CLANDESTINE

INVESTIGATIONS

What is a clandestine investigation and why is it critical in proving a crime?

Clandestine investigations are conducted in complete secrecy without anyone knowing. We approach each case in the same manner and use the same procedures & methodology used in our service to the Nation. Why is it imperative to conduct clandestine investigations? For one simple reason, to protect the company's interests. Fraud or accounting irregularities within a company can be disruptive and time-consuming to investigate. The majority of corporations lack the resources to carry out a comprehensive investigation.

In order to completely substantiate an existing or suspected fraud, Apollo Limited deploys experienced, independent, and highly credentialed investigators. Untrained individuals are prone to misinterpreting events and making the wrong conclusions, which could result in the company being held liable. Even the most seasoned accountant can easily see fraud where none exists and vice versa. Making that determination with any degree of certainty requires specialized training and experience. The worst thing an employer can do is accuse an employee of wrongdoing only to find out later they were mistaken. It is impossible to undo the psychological damage that betrayal inflicts on loyal employees. The relationship will have ended at that point, and if the suspicion was shared prematurely, it could result in a defamation lawsuit.

By hiring a clandestine investigator, an employer will be given reasonable assurance a crime has indeed taken place and provided hard evidence that supports such allegations. Having such undeniable proof should be a prerequisite for confronting an employee and filing complaints with local and federal authorities. Insurance carriers will not even consider paying a theft claim without such evidence. It is not the time to act on a hunch when someone's reputation is at stake, and that of the company as well. In the ideal scenario, our experts will pose as temporary employees, new employees "trainees" or regular auditors visiting for some other reason and may need to speak to the suspect. In this way, the investigator is able to observe, interact, and gain first-hand knowledge in order to create a psychological profile that will support the allegations or disabuse the suspect.

Can Apollo Limited prove embezzlement and provide court-admissible evidence?

If a crime occurred, we can prove it. It is impossible to evade detection in the 21st century. All it takes is time and the knowledge of where to look and what to look for. Even when it involves cash, which is the most difficult financial theft to prove and document. Cash is rarely appropriated just to stuff in mattresses. It is spent, deposited, or otherwise circulated. When they do, it can be documented. Criminals often make the mistake of living beyond their means. It is common for people to believe that they have everyone fooled, that no one is paying attention, or perhaps they think that they can easily explain it away. By accessing IRS, FinCEN, and other federal databases, we can paint a clearer picture and establish a timeline of events. If John Doe shows up to work in a brand-new Corvette but hasn't earned a pay increase, won the lottery or found a diamond mine under his root cellar, something's wrong. With these databases, we can rule out all legitimate methods by which a person could have had a sudden windfall, which can occur for many different reasons. Despite how many signs point to misappropriation, things aren't always what they seem. Snap judgments can cost a company dearly, so don't say anything until all the facts are in.

"If it walks like a duck..."

written by Bruce Tucker

Consider the "50-Something Phenomenon": your co-worker has been grumbling about work for as long as you can remember. You even sympathize sometimes, thinking you’re both underpaid for the effort you put in. With similar paychecks, you understand how frustrating it can be just to scrape by, and so you’ve let his venting slide.

Then, almost overnight, he changes. Mr. Grumpy becomes Mr. Personality—smiling, laughing, and loving life. While you’re glad to see the change, you can’t help but wonder what brought it on. One day, you overhear him chatting about his new sporty convertible and how much he enjoys his commute now. Confused and maybe a little jealous, you wonder how he could afford such a luxury when you’re still driving a used clunker. Soon after, you notice him shopping online and planning vacations. Peeking over the cubicle wall, you even spot him moving funds. Suddenly, you’re convinced he’s embezzling from the company!

Your suspicions grow stronger. You overlook the fact that it’s his job as an asset manager to make bank transfers, and instead, decide he must be siphoning company money. After all, with his experience, he’d certainly know how to pull it off. Now, you’re thinking about reporting him, feeling like a hero who’s just exposed a fraud.

But stop and consider: are your emotions clouding your judgment? Maybe jealousy is coloring your perception, turning his good fortune into a suspicious act. Buying a new car and enjoying life isn’t a crime. Without concrete evidence, your allegations are based more on envy than on justice.

Here’s something you may not have considered—many employees in their 40s or 50s inherit from parents or loved ones as they pass on. It’s common for them to receive insurance benefits or a share of an estate, often without fanfare. Though he doesn’t appear to be grieving, your co-worker may have inherited money, perhaps even from a family member he wasn’t especially close to.

If you act on baseless assumptions, you risk making a serious, irreversible mistake. Rather than jumping to conclusions, take a step back. Resist the urge to rain on someone else’s parade, even if it stirs envy. Instead of accusing, try a friendly conversation. You may learn something that changes your perspective entirely.

Investigators carefully gather facts before drawing conclusions. You should do the same, avoiding gossip or unsubstantiated rumors. Try to see things from your co-worker’s viewpoint, separating emotion from judgment. Reckless accusations could cost you your job or even lead to legal consequences.

It’s easy to assume the worst, but remember: sometimes when it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it turns out to be a goose. Don’t jump to conclusions. People are innocent until proven guilty, no matter how irritating they may be.

There are more than a dozen classic scenarios an employee can use to defraud a company of its assets and new methods are devised every year. But the technology these thieves believe makes it so easy to get away with is the same technology used to bring them to justice. The bottom line: there is no sure way to get away with a financial crime in the 21st Century. Paper trails have been replaced with virtual ones, and they can't be shredded, burnt, or otherwise destroyed. It is saved in a database and one's belief that deleting something from a computer is all it takes, it's not. More cloud storage providers are implementing indefinite file retention, as are email providers and phone service providers. While deleted files may be lost to the owner forever, The Justice Department can still retrieve them.

The nuances of Financial Crimes are often difficult to spot using standard detection techniques. Advanced practices and methodologies established by the United States Treasury's Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Secret Service, and FBI investigators, have enhanced and broadened the skill set of field agents. Apollo Limited's Specialized Skills Officers have that training and more important, years of practical experience. Many of our contractors are still associated with their respective federal agencies and carry active credentials. No investigator is more qualified in detecting financial fraud, outside the crime enforcement network, than Apollo Limited's investigators.