Attorneys who retain investigators to assist with their evidentiary needs should be mindful that, in doing so, they could jeopardize their reputation and standing in the event of an ethical lapse. One of the most problematic ethical violations by investigators is...

Numerous times over the years, ResultQuest has been called in to investigate suspected fraud on the part of an employee. In the vast majority of instances, our analysis has revealed glaring signs of newly acquired wealth that went beyond what the employee’s salary...

Among the most pronounced threats to an internal company investigation is workplace gossip. Disclosing details of an investigative project to the person under scrutiny can have a range of consequences—none of which are good. In a matter handled by ResultQuest, the...

A number of times over the years, the investigators of ResultQuest have been called in to scrutinize the activities of executives who were part of the founding group of a business. Sadly, in almost every case, fraudulent activity was uncovered—usually determined to...

Among the most useful of tools in the investigator’s box is the ability to extract useable information by means of a telephone call made under a suitably planned pretext. Years ago, such a technique could be employed readily and with little risk of adverse...

First came the email. People were able to discuss any viewpoints, hoping and trusting that the recipient would not betray their confidence. Next came the text message. Once again, professions of beliefs and opinions were usually protected from mass consumption – to...

Key employees can be a tremendous asset to an organization. However, when such personnel feel as though they have been unfairly treated—right or wrong—they can be ripe for recruitment by competitors. Members of specialized technical fields often consist of small...

The tumultuous events of the past few months have forced many companies to allow and enable employees to work from home, in order to minimize the risk of infection from COVID-19. Such arrangements, where there is little or no direct observation, can invite fraud by...

Throughout the years, ResultQuest has been involved in numerous investigations in which client competitors purloined valuable information assets. In most cases, the thefts were made possible by a security breach or oversight, often exploited by a disgruntled or...

As the summer lingers on, I often seek relief in the form of a cool refreshment I discovered in Mexico decades ago in the form of Agua Fresca de Sandía or watermelon water. Over the years I have tweaked a recipe received from an amiga who frequently prepared this...

Owners and top executives are often handsomely compensated for their efforts. Many times this is the result of countless hours of night and weekend work that is unseen by the rank and file. In such an instance, it is only natural that one might feel justified to...

The general counsel for a regional insurer contacted the offices of ResultQuest and requested surveillance over the course of two days. The surveillance would be targeted at a man who had been injured on the job years earlier and was receiving payments for full and...

As you and I continue to work our way through this most trying of times, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and yours. I hope you are all safe and healthy. Our hearts are with those who have contracted the virus, and our deepest sympathies go to those who have lost...

In this Internet age there is a wealth of online investigative sources that can prove helpful to a legal case. The majority of law firms employ support staff that routinely develops information from these sources that is used in connection with a given...

The client knows what results are desired, but not necessarily the proper steps to achieve them. In one case worked by ResultQuest® investigators, a surveillance of an individual residing in a small community southwest of Houston was requested. The goal was to...

There is an old carpenter’s saying, “Measure twice, cut once,” referring to the need to plan properly before executing a task. This adage especially applies in surveillance operations. Proactive planning can mean the difference between success and failure....

Over the past thirty years, ResultQuest investigators have regularly uncovered unsettling information about employees of client companies that developed well into their employment, often years - or even decades - after they were hired. Many had cleared initial...

Every investigator begins a case with the goal of reaching an outcome that supports the client’s objective. However, preconceived judgments can skew the investigator’s outlook, can impact yours or your client’s credibility, and may create irreparable damage. Several...

Careful preparation is always the best way to ensure a good result when interviewing witnesses. However, situations often dictate a “cold interview” in which no advance preparation is possible. In such instances, the ability to think on one’s feet can make the...

It often seems that company loyalty has gone the way of the cassette tape. Businesses are increasingly being put at risk by employees who conspire with former co-workers to siphon out information or intellectual property to market to competitors or others with profit...