Consultation

Before conducting a fraud investigation, a financial investigator will consult with the client to discuss their situation and determine what assistance is needed.
A retainer agreement is prepared, describing the scope of the proposed investigation and its estimated cost and timeline. Upon client approval and payment of the retainer, the investigation will proceed.

Examination

The initial inquiries by the investigative team - led by a Certified Fraud Examiner - will focus on verifying whether there is material evidence of financial fraud.
Relevant records are gathered and analyzed. The nature of the scheme is explored and the extent of financial losses are documented. If the fraud is ongoing, specific controls and countermeasures may be recommended to protect the client from the threat of further damages.

Identification

If appropriate, interviews of potential suspects and witnesses will be conducted. Interview statements are examined for consistency. Conflicting or contradictory accounts are evaluated for corroborating details and weighed against evidence obtained through independent fact-finding, including considerations of motive, means and opportunity.
Complex investigations such as corporate corruption and bribery probes might include a series of re-interviews. As the final step in this process, an admission-seeking inquiry is conducted with the principal suspect.
Investigation of online frauds and international syndicates often requires piercing multiple layers of fictitious personas, alter egos and stolen identities used by fraudsters to evade detection and maintain anonymity.

Background

The personal, professional and financial backgrounds of the responsible parties will be thoroughly investigated. Special attention is paid a to any documented pattern of past involvement in other fraud schemes. Relevant areas of inquiry include criminal history, civil litigation and regulatory enforcement actions. Evidence of financial pressures may be found in bankruptcies, liens, foreclosures, evictions, debt collections and tax liabilities.
If there are plans to pursue civil litigation or criminal prosecution, then the current whereabouts and confirmed addresses of responsible parties will also be developed and verified.