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Avoiding the UK’s Counter-Surveillance amateurs

September 4, 2024 by pdldevv2 Leave a Comment

Leading expert Peter Torley of PDL explores the growing challenges of defeating those monitoring us – while also avoiding poor Counter-Surveillance standards

It’s not very often that you see the term ‘Counter-Surveillance’ in the headlines here in London, or indeed anywhere in the UK.

But be prepared to see a lot more of it in the near future as more and more UK businesses – and indeed government agencies – continue to deal with the various security threats that come with finding themselves increasingly under one type of surveillance or another.

And, as the prevalence of business surveillance increases (with more sophisticated techniques providing greater challenges to all of us in the profession) clients need to be aware that cheap ‘off-the-shelf’ solutions no longer cut the mustard. Indeed, if you’re offered such an amateur ‘solution’, it’s time to pause and think if that’s what your business deserves.

More specific details on that in a moment, but firstly it was in fact a recent headline from the United States that prompted me to write a few words now on Counter-Surveillance and its increasing relevance.

Donald Trump

Following the massive news that an assassination attempt was made on the life of former President Donald Trump, there gradually followed several allegations that the US security authorities had dropped the ball in their Counter-Surveillance approaches.

Fox News reported that an ex-Secret Service agent ‘couldn’t believe’ that there wasn’t any counter-surveillance in place during the assassination attempt. And NBC reported that the agencies involved could – at a bare minimum – even have deployed plainclothes Counter-Surveillance agents to stop the gunman.

That, of course, is a pretty basic ‘old-school’ approach to a particular issue of Counter-Surveillance in the Trump case.

But in Britain’s modern business world – with technology evolving exponentially and with competition between businesses continually intensifying – the risk of your business being under highly sophisticated surveillance is very, very real.

So, if you have reason to suspect your commercial activities are being covertly monitored, you’ll appreciate that it’s now becoming increasingly challenging to outsmart those listening in to your calls and discussions.

Buyer Beware: Quick and Cheap or Thoroughly Professional?

While you will understandably want to get the Counter-Surveillance task completed as soon as possible, it’s important not to rush into choosing a seemingly quick and cheap solution. Very often, the cheaper and the quicker the work means that the end result will not be effective. It will not have been carried out in depth, and ultimately will probably necessitate engaging a fully qualified and ratified professional to complete the work thoroughly.

Are you one of those at high risk of Surveillance?

Let’s have a look firstly at the top three types deemed to be especially at risk of coming under surveillance:

Businesses working in highly competitive markets
High net-worth individuals
Spouses going through divorce

There are many more of course but, first, what actually is Counter-Surveillance?

As the name suggests, Counter-Surveillance involves taking steps to prevent or detect surveillance, including covert activities employed against you. Techniques may include such things as detecting hidden surveillance devices.

When effectively implemented, successful Counter-Surveillance can identify and neutralise any hostile monitoring of your business or private life.

Changed work practices play into their hands

The pandemic has, in very significant ways, changed the way most businesses and individuals operate regarding work. For example, with more people logging in from home, that level of relatively open access has inadvertently opened the doors for easier covert surveillance of one’s activities.

And in the commercial world especially, with many high-end businesses now choosing to meet in ‘halfway houses’ – such as hotels close to a major airport – it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid the threat of the premises having been bugged ahead of your meeting.

How PDL excels in Counter-Surveillance

The overwhelming advantage that we at PDL have over our competitors – and this is across all aspects of our work – is our approach and our knowledge.

Naturally, and as you would expect, our Counter-Surveillance approach covers all the bases. From domestic issues at one end of the scale to working alongside high-end, global businesses discussing incredibly sensitive information. Through all of this, our knowledge and approach helps and reassures those at risk of being subject to intrusive surveillance.

We also – more recently – have now begun to advise a large number of clients on how they can safely work with entrepreneurs on implementing constantly improving device security.

The Effectiveness of our Counter Measures

At PDL, we regularly find that we are called into a company on the back of their previous attempts at counter-surveillance ‘sweeps’ having failed.

This is largely because either not enough time or care has not been allocated to the ‘sweep’ by the service provider; or, on the other hand, the detection equipment used is of an over-the-counter type without the ability to successfully find the devices that, well, are just now so clever that they can easily escape detection by substandard, run-of-the-mill equipment.

This is why it is so crucial to use only sophisticated professional-grade equipment that can counter the range of frequencies in the latest bugging devices. And that’s what we at PDL use every time.

