigator.

- Never reveal personal data on Facebook or similar sites. Letting the public know where you live, your full name and date of birth is a very fast and effective way to be a victim.

- If you’re considering a new supplier, investment or business partnership with a company overseas, stop and consider the risk. Verify with an international background check or international due diligence so you know the facts, and then make an informed decision.

The internet is a great tool with many opportunities. Know the risk. Be safe.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway

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