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24 February 2010, 4:19 pm
Mishcon de Reya’s family department launched Creativity in Conflict, a collaboration with Central Saint Martins College to award prizes to its top MA fine art students. The event took place at the Imagination Gallery in Store Street and the acrobatic … Continue reading →
Covert surveillance wins against EU right to privacy
18 August 2010, 3:15 pm
The European Appeal Tribunal has recently made two very interesting rulings which may have an effect on the way a European or a London private detective or investigation agency operates, as the result of a recent employment appeal tribunal held in … Continue reading →
Investigators target benefit cheats
12 July 2010, 9:56 am
The private detective industry may find that it is set to boom under the Conservative Lib Dem government. You might be asking yourself how this is possible but in reality there is a very simple explanation. The government is determined … Continue reading →
Russian spies exposed in America
29 June 2010, 11:38 am
The breaking news coming from America that ten Russian spies have been arrested will for many come as a shock. After all the cold war is over and American and Russian cooperation is better than ever. However what this demonstrates … Continue reading →
Prolific chip and pin gang jailed
29 June 2010, 10:54 am
Chip and pin was once hailed as the miracle cure for credit card fraud. Investigators were however rightly doubtful. On one side you have the Police and the banks who work on improving security and tackling fraud. On the other side you … Continue reading →
Was Lehman Brothers bankruptcy down to British lawyers?
18 June 2010, 11:43 am
In the aftermath of the credit crunch the full scale of scandal is slowly coming to light. Investigators and journalists have been frantically going through whatever evidence they can. However in the murky world of international corporate business, the complexity … Continue reading →
Investigators close in on BP
16 June 2010, 9:39 am
Investigators representing the US congress have published a series of internal BP memos which they claim proves the company systematically neglected their duties which put safety at risk on the Deepwater Horizon rig in order to increase profits. These actions, if … Continue reading →
Abu Dhabi, investigators and fraud
15 June 2010, 3:00 pm
An investigator is drawn to places such as Abu Dhabi like moths to a flame. It is a region with vast fortunes, which brings out the very best and worst in people. This is why for a private investigator it is … Continue reading →
Word Cup fraud warning
7 June 2010, 7:00 am
Any detective will warn that fraudsters as well as footballers are geared up for this month’s World Cup extravaganza in South Africa, which also has domestic issues regarding corruption. It is easy to see why some travelling fans might be … Continue reading →
Divorce fair comes to Italy
2 June 2010, 12:47 pm
In Italy, a private detective which specialises in gathering evidence on cheating partners, up until recently would probably not have had much business. You might be asking yourself why this is and the answer is surprisingly simple. Italy is a … Continue reading →
Facebook under pressure for not observing its privacy principles
21 May 2010, 3:33 pm
The recent changes of Facebook’s privacy settings have attracted a lot of negative comments from regular users, but also from Data Protection authorities, NGOs and even private detectives. If you actually think bout the amount of information which people freely … Continue reading →
Are background checks an unnecessary expense for small to medium businesses?
14 May 2010, 12:47 pm
Performing background checks on employees in small to medium businesses can be a difficult decision. If you have a tight budget it is easy to see a background check as an unnecessary expense. However the evidence for background checks really … Continue reading →
Private investigators use Facebook to uncover insurance fraud
12 May 2010, 12:01 pm
Social media and user generated content have become a huge part of the internet and has had a massive impact on the way people surf the internet. Some have described it as a mixed blessing because of the security and … Continue reading →
Lancashire’s latest cons and scams
5 May 2010, 11:59 am
In times of economic difficulty it is well known that thus usually coincides with a rise in crime and fraud investigations in particular. For some, desperate times require desperate measures and unfortunately innocent members of the public get caught up … Continue reading →
Surging fraud leads to spike in insurance premiums
30 April 2010, 12:20 pm
Fraudulent and dishonest insurance claims total £1.9 billion a year in the UK alone, adding £44 to every premium. Unfortunately it is not realistic, practical or affordable for insurers to hire a private detective for each customer. In fact insurance … Continue reading →
Who is the the real Jason Bourne?