Indeed, in terms of the specialist Frequency Knowledge needed in this line of work, our team is unsurpassed.

For example, from our base in London’s Mayfair, we frequently send our teams all over the world. As a result, we have perfected procedures for detecting the different frequencies used in different countries around the globe. Like we always say at PDL – knowledge is indeed the key.

Counter-Surveillance: do you get what you pay for?

It’s a fact that some of our competitors charge exorbitant fees for a quick Counter-Surveillance sweep that may be largely ineffective. What’s even more shocking is that they often spend maybe just half an hour on the job, wave their equipment around a little, and then leave. Indeed, many of them lack the necessary basic training and knowledge, which is a serious concern to our industry as a whole.

Likewise, many companies may be tempted to try a DIY approach using equipment they’ve bought from somewhere like eBay. When that equipment is positioned around a commercial office or client’s home address, it may very well flash and beep and seem both impressive and reassuring. But is it really? What we find is that this approach rarely, if ever, goes deep enough to find the latest, sophisticated surveillance devices.

Guaranteed

So, reassuringly, with PDL you are guaranteed a fully immersive Counter-Surveillance sweep/investigation.

What’s more, in addition to one-time surveys, we can also offer the continuous monitoring and detection which are crucial for high-stakes events in the commercial world.

No stone unturned

The bottom line is that when we leave your office, we will have left absolutely no stone unturned in finding the bug that other services may never find.

Additionally, we offer you a detailed report with recommendations for strengthening your existing Counter-Surveillance measures.

Talk to us now and let’s beat those buggers – professionally and thoroughly.

Check our full Counter-Surveillance Service here.

Background Checks in London – what they’ll show and what they won’t

July 29, 2024 by pdldevv2 Leave a Comment

By Peter Torley, Lead Private Detective

I don’t know about you but I’ve always been a big fan of the Olympics.

The memories of London 2012 will remain with me forever of course but, at the moment, I’m now getting into the Paris games and reading all about our medal hopefuls.

But it was a different type of link to the 2024 Paris games that jumped out at me the other day.

Security

Euronews had just reported that the French authorities have been busy conducting about one million background checks on “Olympic volunteers, workers and others involved in the Games and applicants for passes to enter Paris’ most tightly controlled security zone, along the banks of the Seine.”

Yes, One Million Checks – that’s certainly a lot of background checking!

At the end of it all, the result was that about 5,000 people were blocked from attending the showpiece games, a lot of them suspected of being potentially unsafe – either connected to left- or right-wing political extremism, or other security concerns.

“These people, we didn’t think it was a good idea for them to be stadium stewards, volunteers or that they accompany teams. Out of one million people, 5,000 is not a lot and it shows the deep work we carried out,” said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.

At the time of writing, in the days immediately before the Games, there were some hiccups for the French authorities, but I imagine that their background checks have certainly helped keep those to a minimum.

One of our PDL Services

The story caught my eye of course because Background Checking is one of our core services here at Private Detective London.

And while we haven’t quite reached the magical one million checks yet, it is indeed one of the most popular – and growing – offerings on our list of services.

Having said that, however, the nature and purpose of Background Checking is sometimes misunderstood.

What to check… and what not

The general reason for any Background Check is to confirm somebody’s identity, history and associates. This reassurance is usually linked to business or family matters – whether that be in the field of security, financial prudence, or simple due diligence.

Some people, however, come to us expecting more. But what our Background Checks can’t serve up, is criminal record checks – unless we have legitimate legal reasons to do so. Neither will Background Checks reveal phone records or bank statements as a lot of that information is quite rightly restricted.

So, at PDL we will always begin by checking the purpose of your check and advising you of our approach.

Best not to try DIY Background Checks

Not surprisingly, given the fact that Google (and all its Search engine cousins) are such a huge part of our lives, many people now mistakenly assume that DIY-checking someone’s background is simply a matter of typing a name and seeing what the internnet throws up.

And that’s probably fine… if you only want to find someone on Facebook or Insta!

However, if you’re a serious employer, or you’re an individual who wants to dig deeply into a person’s history, the reality is that a comprehensive and detailed Background Check really does require the skills of a professional detective.

Professional Background Checking with PDL

At Private Detective London, we are proud to be at the forefront of UK background checking services. Our background checks are conducted by skilled private investigators who ensure the process is both discreet and respectful for all parties involved.

