These days, the investigative process is prone to become bogged down in data. The wide array of systems and sources that supply information about companies and individuals frequently throw out volumes of chaff. Thus, separating out the kernels of wheat among the...

The most important decisions when conducting a witness interview are whether or not to record the conversation, and if you should notify the witness when a recording is being made. In Texas (and 38 other states), as long as you are a party to the conversation, it is...

The unmanned aerial system (UAS) - commonly known as a drone - is becoming more common in investigations. Many police departments now deploy special squads that utilize the UAS for a variety of law enforcement purposes. Private investigators also commonly call on the...

Sam Castorani, our director of security operations, taps his Italian roots to share a recipe from his Delaware family cookbook for a delectable stew that will help warm you during this transition from winter to springtime. Buon Appetito!

Most companies with effective audit controls and policies have some degree of prohibition against the awarding of jobs and contracts to close friends, relatives, and business partners of employees. This helps the company avoid the perception of favoritism and prevents...

Many a business is built upon the foundation of trusted employees interacting closely with suppliers and valuable clients. When employees and their major clients leave at the same time, it can have a crippling effect. In one such matter worked by the team at...

Imagine a scenario in which one of your valued employees, located in a state where recreational marijuana use is illegal, suddenly tests positive for tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC - the intoxicant of marijuana, following a routine urinalysis conducted in accordance...

For several years, a Houston corporate client had used ResultQuest to conduct extensive pre-employment background investigations of job candidates. However, they opted not to perform a background regarding an individual who was hired as general counsel then eventually...

One of the easiest and most common ways for a fraudster to come away with ill-gotten gains at the expense of the employer or contractor is through expense reports. Policies regarding the detail in which expenses must be submitted for reimbursement vary widely, and...

Companies often make substantial investments in assets such as machinery and equipment. Improper asset control procedures and policies can lead to misuse, abuse, and theft of these valuable assets. The professionals of ResultQuest have repeatedly been called on for...

A Texas labor law firm employed ResultQuest to investigate a group of highly trusted and compensated experts in their specialized technical field. After suddenly severing their employment with a trading firm, a resultant IT audit revealed that one member of the group...

In today’s litigious environment, if an investigation goes awry or becomes discovered by the target of a probe, there is a good chance that legal action will follow. Investigators with inadequate insurance coverage could find themselves – and their client – facing the...

ResultQuest was recently contacted by a CEO client who requested assistance in determining the source of a spoofed email in which he directed his corporate accounts payable clerk to wire money to a certain account to pay a vendor. Of course, the email was bogus, but...

Witness testimony can be a powerful component of the decision-making process of businesses. Many issues are identified and resolved based on information supplied by witnesses. However, it is critical that the witness and the information be adequately scrutinized...

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...