28 April 2010, 2:23 pm
To become a world class private detective takes years of training and experience. Often the people who know the skills best come from a military background. Two of the most iconic spy characters today are Jason Bourne and James Bond. No doubt … Continue reading →
What is the most common type of fraud?
26 April 2010, 2:52 pm
It was reported by the BBC last week that credit card is now the most common type of fraud. The report revealed that while overall crime across the UK and Wales is down, or at least stable, credit card fraud … Continue reading →
Kent fraudster sentenced over £34m pyramid scheme
22 April 2010, 1:32 pm
If you are ever quoted an investment package with of returns of 500 per cent in five years, every single alarm bell in your body should be ringing. This does not require private detective training. If anything the last 12 … Continue reading →
Northern Ireland: Undercover surveillance let down by intelligence gap
20 April 2010, 12:06 pm
We understand that two undercover police officers narrowly escaped being killed by republican dissidents in a recent botched surveillance operation in Northern Ireland. Experienced private detectives are quite used to carrying out surveillance operations but in an area of strained social and … Continue reading →
Scam Warning: Microsoft Global Tech Support
16 April 2010, 3:10 pm
In the line of private detective work we regularly hear about cons and scams. Some will get found out quite early on, others will stay under the radar for quite some time and are eventually brought to an end. However, … Continue reading →
Private detective cleans up soap gang
13 April 2010, 4:54 pm
Five men are facing jail for their part in an international plot to smuggle 25 tons of counterfeit soap powder into Britain. This reflects a growing problem with counterfeit products, which is an industry some value at over £10 billion. Counterfeited … Continue reading →
Photocopy machines – A gold mine for data thieves
8 April 2010, 4:39 pm
Conflict International, the private detective agency, has learned about a relatively new form of data theft which may well have gone unnoticed for quite some time by individuals and businesses around the world. It turns out that the latest photocopiers … Continue reading →
Which professions top the list in terms of infidelity?
8 April 2010, 4:38 pm
Ever wonder what professions top the list as the guiltiest of infidelity? Doctor and Teacher! AshleyMadison.com, the dating site for married people (yes, you heard right), surveyed all of their new members last year. Of the 1.9 million folks who signed up … Continue reading →
General Election announced! …but how will the expenses scandal affect the outcome?
6 April 2010, 4:56 pm
Conflict International, the licensed private detective agency, much like the rest of the UK has today learned that there will be a general election on May 6th. Looking back many would say that the successful New Labour campaign in 1997 … Continue reading →
FSA charges seven with insider dealing
1 April 2010, 4:43 pm
Conflict International, the licensed private detective agency, understands that the Financial Services Authority today brought charges against seven people in its first ever attempt to break a suspected insider dealing ring that it alleges resulted in £2.5m of illegal gains. … Continue reading →
Why you cannot trust a British accent!
1 April 2010, 3:57 pm
British conman jailed in US for £50m trail of fraud and theft Conflict International recently learned about a British conman who traded on charm, confidence and American weakness for an English accent Prince Harry would be proud of. So we … Continue reading →
How to hire a private detective?
30 March 2010, 4:35 pm
Choosing the right private detective can really depend on the purpose of their objective. For some, the reasons are personal and in other cases it is purely in the interest of a business, for example investigating business or corporate fraud … Continue reading →
Man jailed over free range egg scam
30 March 2010, 4:35 pm
Conflict International, the licensed private detective agency is glad to hear that a businessman who passed off up to 100 million battery hen eggs as free range or organic in a multimillion pound fraud was jailed for three years. Keith … Continue reading →
Catch me if you can! Teenage con artist escapes prison!