We offer our clients – whether businesses or individuals – the information and insights they need to make informed choices. Our background checks generally include a comprehensive examination of public records and exclusive databases, tailored to specifically identify the issues that matter most to our clients.

And naturally, we always use sophisticated algorithms that go much further and a lot deeper than the Googles of this world! This allows us to legitimately access a lot of intelligence through data sources that are only available to professional businesses in our field.

But, of course, it’s not only about what’s available online.

Surveillance and other traditional investigative methods are still regularly used and our team of experienced investigators can employ these methods when checking backgrounds on individuals throughout the UK, Europe and even worldwide.

Furthermore, unlike others who offer Background Check services in London, we won’t rashly offer you a super-fast service for a cut-down price. We know that people who have used similar ‘fast’ services may only get a hasty, minimum search – perhaps not offering much more information than a DIY-search would throw up for them.

A final anecdote

Background checks have certainly become increasingly essential in the employment sector, verifying that candidates’ claimed experience and education are accurate. This is especially critical for high-level positions that involve financial duties or access to sensitive information.

Which brings to mind another topical news item in which KnowBe4, a prominent US security company, found that a recently hired remote software engineer was actually a North Korean spy using a stolen US identity and an AI-generated photo found online. Despite an initial rigorous hiring process that included video interviews, the sophisticated ruse was only discovered after the new employee began installing malware on the company computer he had been assigned – certainly a very lucky escape for the company involved!

All in all, it just goes to show that when it comes to Background Checks you can never be too careful! And that’s a perfect reason to talk to us at PDL about our trusted checking procedures.

Right, I’m off to see what medals we have a chance of winning over in Paris. Au revoir for now!

Discover more about the PDL Background Checking service here.

You’ll find the main reasons we undertake Background Checks for our clients.

And you can also read a number of examples of our recent Background Checking cases.

Figures reveal the rise of cheating partners in London

May 5, 2024 by pdldevv2 Leave a Comment

By Peter Torley, Lead Private Detective

I happened to be on a train out of Euston recently when the lady opposite me rose and disembarked at her station. Inadvertently, though, she had left one of those glossy celebrity magazines behind her on the seat. And while I’m certainly not the target audience for this type of leisure reading, I did pick it up as we hurtled along through the, wintry, overcast English countryside. Hello, I thought, here’s something to flick through and brighten things up; let’s see how the other half lives.

And yes, it was full of the type of features you’d expect: celebrity gossip and fashion, celebrity mansions, celebrity kids’ names, the latest trends in celebrity kitchens – you name it. As well, of course, as the usual sprinkling of Celebrity Cheating.

That last one caught my attention of course. And while it was about a certain actress I hadn’t heard of, the sad photograph that went with the article brought home to me again the fact that behind all the glitz and glamour, behind all the money and expensive trappings, everybody gets hurt when a partner cheats.

A common issue

At PDL, of course, we’ve had to conduct our fair share of investigations into possible cheating by these affluent members of our society – the ‘jetsetters’ of this world. It means we often have to operate across several international borders.

But the majority of our matrimonial investigations are UK-based. From our office in London, we can work anywhere across Britain – north, south, east or west. And while you might think that cheating on a loved one might be a lot less rife among what we’ll call ‘ordinary people’, the hard facts might surprise you. Because it really doesn’t matter who you are – an A-lister on the red carpet, or a homemaker in Halifax – marital cheating is actually more common than most people might think.

Statistically speaking

I remember an article in The Standard just a little while ago which reported on some statistics from 2023.

The article stated: “According to website The Truth About Deception, 67 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women had cheated at least once that year”

There was an even bigger bombshell to come, though:

“Recently, London was found to be UK’s epicentre for affairs. One survey revealed that 168,322 of London’s eight million residents admitted they were currently having affairs.”

See – you learn something new every day!

But, I wondered, are all those figures entirely exact? Probably not. The statistics were engendered ‘from the postal addresses of the membership at IllicitEncounters.com, a dating website for married people looking to play away from home and the self-appointed “leading authority” on infidelity’. So we have to take them with a teeny pinch of salt of course.

But with a little more research, it’s possible to delve even further into some of the statistics being quoted on matrimonial affairs and cheating partners.

Top Ten

The same source goes on to cite the Top Ten London Boroughs for marital cheating as: Kensington and Chelsea; Hammersmith and Fulham; Islington; Bromley; Brent; Tower Hamlets; Camden; Merton; Wandsworth; and Ealing.

