The world of corporate investigations is considerably vast and consists of several different types of activities, depending on the motive that prompted the investigation. It’s all about protecting your business interests, reputation, financial status, and crucial information.
At Active Intel Investigations, our clients most commonly request these four types of corporate investigations:
Embezzlement Investigations
Embezzlement is the intentional misappropriation of funds, property, or other assets by an employee or other person. Embezzlement can occur in a variety of forms, including but not limited to:
- Taking out a loan against company assets and then failing to repay it
- Stealing cash from clients or customers
- Using company funds for personal expenses (such as paying off credit card debt)
Embezzlement investigations are typically conducted after an employee has been accused of stealing money from their employer. An investigation will usually include interviews with witnesses and suspects, a review of financial documents, and possible forensic evidence such as computer records or phone records. In some cases, an attorney may be required during the investigation process if police officers are involved in the case.
Corporate Due Diligence Investigations
Corporate due diligence is the process of looking into the financial facts of a corporation to confirm that they are accurate. This could be useful before buying or selling a corporation, starting a new partnership, or investing in a corporation.
Corporate due diligence investigations can be done by an auditor, or they can be performed by an individual or team that specializes in this task. The purpose of the investigation is to determine if there are any problems with the financial statements of the company you are investigating. You may want to check out companies that have recently gone bankrupt or have been sued for fraud by their investors.
Corporate Fraud Investigations
Corporate fraud investigations are a subset of white-collar crime investigations. Corporate fraud investigations investigate fraud against or by the company. On one side of corporate fraud investigations are Ponzi schemes and other pyramid schemes that defraud consumers. On the other side of a corporate fraud investigation is to investigate internal problems such as hacking or information leak.
Corporate fraud investigators typically work with companies in the financial sector, but they can also be found in other industries such as healthcare and insurance.
The main purpose of a corporate fraud investigation is to find out if any illegal activities have occurred within the company. This could include anything from embezzlement or theft to insider trading and computer hacking. The investigator will gather evidence on these crimes, interview witnesses and suspects, and present their findings to the police or federal authorities for prosecution.
Litigation Tactical Preparation
Litigation tactical preparation is when an investigation is done into the other party in a legal case to uncover expert witnesses, the attorney’s litigation style, and more. This information can be used to determine whether or not a settlement will be reached, or if it will go to trial.
The main objective of litigation tactical preparation is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your case. It also helps you identify any possible issues that could arise during the litigation process.
Litigation tactical preparation involves gathering facts and evidence related to your case that may be useful during the trial. Gathering evidence before trial allows you to be prepared if the opposing party decides to settle out of court or if they choose not to settle out of court after the discovery period has ended. In addition, litigation tactical preparation helps you prepare for depositions and other pre-trial motions by collecting information about witnesses and other parties involved in your case.
If you’re an investor, corporate investigator, or a concerned citizen, you understand the importance of conducting thorough due diligence prior to making any business-related decisions. But there’s a more practical reason to conduct investigations as well: it’s the right thing to do. No matter what your motivations are, a good corporate investigation is an essential first step in any situation where high-priority decision-making is involved.
Get started with a licensed private investigator to conduct your corporate fraud investigation. Interested in learning more? Schedule a private consultation with a licensed private investigator through our partner site, TelaClient.com.