25 March 2010, 5:09 pm
Conflict International, the licensed private detectives, have learned about a 19-year-old conman has walked free from court, despite a six year history of using false credit accounts to defraud over £250,000. Those of you who have seen the film ‘Catch … Continue reading →
Four jailed in £6m mortgage scam
25 March 2010, 5:01 pm
Conflict International, the licensed private investigators, understands that four people have been sentenced to over 15 years in prison for their involvement in a £6m false mortgage scam yesterday. It is particularly disheartening to hear about a scam like this … Continue reading →
URGENT WARNING! Another very dangerous scam!
23 March 2010, 4:17 pm
Conflict International, the licensed investigation agency, has recently learned about a scam operation which has already claimed a string of victims. We want to try and make as many people aware of it as possible so please encourage people to … Continue reading →
Cold callers are not to be trusted
23 March 2010, 4:17 pm
Conflict International, the licensed investigation agency, has recently learned about a scam operation in Lancashire which has already claimed a string of victims. We want to try and make as many people aware of it as possible so please encourage … Continue reading →
Iran claims to have hacked U.S. “spy” sites
23 March 2010, 11:12 am
Conflict International, the licensed private detective agency, understands that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had carried out cyber attacks against 29 websites affiliated with U.S. espionage networks. Iran’s state-directed Fars News Agency reported “The hacked websites acted against Iran’s national … Continue reading →
CCTV brings private detectives and teachers closer together
23 March 2010, 11:10 am
Conflict International, the licensed private detective agency, understands that pupils are monitored by CCTV cameras as frequently as inmates in prisons and passengers at airports, research shows. Most schools in the UK are probably breaking the law by failing to … Continue reading →
Dubai assassination – Part 2 – Police hunt six new suspects
18 March 2010, 2:11 pm
Conflict International recently wrote a blog on the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh titled “Dubai assassination was a master class in intelligence”. It discussed why the operation, despite being headline news around the world was still a success because they achieved their … Continue reading →
Private detectives save internet lonely hearts
18 March 2010, 2:09 pm
Conflict International, a private detective agency, is reporting a quadrupling of Generation Y clients seeking background checks on people they meet on the internet. Dozens of customers are being left heartbroken when their new online mates prove not to be … Continue reading →
Private detective agency: A snapshot of spies and their accountability
16 March 2010, 9:42 am
Conflict International, the licensed private detective agency, understands that the annual Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) report, the latest of which was published on Thursday includes some scathing words but nevertheless gives an insight into the world of British intelligence. … Continue reading →
Cheating lovers a lucrative business for private detectives in Finland
16 March 2010, 9:40 am
Conflict International recently came across some very interesting information regarding Finland and private detectives. According to Riitta Tanner “hundreds of Finns use a private detective to keep track of their spouse’s doings.” About half of her private investigator assignments consist … Continue reading →
Dubai assassination was a master class in intelligence
10 March 2010, 9:32 am
It is organisations such as Mossad, Mi5 and the CIA that have led the way on intelligence gathering, and as a result an investigation agency such as Conflict International have been heavily influenced by these organisations. Many of the best … Continue reading →
Football Association probes England security breach
9 March 2010, 2:15 pm
Conflict International understands the Football Association is looking into a security breach after a tape emerged claiming to carry discussions between England coaches and players. The recording, allegedly made at the England hotel as the squad prepared for last week’s … Continue reading →