And one of the reasons for extramarital affairs booming in London is, they claim, because of spiralling house prices. Unhappy couples, they say, cannot always afford to split up and so they are continuing with the extramarital affair because they simply cannot afford to set up two homes in London.

All of the above is interesting in a small way – especially to those who want to create click-bait and gossipy headlines about marital infidelity.

But what we certainly must recognise – what goes without saying – is the heartbreak behind every individual case of cheating by a spouse or partner.

Devastating impact

For me, as a Private Investigator in London who frequently works on infidelity cases, I’ve regularly witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of betrayal on the partner who has been wronged. And I’ve seen how that sense of betrayal runs really deep and changes a person – sometimes for life.

When people come to us in PDL, concerned about a partner’s affair, and ask for their loved one to be investigated, we know very well the feelings and fears initially involved: Shock, Betrayal, Insecurity – an Emotional Roller-coaster in every sense.

But perhaps the greatest feeling of all, however, is the pain of just “not knowing for certain”.

Our clients are seeking clarity and concrete answers from us, and they understand that the investigation may uncover painful truths. Yet they’re willing to confront that reality – whatever it may be – rather than to continue living in uncertainty.

That takes courage and I have always recognised the weight of trust that these clients put in myself and the team at PDL. It’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly and we always approach each investigation with immense diligence and discretion.

Uncovering evidence

We talk through a client’s suspicions in the utmost confidentiality and then, with an agreed plan of action in place, uncover the actual evidence to give them the knowledge they need so that they can then move forward in the appropriate manner.

This aspect of the Investigative Services we offer at PDL is probably the most sensitive and heart-rending of all the work we do.

Of course we are not relationship counsellors or marriage guidance specialists. Our job, instead, is to discreetly gather evidence and to empower clients with the information they need – information that will give them the knowledge they need to help them make informed decisions about their future.

Beacon

Yet we cannot help but be affected by the stories we hear from our clients.

That’s why, when I see stories of infidelity scattered across glossy magazines, I always try to read past the headlines, to go beyond the tittle-tattle and see some of the betrayal and hurt that the injured party will have suffered.

It’s always there. And always will be.

But at PDL, our investigations certainly give the betrayed partner a welcome beacon of clarity. It lights the way forward for them and guides them on to the next step they should take… whatever that may be.

If you are you concerned about a Cheating Spouse or Unfaithful Partner, Contact Us Now. We’ll begin with a Free Consultation regarding your situation.

Simply complete our Contact Form. You will then be able to speak to one of our Specialist Matrimonial private detective who will listen carefully and advise on what steps we will take to examine your case.

The importance of background checks

June 20, 2023 by pdldevv2 Leave a Comment

Our diligent background checks have saved almost £1,000,000 for our clients this year. When you’re making any transaction involving trust, cash, or assets, a background check could significantly reduce your risk.

The importance of choosing a reputable investigator

When a casual user searches online, they are served by a search engine which provides just a small percentage of the available data. This isn’t adequate to fulfil a thorough background check. We use a sophisticated algorithm which enables us to reach the whole internet. To reach additional data, PDL maintains subscriptions to intelligence services with information that isn’t available to the general public.
Background checks can range in depth, from expert desktop investigations to covert surveillance or detailed reporting (in the case of corporate background checking), which can take a number of weeks.
We’re often asked: “What can you do? What information can you find?”
When a client contacts us about our background check service, we ask what they already know and, more importantly, what they need to know. Our detectives are extremely skilled investigators who can focus on extracting the information needed by each client.
So rather than offering packages, we provide a service that is tailored to each case. This ‘bespoke’ approach is based on decades of experience.
In which cases would we advise commissioning a background check?

The importance of protecting your business transactions

We cannot overstate the importance of background checks when you’re making a business transaction. In 2023, the FT carried a report from the Home Office revealing that one in five UK businesses have been victims of fraud between 2018 and 2020.
After fraud has taken place, we’ll work to identify the perpetrators, enabling our clients to take action against them. To build a legal case, you need evidence of dishonest conduct as well as intention to defraud.
But if clients call before conducting a transaction, our detailed background investigation can prevent losses – which have been up to £100,000 in some cases.
During January-May 2023, PDL has already saved more than £890,000 for our clients by carrying out thorough background checks. We provide this background check service to clients all over the world – as evidenced by numerous cards and gifts received in the office.
When weighing up the cost (in time and money) of a background check, you must compare it with the value of potential losses. When trust or cash changes hands, it’s important to minimise the risks. Take steps to contact us sooner rather than later.
The importance of partner background checks
“Romance fraud” is increasing. The London-based group, Action Fraud, reported that this type of fraud cost victims £88 million in 2022 – affecting 7,938 men and women.
Relationships which have been nurtured online (as well as offline) must be treated with caution, particularly if a contract or transaction will be made. This is where a background investigation becomes important.
Pre-nuptial background checks prevent losses (financial and emotional) and, in many cases, turn out to be vital.

