Scam Investigations - Look Deeper in 2021
Sophisticated intelligent criminal offending is at the centre of scams
“2021 is the year of the scam explosion. Covid is certainly a driver, but the explosion we saw last year is set to continue””
They are targeting both business and individuals in Australia and New Zealand. Why, because it’s a billion dollar profit making industry, with little chance of being held to account. The profits are huge and they are targeting all of us.
What’s the trends
The current trend is the same old scams, just done better.
Two oldies but goodies which provide the thieving crooks a tidy and rich return for their offending are the romance scam and the financial investment scam. After they have been played, in steps the recovery room scam for a second bite and take the victim for a bit more.
The Romance Scam
Romance scams will exist for as long as we have a human need for relationships and have an increasing internet lifestyle. It’s in this space that professional groups are targeting potential victims with a laser focus.
What we are seeing with the clients we are working with is more of the same, and the dollar losses to the client are huge when measured against their financial position. It’s big when clients are in the hole for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
On top of that is the emotional cost when you put the investigative evidence in front of them showing with clarity that in fact the relationship is a scam, it’s a fraud - the person is not real, the relationship is not real and you need to stop the bleeding of funds.
Our private investigations are showing a criminal groups that are really educating themselves in human psychology. It’s like they have been taking courses on the study of human behaviours and the mind. They are taking time to build trust and pull on all of those emotions to convince the victim the relationship is real. They support this with extremely convincing but none the less fake documentation and a stolen identity.
Trading Scams
Expect victims of trading scams to increase in number and the losses to skyrocket into the millions in 2021 - They are that good.
The victims we are working with are intelligent, educated who through believing an investment opportunity is real they starting feeding hard hearted savings into an off shore platform that is showing incredible returns. “it has to be real, I log in and see my account”
Some of the more tragic and sad examples are when the funds are dripped fed, each time they see growth in the investment and they are encouraged to deposit further funds so they can attain a higher tier status to gain “gold” investment support. Before too long some victims have money in the vicinity of a hundred grand plus invested. Only thing is, its not invested and soon the platform ceases to exist. Only to find it re emerges in time with a different name and a different “shop front”.
The false use of media and sports personalities as supporters and users of the platform will increase. We have seen it here in NZ with the likes of Mike Hosking, and Olivia Newton John In Australia. They use the personalities as a way of building trust and because there is no face behind the advert there is no recourse for the personality involved. They too in a sense become a victim. Not a personal financial loss, but it is an attack against their name, their integrity.
Be very cautious around investing in off shore platforms that aren’t regulated is the first tip. Contact us directly if you get the uneasy feeling that it may well be a scam. Sometimes having that trusted independent voice is exactly what is needed.
“I lost $5000, but you’re advice and report stopped me from hitting the send button on a further $25,000 - thank you so much” - QRisk Client October 2020
QRisk Private Investigators
QRisk are you trusted and experienced private investigators.
Our unique point of difference in the space of frauds and scams is the subject matter knowledge and the empathy of our scam investigator - Bronwyn Groot. Mix this with a disciplined police approach to all of our investigations then you have a team that you can trust and lean on.
You are not alone out there and you are not at fault - contact us and lets talk through it.
Scam Investigation Report
QRisk Investigations now provide their Risk Flag Investigation Report to clients in both Australia and New Zealand.
On receipt of client provided information we use our investigative software and open source intelligence to identify evidential risk flags which paint a picture and tell a story.
We can’t guarantee return of lost funds but we can bring you peace of mind in knowing a little bit more of the truth. Of what’s real, and what is a fictional scam.