Undercover investigation exposes student Visa fraud
5 March 2010, 2:38 pm
Conflict International understands that an undercover investigation by BBC Newsnight has exposed fraud at the heart of the student visa system. Student Visas are now regarded as a soft system that is easy to exploit and needs overhauling. This is … Continue reading →
The key to successful covert surveillance
26 February 2010, 11:51 am
At Conflict International we use our extensive experience and training to ensure effective and successful investigations. However any great military commander or successful sports coach will tell you, the key to victory is a well thought out and detailed plan. … Continue reading →
Conflict International Featured in “The Times”
24 February 2010, 4:19 pm
Mishcon de Reya’s family department launched Creativity in Conflict, a collaboration with Central Saint Martins College to award prizes to its top MA fine art students. The event took place at the Imagination Gallery in Store Street and the acrobatic … Continue reading →
University of North Texas launches Private Investigator Program
23 February 2010, 10:17 am
The University of North Texas is simplifying the process required to become a private investigator with the launch of the state’s first training program that will qualify participants for the Texas private investigator licensing exam. Prior to this program, becoming … Continue reading →
Conflict International lands in the USA
15 February 2010, 6:02 pm
Rumour has it that Angelina Jolie has hired a private detective to track her partner Brad Pitt. In the wake of Tiger Woods affairs and Elin Nordegren hiring a private investigator to find out exactly how much he is worth, … Continue reading →
Private detectives to investigate Crete death
15 February 2010, 10:51 am
A desperate son is set to hire a team of private detectives to solve the mystery of his Dumfries mum’s death on a Greek island. Michael Porter is raising funds to employ investigators in a bid to find out what … Continue reading →
US jails Chinese-born engineer for spying
9 February 2010, 11:57 am
QMCY8K7ZP3PZ – A Chinese-born aerospace engineer was jailed for more than 15 years Monday after being convicted of selling technology related to the US space shuttle program to China, officials said. Dongfan “Greg” Chung, 73, was convicted last year of … Continue reading →
Sports stars secrets are no longer safe
4 February 2010, 11:07 am
John Terry is the latest, in what seems to be a never ending string of very high profile sportsmen who have been caught cheating on their partners. First it was Beckham, then Ashley Cole, then Tiger and now John Terry. … Continue reading →
Fraud costs the UK £30 billion a year!
29 January 2010, 3:38 pm
The National Fraud Authority reckons tax, insurance, online and other fraud is now costing the UK £30bn a year – a deficit that has to be made up through higher taxes and prices. But although this might sound like pretty … Continue reading →
Has Angelina Jolie followed in Elin Nordegren footsteps?
27 January 2010, 3:07 pm
A rumour of yet another Brangelina breakup horror story. Rumour has it that Angelina Jolie hired a private detective to follow around her estranged lover Brad Pitt. In the wake of Tiger Woods affairs and Elin Nordegren hiring a private … Continue reading →
Max Clifford in court over phone-hacking allegations
27 January 2010, 10:46 am
The News of the World is seeking to prevent the disclosure of documents that it is claimed show that many of its reporters “endemically” used illegal methods to obtain personal information, a court was told today. The evidence is being … Continue reading →
Tiger Woods wife goes on the rampage!
13 January 2010, 12:08 pm
If there was ever any indication that Tiger Woods and Elin will be getting a divorce, it’s this. Troubled wife Elin Nordegren has hired a private detective to probe the extent of his wealth. Nordegren has piled on the punishment … Continue reading →
Princes phone tapping probe
6 January 2010, 12:16 pm
Detective Chief Superintendent Philip Williams, from the Metropolitan Police, raised the possibility at the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. When asked if he suspected journalists had hacked into the princes’ engaged in phone tapping, Mr Williams told the … Continue reading →