The importance of partner background checks

“Romance fraud” is increasing. The London-based group, Action Fraud, reported that this type of fraud cost victims £88 million in 2022 – affecting 7,938 men and women.

Relationships which have been nurtured online (as well as offline) must be treated with caution, particularly if a contract or transaction will be made. This is where a background investigation becomes important.

Pre-nuptial background checks

The importance of employee background checks

In the current economy, employee fraud is also rising – and can cause high levels of loss for businesses. Zurich reported a total of 500 incidents every month, costing employers an average of £140,000, in 2022.

Many HR departments already undertake DBS checks and reference checking. But when you work with sensitive or confidential data, or entrust your employees with high-level financial access, it is important to commission additional checks: your new employee’s employment history, criminal history, and credit history may all be relevant.

Our background checking service is bespoke and we will search for the data that meets your requirements.

When is background investigation important?

In conclusion, given the escalating levels of fraud all over the UK and beyond, background checks are indispensable when you are:

Hiring an employee who will have access to confidential or high-value assets;
Preparing to make a business transaction with a new associate;
Concerned about the validity of claims made by a personal connection, particularly if they are about to enter into a contract or marriage; or
Considering an investment opportunity or venture.

Armed with accurate information, you can make the best decisions to protect yourself and your business.

To discuss your case, call the office or use the contact form here.

What makes a good investigator?

February 25, 2023 by pdldevv2 Leave a Comment

Hiring a Private Detective is an important decision, but knowing who to work with is not always easy. Here, we share our experience working with clients and the elements that we believe will give you the best chance of reaching a successful outcome.

Trust

At Private Detective London (PDL), our clients span both the corporate and private worlds, but in both cases, at the heart of every successful investigation is trust.

We understand that when you are working with a private detective, you need to have confidence in their ability to carry out the work required of them.

That’s why we offer our potential clients a free, no-obligation appraisal. We listen carefully to what you tell us about your situation; then we give you an honest answer about what is achievable.

If we take on your case, we want you to feel reassured that we have the skills and experience to investigate your situation, and we will only take on instructions that we know we can help you with.

Finding the right fit

For many of our clients, hiring a private detective is a once-in-a-lifetime situation, and our approach reflects that: we will handle your case with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity from the outset.

As an unregulated industry, standards can vary, so we recommend that if you need to hire a private investigator, you look at who you would be working with, and their methods before entering into any sort of agreement.

In addition to checking whether a private detective has the necessary investigative skills to handle your case, we advise our prospective clients to spend some time thinking about the kind of person they would like to work with before trying to get quotes or comparing different providers.

At PDL we make sure we can provide an appropriate perspective on cases, whether personal or corporate in nature, and we work hard to make sure our clients are comfortable confiding in us – whatever their situation.

How we work

Where possible, we meet our clients in person. We believe this is an important part of each investigation – building the client/detective relationship and gathering as much background on the case as possible.

Once we agree to take on a case, we provide a formal contract. This protects all of us, and provides peace of mind that we are on the same page regarding the scope of the investigation, the fee structure and any other specifics of our working relationship.

Our clients always know who they can contact during an investigation and how the process will work: this is part of our commitment to providing safe, ethical and legal outcomes for all our clients.

Why we work this way

We have over 25 years of experience working in this industry, so there’s not much we haven’t seen, and we know what works and what doesn’t.

Our approach is built on a foundation of honesty and transparency; we believe it’s vital to appraise and qualify every enquiry we receive before accepting instructions, and our success rate reflects this.

