Embezzlement Archives - Page 3 of 5 - All in Investigations

Computer Forensics Uncovers Business Embezzlement

For more than a year, Sam and Julie worried about their future as business owners. For some unknown reason, their successful business now struggled financially. Sam spent long nights carefully studying line items on the budget with Steve, their business partner. It was difficult for Julie to finally speak up. But when they again worried about how to survive financially, she admitted her suspicious feelings about their business partner Steve. Julie was insistent that Steve absolutely had to be stealing money. Sam was positive that could not be the problem. Steve had been a long-time friend. He believed there was no way he would do something like this. Besides, Steve was as unstable financially as they were. Plus, since Sam repeatedly examined the financial records [...]

Is It Theft if the Money is Used to Improve the Budget?

With many budget cuts in the last few years, not-for-profit agencies have felt the sting. The workers in these agencies believe in their missions so they avoid extra spending. For example, the chairs at the free clinic still haven't been replaced. At the shelter for victims of domestic violence, the roof has leaked for two years. And in many agencies, if a staff person leaves, that person is rarely replaced. Instead, the work load is dispersed among other employees. And so, our investigators were surprised when the executive director of Vocational Rehabilitation stopped by. She had a keen eye and a careful watch on agency books and shared with us that she suspected a certain mental health agency was purposefully overcharging services rendered to Vocational [...]

Investigators Prove Not Every Business Partnership is Made in Heaven

Joe enjoyed weight lifting and staying in good shape. So when Brian, a fraternity brother, approached Joe with a business opportunity, the chance to buy into a gym intrigued him. Brian had a degree in sports management and he pointed out that Joe's business degree, coupled with his interest in fitness, would be exactly what the gym needed. Although Joe’s business education suggested it, he didn’t feel the need to conduct due diligence because after all, Brian was a close friend. After a year of partnership, Joe started to feel uneasy. Brian refused to invest in newer equipment and Joe worried that memberships would continue a downward trend. Occasionally, Brian was late or didn't show up at all. Joe worried that Brian's lack of commitment [...]

Caustic Employees May Be as Harmful as Theft in the Workplace

Ed and Georgia were extremely conservative business owners. Last year, they realized a long time dream. They expanded the square footage of their business, took on a couple of new projects and hired four new employees. But for some unknown reason, employee morale noticeably began to dwindle. Employees more frequently called in sick. Some actually left the company without providing clear reasons for why they were suddenly unhappy. On their own, Ed and Georgia tried to interview workers about the shift in attitude. But they were unsuccessful in getting to the root of the problem. Then in the community, Georgia heard a couple of negative rumors about their business. By that point, Ed and Georgia were more than concerned about the problem. They were panicked. [...]

Business Owners: Heed That Gut Feeling and Put Proactive Systems in Place

When Brandon sat down with professionals at , he quickly shared that he was in a very frustrating situation. After watching company inventory slowly disappear with no explanation, Brandon was convinced that he was the victim of theft in the workplace; that an employee was stealing materials. A few months earlier, Brandon and Tony, his business partner, installed video surveillance equipment cameras around the warehouse and also in the loading dock area. Their efforts caught no one doing anything wrong. Brandon believed that he and Tony had exhausted every possible effort they felt they could to remedy the problem and still it was there. When accepted the case, we encouraged Brandon not to discuss the investigation with anyone. Unlike the very visible cameras Brandon and [...]

Gut Intuition Raises Bells, Professional Investigation Delivers Evidence

If your gut screams that something isn't right, don't ignore it! Call on to help you identify what that “something” is. We respect your intuition. And we will help identify that “something” that doesn't feel right. That's exactly what happened in a case involving business partners, Brett and Leo. Three years earlier, these computer wizards launched a technology business. In the second year, the business boomed to the tune of several million dollars. Also in their second year of business, the men were rather intrigued when a new business opened in the same city. Oddly enough, the new business offered many similar products and services. This was odd, since Brett and Leo created many of their own software products. A few months into their third [...]

Get Answers to Your Questions and Resolve Your Suspicions with a Private Investigator

Sadly, it seems the general public is still uninformed about the many ways can assist them with answering questions and resolving conflict. Because of this, they face hardships and consequences that might have been avoided had they known more about exactly what we do. Private investigators today work with private individuals, attorneys, business owners, corporations and companies. The truth is that we do utilize surveillance equipment when one spouse suspects the other of marital infidelity. When our clients request it, we do use cameras and video recorders with zoom lenses and date and time stamps to provide proof of cheating spouses. But our careers have drastically changed with the times. Our methods of gathering information have evolved with technology. Although we still utilize the investigative [...]

Investigators have to Follow the Path Where the Leads Take Them

Long before the attorney called to officially secure services with , his client had decided to part ways with his business partner. From the ground floor, their business had been built with good intentions. But as the business flourished and became more lucrative, his client began to see that his partner no longer offered 50% of the elbow grease. Though he could not prove it, the client also began to suspect that his partner might be stealing from the business, both in cash and assets. So when the attorney’s client announced his intention to part ways immediately, he only voiced his wish to buy out his partner's share. Unfortunately, the partner's attitude was anything but understanding. As the months wore on, the client began to [...]

Fugitive Recovery Successfully Aided by Investigators

If you know people who shred documents with a cross-cut blade shredder while they watch TV – you might want to follow their lead. Those intelligent friends know that identity theft is America's No. 1 crime among white collar criminals. In fact, nine million Americans fall victim every year to identity theft. That is a staggering fact, isn't it? Unfortunately, it can be far too easy for predators to make you their next victim. All they need is your name, your social security number or access to a credit card number. And you become another statistic. You can't know where these criminals lurk. Some of them dumpster dive to gather old mail and paperwork. Others dupe you by misrepresenting themselves during a telephone call. Here's [...]

Theft in the Workplace Belongs in Professional Hands

Theft in the workplace can take many forms and every department is vulnerable. Like many company owners, Ed felt the crunch of the economy. He tried not to get to the point of lay-offs. But eventually, that choice was inevitable. Some guys in production lost their jobs, others lost hours. In fact, within a few months, Ed had to reduce employees and hours in every single department. The morale of those left behind went from low to downright vicious. Ed was doing the best he could do. Then he started to notice that inventory was low, tools were suddenly missing and machinery in the production lines was suddenly out of commission. Ed suspected that his employees were purposefully causing problems; they were sabotaging the machines; [...]