COMPANY FRAUD
Your first indication of fraud might come from anywhere; an anonymous tip-off, an irregularity in the accounts, an unexpected invoice. It may appear to be a mistake, a false accounting, a forged signature, or a simple unpaid debt. At some stage you will suspect fraud and that is when specialised fraud advice will help you make the best decisions about what to do, when to do it and how to do it.
When you discover a fraud it is important to reach a solution which takes account of your priorities, which will include making a profit, retaining your good reputation, and maintaining an honest workforce. Sometimes this solution may involve the Police, Civil Court action, or dismissal of staff and tribunals, but it will always involve a professional and practical fraud investigation. I understand how essential confidentiality is at all times and that early intervention in the decision-making process can assist with preservation of evidence and recovery of losses.
The Police are reluctant to investigate commercial fraud unless the evidence is straightforward and offered to them 'on a plate'. One reason is because of limited resources. I was once in charge of Sussex Police fraud investigations so I am aware that some perfectly valid serious fraud cases were never investigated. The cases that are accepted for investigation are those which have been pre-prepared to a high standard, for example cases presented by professional fraud investigators such as those employed in the insurance and banking industry. The Fraud Advisor offers that professional service to you on a freelance basis. The Fraud Advisor is an independent investigator, so your problem is our priority.
SMALL BUSINESSES
Suspected fraud may first appear as an unpaid invoice and is not always recognised as fraud until it is too late. The best policy is to act swiftly and systematically when you find financial irregularities, whether debts or suspected fraud, because the evidence will gradually disappear. Your time is precious and any unexpected financial problem is a nightmare and very time-consuming. From investigating business fraud I have learnt the best ways of getting money back, how to preserve evidence and how to summarise your circumstances to report to a Court or the Police.
Contact The Fraud Advisor to get the best advice at the earliest stage.
OUR SERVICES
Free Telephone Consultation. This will usually take about 30 minutes. You will then be able to decide which of the following options is best for you.
Consultation Meeting. A very cost-effective first step and may be all that is needed. From £250.
Assessment Report. This is a clear but detailed report which includes checks of all names involved together with an assessment of your options. This explains what to do, when to do it and how to do it. An assessment report may be all you need.
Full Evidential File. This is all that the Police would need to make an arrest for a crime.
Specific Investigations, for example to find out extra details about a company or an individual. Prices vary, so please ask.
A consultation meeting can be arranged for a FIXED FEE OF £250.
This includes the hire of a private room for 3 hours, refreshments and free parking in Peacehaven, East Sussex. This is an opportunity to explain the problem, to show documents and explain what you want to achieve, e.g. an arrest or recovery of money. You can ask about the criminal justice processes and alternatives, such as county court processes or insurance claims. It will enable me to identify evidence, explain what to do with the evidence and how to gain more evidence. You will receive a written summary of what was said at the meeting so you can read it at your leisure. For your convenience I can travel to any location of your choice. I am an independent investigator and your case is my priority.
The benefit of a consultation meeting is that it is inexpensive, and it will enable you to understand how to take control of your problem before making any expensive decisions.
An assessment report contains all the information that you have supplied together with additional information about the people and businesses involved following my research of various databases such as electoral rolls, companies house, etc. I will analyse and clarify the information, identify potential offences, identify evidence, confirm or trace names and addresses, explain the law and meaning of legal jargon, identify lines of enquiry that might produce more evidence, explain any weaknesses and whether they can be strengthened, and suggest the best options for further action. I will make the report as easy to understand as possible and will draw charts to explain any complications.
It is not easy to know how to report a fraud. An initial assessment report will reveal what evidence you have, will boost your confidence and will enable you to take positive and swift action.
You may wish to think about the following questions, which will be answered in an assessment report:
Do you know the difference between intelligence and evidence? Have you got the best support from your witnesses? Can more witnesses be found? Can you secure your money before alerting the suspect? Have you preserved all the evidence so it will not disappear? Is there fingerprint or DNA evidence on your documents? Is there evidence on your phones or computers which needs securing? Is there any CCTV evidence which might disappear if you do not secure it? Have you correctly identified the suspect? Could there be an identity theft issue? What are the points you need to prove? Are there other victims you can contact? Can you make an insurance claim?
These options are endless. They can only be identified and assessed by an expert. That is why an initial assessment report is useful.
My fees for an assessment report are charged by the hour because of the variation in complexity of different cases. I will be able to agree in advance how many hours it will take; usually between 4 and 12 hours.
A full evidential file contains a case summary, witness statements, documentary exhibits, and intelligence reports. It is usually presented in duplicate paper form with an electronic copy, so you can keep copies and supply copies to anyone you wish. All original documents should be retained by you.
The benefit of a full evidential file is to push your complaint to the top of the Police priorities. In the Police I would not initiate a fraud investigation unless the evidence was pre-prepared to a standard which (a) proved the fraud and (b) proved who did it. It was a question of selecting cases which were the easiest to deal with. There is more fraud reported than the Police can deal with – that’s a fact – so let's ensure your case is selected for investigation.
This technique is used by insurance companies and banks who have their own specialist fraud investigators. By taking the initiative and supplying the Police with a full evidential file you push your case forward ahead of those who simply make a complaint and expect the Police to investigate from scratch. Remember – the Police cannot deal with all fraud so they have to select the easiest and discard the rest.
I have found that the use of clear written language combined with explanatory charts works well. I have been commended by Judges in major fraud trials for my presentation style, particularly for assisting juries with pictorial charts to help understand some difficult concepts.
My fees: I charge an hourly rate plus expenses. Please contact me for current rates. Although it is impossible to say in advance how long a full investigation will take I will be able to agree in advance how long each stage will take. After each stage I will review the case with you to agree how much more to do. Also it is quite normal for my clients to request additional meetings after cases have been reported to the authorities to explain and help throughout the whole process.
Witness Interviews, Witness Statements, Summarising evidence, Researching Intelligence, Companies House and Land Registry checks, CCJ and Bankruptcy checks, Intelligence Reports and Charts and tracing people's addresses in the UK are some of the many investigations that I offer.
Through my wide network of associates I can also arrange Forensic Computer Examination, Forensic Accounting, Surveillance and Sworn Affidavits.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY
A personal message from Dick Bollard: -
"29 in 30 commercial frauds are never reported to Police. The predominant reason is a concern that the publicity may have a negative effect on business either through share prices dropping or customers going elsewhere through fear of fraud. Charities suffer if donors think their money is likely to be stolen. Banks suffer adverse reactions to publicity about fraud, and customers leave. All businesses need to avoid bad publicity. It is therefore essential that I understand your concerns and promise absolute confidentiality from the first moment you contact me. My reputation depends on confidentiality."
Dick Bollard