Clients do sometimes come to us with preconceived ideas about what we do and how we might do it (perhaps the result of so many popular TV, film and book detectives), but we always focus on what we do best and know will yield results:

A team of experts with the skillsets necessary to cover the varied nature of the cases we’re asked to investigate
Building trust with our clients
Working in a way that is both legally and ethically sound

What makes a good investigator stand out from the crowd is often simply their approach to communication. So, if you are looking for an investigator, it’s worth thinking about the following questions before you make your decision:

Are they listening to me?
Are they paying attention to the detail of what I’m sharing with them?
Would I feel comfortable confiding in them?
Are they upfront about their fees?
Will they give me a contact for the duration of the investigation?
Do I feel reassured that they carry out their work in an ethical and legal manner?

If you think we could be the right fit for you, get in touch:

+44(0)2037471865

contact@privatedetective.london

Investment scams – what they are and how to spot them

August 20, 2022 by pdldevv2 Leave a Comment

Investment scams on the rise

Investment scams aren’t new, but people are being caught out by them more than ever before. Here at PDL, we’ve noticed an increase in clients looking for help from our fraud investigation services, either because they fear they may have fallen victim to a scam or because they suspect an investment they’re being encouraged to make may not be entirely what it seems.

This rise in demand for the services our team of expert financial fraud investigators provide is not entirely unexpected – given the turbulent economic environment of recent years, as well as the ongoing effects of the pandemic. The clients we see have all been keen to maximise their earnings and, in some cases, have already invested (or lent,) significant sums of money before carrying out any checks on the individuals or company involved.

What is an investment scam?

Financial fraud comes in all shapes and sizes, with phishing and tech support scams at one end of the scale and investment scams, for example pyramid schemes or so-called boiler room scams at the other.

Although the details may vary, most scams of this kind involve the scammer convincing would-be investors to part with cash for products or schemes that either don’t exist or are essentially worthless.

The criminals carrying out these frauds will usually maintain a sustained campaign of contact with their victims, nurturing the relationship and building trust, before abruptly breaking all contact once a financial transaction has been made.

All of these scams exploit the vulnerabilities that make us human – whether that’s a desire to provide for our families, or simply wanting to ensure a comfortable retirement.

Official statistics show that in 2021 more than £1.3bn was stolen by fraudsters*. This is a tremendous amount of money, and evidence from financial investigation services points to investment scams as the second most common type of scam, second only to impersonation scams.

Our financial fraud investigation services

Like other types of criminal behaviour, anyone can find themselves targeted by financial scammers – not just those who might be considered vulnerable or lacking in street smarts. In fact, as these criminals grow in both confidence and sophistication, even people who are experienced investors and aware of the risks are finding themselves getting caught out.

The majority of our clients come to us because they have a sense that something isn’t quite right: “It seems great, but something feels a little ‘off’” is something we hear often.

Our clients don’t want to risk missing out on a potentially profitable opportunity, but they also want to be 100% certain of its legitimacy before making a commitment. We look into the matter for them, identifying any issues or concerns.

If you have any doubts, taking the time to carry out some due diligence before moving forward with a new financial venture is always the best way to avoid falling victim to criminal activity.

If you’re worried you’ve already been the victim of a bogus scheme, a private detective agency such as PDL can look into the details for you. But a preventative approach – carrying out appropriate due diligence checks before making new investment decisions is always more effective.

So, the question is, how can you avoid investment fraud?

How to spot investment fraud

Question unexpected contact. Financial fraud investigators usually notice a familiar pattern: scammers get in touch with their victims out of the blue, usually with an opportunity they claim to be sharing because “it’s just too good to miss out on”. If you’ve been cold-called or received an unexpected email outlining a fantastic opportunity, always check whether it’s legitimate before handing over any money.

Say no to pressure. Another common tactic scammers use is to pile on the pressure. You may be told what they’re offering is time limited or even “one time only”. There may be a very short deadline, or sometimes bonus or discount incentives are offered for getting involved quickly. A legitimate investment opportunity will never be marketed in this way. You should always question any so-called opportunity that makes you feel pressured or uncomfortable.
A new best friend. A frequent finding in financial fraud investigations is the lengths criminals will go to to get their victims to commit. Common tactics include prolonged and frequent contact, bombarding the intended ‘investor’ with unsolicited phone calls, email and text follow-ups. In some instances, the relationship may seem more like that of a friend rather than someone trying to make a business deal. This should always be considered a red flag.
Confusing terms, jargon, and returns that are too good to be true. All these things should be concerning if you want to invest your money. You should always understand exactly what you’re investing in and using regulated firms or individuals is advisable.

Get in touch if you’re concerned about anything we’ve covered in this article. We’ll provide free, honest, ethical, legally–sound advice with no obligation.