Conducting Ethical Corporate Investigation
22 December 2009, 11:40 am
Anyone looking for a step-by-step approach to conducting lawful corporate investigations can steal some ideas from the Association of Corporate Counsel. The ACC presented a panel discussion on internal investigations during its annual conference in Boston last week, and posed … Continue reading →
Pension Funds and Local Authorities are Missing Out on Class Action Cash
22 December 2009, 11:31 am
UK Local Authority (LA) pension funds have lost £31bn on their investments between 2007 and 2009, according to global class action services specialist, GOAL Group. The Group’s projections show that around £500million of these losses will be recovered by UK … Continue reading →
Lloyds of London chief warns of Rising Tide of Insurance Fraud
22 December 2009, 11:20 am
Lloyd’s of London’s chief executive Richard Ward today warned the deep recession would increase the number of fraudulent claims being made against the insurance market. Many cash-strapped companies and households view insurance policies as a source of easy money. Mike … Continue reading →
Arsenal set for a new boardroom row over Alisher Usmanov investigation
9 December 2009, 12:07 pm
Arsenal’s boardroom is gripped by fresh tensions, with Alisher Usmanov set to confront Ivan Gazidis over claims that advisers to the club’s directors ordered an investigation into Usmanov’s prison past in the Soviet Union. The Russian is the second-biggest shareholder … Continue reading →
Private Investigator helps to battle Internet Piracy
8 December 2009, 10:35 am
AN EAST London resident who was defrauded after making an online purchase may have stumbled onto an international racket after hiring a private investigator to help him. François Eales, a natural medicine practitioner who lives and works in Gonubie, said … Continue reading →
Bugs in the Boardroom
8 December 2009, 10:11 am
Private Detectives are being increasingly used in the City Law companies, more than any other profession, call in private detectives to combat internal fraud or to trace missing assets. Mike Lacorte, is associate managing director of Conflict International, a London … Continue reading →
Corrupt firms ‘face phone tapping’
7 December 2009, 4:05 pm
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says it will use phone tapping and video surveillance to uncover British companies involved in corruption abroad. The SFO says companies have one last chance to come clean before the new powers are introduced. About … Continue reading →
BlackBerry smartphones open to SMS attack
7 December 2009, 10:00 am
BlackBerry mobile devices are open to attack due to a certificate notification flaw in the smartphone’s software, according to Research In Motion. The problem lies in the BlackBerry Browser, specifically in the dialog box that alerts users if the URL … Continue reading →
Are auction sites fraud with danger?
1 December 2009, 4:59 pm
AN EAST London resident who was defrauded after making an online purchase may have stumbled onto an international racket after hiring a private detective to help him. François Eales, a natural medicine practitioner who lives and works in Gonubie, said … Continue reading →
Conflict International Featured in “The Times”
26 November 2009, 10:40 am
Conflicted out Times may be hard but the love affair between the law and the arts goes on. Last week, for example, Mishcon de Reya’s family department launched Creativity in Conflict, a collaboration with Central Saint Martins College to award prizes … Continue reading →
Shoddy Background Check on Reality TV Star Alleged to Ruin Agency
4 November 2009, 12:02 pm
CHICAGO (CN) – An investigation agency claims it was ruined by a firm that did a slipshod background check on “reality” TV star Ryan Jenkins, who allegedly murdered his wife, dismembered her body and then killed himself. Collective Intelligence says … Continue reading →
Work laptops to trigger wave of online business fraud
2 November 2009, 3:18 pm
by Angus Kidman Wednesday, 21 October 2009 Increasing rates of workplace laptop use mean that it’s inevitable that cyber-criminals will turn their attention from attacking banks to profiting from corporate fraud, a security expert has warned. “The same kind of … Continue reading →
Hey, UK plc, it’s time to clean up your act!
