TSCM Archives - Page 5 of 9 - All in Investigations

Today’s Investigative Skills

Unfortunately, some people continue to hold onto old stereotypes. Uninformed members of the general public still envision a private investigator as a trench coat-wearing figure, hiding behind a newspaper in a motel lobby. Of course, more informed members of the community, those who actually stay in touch with the times, know better. They not only know, they deeply respect the fact that many private investigators are amazingly talented researchers. We have many resources at our fingertips. We also have the ability to think fast on our feet. The investigators in this firm are all of those things plus a lot more. Intellectually, we are at the top. At , we take great pride in our skill sets and our track record. Most of the time, [...]

Investigation Doesn’t Mend Broken Heart, But Finds Truth

When he and his first wife divorced, Kevin struggled to accept his new life as a single guy. After nearly 30 years together, his first wife left the marriage with no warning. Their children were grown and gone, busy building their own lives. Kevin spent a couple of miserable years alone, trying to make sense of how to be suddenly alone in his mid fifties. Then he met a great woman. For Kevin, it was love at first sight. Within three months, he and his new love, Anna, were married. Six months later, Kevin came in from work one afternoon to an empty house. Literally. Every single piece of furniture, even the kitchen appliances, everything was gone. Anna had left him, right in the middle of [...]

Mom’s Missing!

Private investigators are well aware that not all families are like the Walton's '3/28 – or even the Musketeers. It’s not always all for one and one for all. In fact, here at we see many families in situations like this: Caroline and her sister Laura stopped by to visit their mother, who suffered for the last decade with dementia and had been living in an upscale memory care unit. When they arrived, they learned that Roger, their youngest brother, had signed their mother out of the facility. He explained to the nursing staff that he was driving her over to Caroline's house for a meal. But Roger left with his mother and never returned. He told nurses that his sisters would return their mom [...]

Business Espionage is Not Limited to High Tech and Multi-Million Dollar Firms

When people think corporate espionage, they think high-tech and industrial secrets. They don’t realize that corporate espionage includes any product, service or client list that a company has to make money. Everything from chocolate recipes to online marketing techniques can be the subject of business espionage. Here’s a case from the International Investigator files as an example: While attending design school in England, Beth befriended another student, Miguel. They made an elaborate plan to open a business together once they graduated. While Miguel returned to his native Peru to wait for a visa, Beth returned to her native Florida and accepted a job with an already-established designer. After Miguel's visa was granted and he arrived in Miami, he backed out of the plan with Beth [...]

Hurrying Through Hiring and Skipping Background Investigation Has Consequences

Years ago, Bill learned his lesson, which is the fact that you just can't take anything at face value, especially people. Like all of those lessons that last a lifetime, Bill learned this information the hard way. It happened when he hired two new employees for the city courts system. There had not been enough time to adequately complete the HR due diligence checklist including background investigations, as Bill and his staff would normally do with new hires. At the time, the offices for the heavily populated city were grossly understaffed. The employees were all stressed out and overworked. All anybody wanted, at that time, were a couple of warm bodies to sit in front of the telephones and computers. As luck would have it, [...]

Technology Advances: The Need to Sweep for Bugs Grows

At , we understand that you need cold, hard facts. No assumptions. No guesses. Just the facts. We have the most advanced tools to get that job done. We still use basic skills of traditional investigations, such as surveillance. But we have access to very sophisticated surveillance equipment. To conduct research, we use highly advanced data bases. And when we have access to computers and cell phones, we search for the truth through digital forensics. In addition, we are experts at TSCM – Technical Surveillance Countermeasures. So when you suspect that your office has been bugged, we are the professionals who can answer that question for you. As we have all seen in movies about espionage, wire tapping or a phone tap can be used [...]

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 Uncover That Supposed Failing Business Was Funding Thief

Sadly, Ryan and Zach agreed that their venture was well on its way to that proverbial ditch, where far too many small businesses land, deep in the mud of financial ruin. No matter how he tried, Ryan couldn't pinpoint where they went wrong. He had been managing the expenses and cutting costs. He had an idea of the money coming in, too. In the last year, Ryan had brought big clients which became huge money makers for the business. He expected to see relief. But Zach, who was in charge of all the bookkeeping, only shrugged and explained that Ryan's efforts were too late. Nothing could be done. According to Zach, he and his buddy were losing money every day the doors were open. At [...]

Investigator’s Surveillance Protects Children in Divorce

When Melanie's husband left the marriage last year, she tried to voice her concerns in court. She tried to tell the judge that, while her soon-to-be ex husband might be a high-profile athlete, he had a long history of erratic behavior. She reminded the judge that the father of her kids had two prior arrests for driving while intoxicated. He was known to use cocaine. She feared for the safety of their young children. But the judge waved Melanie away as if she was just another frustrated spouse who didn't get the settlement she expected. The expression on the judge's face told Melanie that he suspected that she was only trying to use the kids as pawns, one last-ditch effort to get her way. For [...]

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 [...]