2 November 2009, 2:35 pm
The former lawyer, who is chief executive of Nardello & Co, a corporate investigations company with offices in London, Milan, New York and Washington, says that business executives often ask investigators to tap phones, hack into computers or obtain bank … Continue reading →
Planned background checks for in-home healthcare workers are criticized
2 November 2009, 1:52 pm
Reporting from Sacramento – A storm of protest has erupted over the Schwarzenegger administration’s push to require prospective home health aides for the elderly and disabled to begin undergoing criminal background checks next week. Social service chiefs in counties throughout … Continue reading →
Staged-collision ring busted by California investigators
2 November 2009, 11:46 am
One of the reasons that auto insurance coverage can increase for everyone is fraud. Recently, the California Department of Insurance announced that an alleged fraud ring was broken up in the state. In all, eight men have been arrested in … Continue reading →
Ex-AMD CEO Ruiz Said to Be Tied to Galleon Insider-Trading Case
2 November 2009, 10:57 am
Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) Hector Ruiz, former chief executive officer of Advanced Micro Devices Inc., is the AMD executive who prosecutors allege provided information to a defendant in the Galleon Group LLC insider-trading case, a person familiar with the investigation said. … Continue reading →
FSA fines Seymour Pierce over fraud failings
26 October 2009, 4:55 pm
Firms have been reminded of the importance of safeguarding against fraud after investment bank Seymour Pierce was hit with a £154,000 fine by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA found that the bank had failed to implement effective controls … Continue reading →
Cover teacher stand-ins can get jobs without being properly vetted
26 October 2009, 4:00 pm
HANDS up who thinks substitute teachers in our primary schools are being properly vetted? Go to the top of the class if you ever suspected that no checks are done before stand-in teachers are put in charge of children. Last … Continue reading →
Being Inside Can Have a Downside
22 October 2009, 6:25 pm
As they build a case of alleged insider-trading by Galleon Management LLP co-founder Raj Rajaratnam and others, prosecutors will have to prove whether the information they traded on was gleaned from legal research or from someone who had an obligation … Continue reading →
Moody’s Analysts Are Warned to Keep Secrets
22 October 2009, 6:05 pm
From their first day at Moody’s Investors Service, junior analysts are warned against sharing confidential information with outsiders. They are even told not to mention company names in the elevators at the credit-rating firm’s Lower Manhattan headquarters. Federal prosecutors now … Continue reading →
The top 5 signs your boyfriend is cheating on you
13 August 2009, 4:54 pm
The gut feeling of many women regarding their partner is very often correct. So if you suspect that your boyfriend is being unfaithful, then he may very well be. But before you hire an investigator or call a lawyer, check … Continue reading →
Private Detectives are all the rage in ‘well managed’ City Firms
5 August 2009, 1:20 pm
Companies may not admit using them, but private detective agencies have gained acceptance Liz Chong, The Times THEIR customers include governments, leading investment banks, hedge funds, private equity houses and FTSE 100 companies, but few would admit that they have … Continue reading →
Techniques of detectives
24 July 2009, 5:17 pm
Street work Detectives have a wide variety of techniques available in conducting investigations. However, the majority of cases are solved by interrogation of suspects and witnesses, which takes time. In a policeman’s career as a uniformed officer and as a … Continue reading →
Hiring a Private Investigator
24 July 2009, 5:08 pm
Hiring a private investigator The following are some tips to aid you in evaluating which private investigator to work with. Make sure they have a license! The vast majority of states require that anyone engaging the practice of investigations be … Continue reading →
Ten Top Tips For Private Investigators
24 July 2009, 4:32 pm
Working as a title=”hire a private investigator” >private investigator is a fascinating but endlessly challenging occupation. In this article I have set out ten top tips that may make life a little easier for those new to the profession. 1. … Continue reading →
Is there a difference between a Private Investigator and a Private Detective?
29 June 2009, 11:13 am
That depends on the state private investigator licensing laws for your state. In many states, the words ‘private investigator’ and ‘private detective’ are interchangeable, but in some states there actually is a difference in their accepted meaning. For example, in … Continue reading →
Investigator Tools & Equipment Used by Private Investigators
29 June 2009, 11:05 am
What type of equipment do Private Investigators use? A successful private investigator will own several investigative tools. These tools are based on the type of work or cases you will be working on. Probably the most important investigative tool is … Continue reading →
Top 5 signs that your boyfriend is cheating on you
27 January 2009, 11:56 am
The gut feeling of many women regarding their partner is very often correct. So if you suspect that your boyfriend is being unfaithful then he may very well be. But before you hire an Private Investigator or call a lawyer, check … Continue reading →
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