Corporate Investigations Help Firms Eliminate Employee Theft and Fraud

According to the Global Retail Theft Barometer, employee theft and fraud in the form of inventory shrinkage and shoplifting cost U.S. shop owners a whopping $42 billion annually. The Department of Justice supports this statement by confirming that one-third of all employees commit a certain degree of employee theft.

No business is immune to “insider threats” so long as the temptation of money and entitlement exist. With proper employment theft and fraud solutions, however, they can be prevented, if not eliminated.
http://www.phenixinvestigations.com/private-investigator-blog/2015/5/12/corporate-investigations-help-firms-eliminate-employee-theft-and-fraud

Launching Private Investigations to Uncover Worker Compensation Scams

Employees who have taken ill or have been injured due to work-related causes deserve every recourse to their company’s workers’ compensation. Employers themselves also have the right to look into the veracity of the claims and obtain evidence. Nicole Fallon of Business News Daily said that, in many cases, employers are alerted that a worker compensation scam may be in the offing when there are inconsequential pieces of evidence that turn out to be telling after all.

An employee is entitled to a worker’s compensation when he or she has been injured on the job or has become ill from work-related issues. Being one of the more altruistic and fair provisions for employees as mandated by the law, it has, however, long been acknowledged as a plan susceptible to spurious claims. Citing a PBS Frontline report, the Daily Finance reiterated how, despite a drop in worker compensation claims in the past couple of decades, up to 2% of the claims filed have turned out “fraudulent.”
http://www.phenixinvestigations.com/private-investigator-blog/2015/5/12/launching-private-investigations-to-uncover-worker-compensation-scams-1

An Asset Investigation Story: Following Where the Money Trail Ends Up

Private investigation firms such as Phenix Investigations, Inc. are called upon to conduct asset investigation for a wide variety of reasons such as an ongoing litigation between a creditor and debtor, as well as to build leverage during the negotiation stage of a case to see if it’s worth filing.

The Case of Caesars Entertainment

One particular case in which the services of an asset investigator were deemed necessary was the recent probe on Caesars Entertainment. On January 15, 2015, the casino giant filed for bankruptcy and declared itself $12 billion in debt. However, during what was supposed to be a routine license renewal hearing last March 27, it was discovered that the company cut off pension payments to 63 former Caesars employees.
http://www.phenixinvestigations.com/private-investigator-blog/2015/4/17/an-asset-investigation-story-following-where-the-money-trail-ends-up-1

Experienced Surveillance Investigator Helps Confirm Suspected Fraud

Employees with serious medical conditions or are tending to indisposed family members are granted a work time-off through the Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) certification from their employers. The FMLA allows an employee to take an unpaid 12-week leave within a 12-month working year without prejudice or harm to the employee’s tenure.

Utilizing the FMLA leave usually suggests an urgent matter or sensitive situation that would most likely affect the employee’s work performance. Sometimes, however, it cannot be helped that questions from the employer arise, especially when there is a continued, intermittent FMLA leave. To confirm whether or not there is reasonable basis for the employee’s availing of the leave, employers may employ an experienced surveillance investigator to look at possible fraud cases. To protect the employer from retaliatory claims, an honest or valid suspicion has to be presented before the probe.
http://www.phenixinvestigations.com/private-investigator-blog/2015/4/17/experienced-surveillance-investigator-helps-confirm-suspected-fraud

Corporate Investigations Help Prevent Drug Abuse in the Workplace

Every workplace in all areas of industry are susceptible to problems related to drug abuse. So if you think small businesses are almost immune and that large businesses are more prone, think again. Take these bits of information: about 44 percent of illicit drug users are employed full-time with small establishments, medium enterprises come in at second place with 43 percent, and large establishments place last at 17 percent.

Drug use, abuse, and addiction are extremely detrimental not only for the user and their families, but for business and industry as well. Substance abuse can lead to lost productivity, absenteeism, injuries, theft, low morale, and at times even fatalities—not to mention the legal liabilities stemming from these. Combine all the expenses arising from said issues—and employers are looking at a monumental amount—drug abuse costs employers about $81 billion every year.
http://www.phenixinvestigations.com/private-investigator-blog/2015/4/17/corporate-investigations-help-prevent-drug-abuse-in-the-workplace#

Look to Private Investigations to Gauge an Eyewitness’ Credibility

This situation is pretty prevalent in movies: the eyewitness to a crime is brought to a police station to sit behind a one-way mirror, then asked to identify the assailant. Or, the eyewitness enthusiastically points his finger directly to the accused in court, with the alleged perpetrator sitting beside his defense attorney. Several cross-examination procedures later, the witness picks out the right person ten times out of ten.

However, the credibility of witnesses in popular media is sadly overblown. While it is truly compelling for a witness to literally point to a suspect and positively identify the latter, eyewitness accounts are nearing the end of their usefulness; more so with a growing body of evidence undermining their reliability.

http://www.phenixinvestigations.com/private-investigator-blog/2015/4/16/look-to-private-investigations-to-gauge-an-eyewitness-credibility

Efficient Asset Investigations: Common Ways Debtors Hide Their Assets

From large companies to private individuals, debtors file for bankruptcy when they no longer have enough financial means to repay their creditors. With the bankruptcy law, federal trustees may now use the debtors’ declared assets or properties to reduce or eliminate their debts over a period of time. In the U.S., filing for bankruptcy have five forms with Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 having the most petitions.

The prospect of being able to keep their various assets tempt debtors to commit fraud in their declarations, which could, upon discovery, lead to criminal charges. This is why creditors and reputable law firms often seek the services of private investigators from established companies like Phenix Investigations Inc. to conduct efficient asset investigations so as to uncover hidden assets. Sought-after investigators from these firms have years of experience in helping their clients achieve complete and accurate information.
http://www.phenixinvestigations.com/private-investigator-blog/2015/3/13/efficient-asset-investigations-common-ways-debtors-hide-their-assets

Hiring a Corporate Investigations Company for Cases of Employee Theft

The fact that owners do not report the thefts is a problem in itself. This would not discourage the employees and they are likely to repeat what they have done. It was said that most of the thefts involved employees who have been doing it over a period of time. To root them out, business owners should hire a corporate investigations company to identify these employees and put an end to the thefts.

Employee theft can greatly increase company costs. A good way to prevent thefts is by creating an environment where such actions will be taken seriously and would have serious consequences. Of course, it can’t be helped if there are really some employees who are keen on breaking the rules, but the cases can be lessened with proper guidelines. There will be times, however, when an investigation is necessary in order to weed out the bad apples.
http://www.phenixinvestigations.com/private-investigator-blog/2015/3/11/hiring-a-corporate-investigations-company-for-cases-of-employee-theft

Expert Private Investigations Help Identify and Prosecute Stalkers

Understand that your personal safety is being threatened, so it would be wise to heighten your guard. This may include changing daily routines, arranging for a different place to stay, investing in additional security features for your home, and making it difficult for the perpetrator to contact you through every conceivable means. On your person, you can also arm yourself with self-defense articles like a pepper spray or stun gun.

Lastly, keep your friends and family informed. They may offer invaluable help in identifying your stalker. Ask them to inform you immediately if they spot the perpetrator trying to get close to you. They can work in coordination with the expert private investigator services you hire.
http://www.phenixinvestigations.com/private-investigator-blog/2015/3/10/expert-private-investigations-help-identify-and-prosecute-stalkers

Expert Asset Investigations Can Bring Debtors’ Hidden Assets to Light

Secrecy has been a part of asset protection planning for a long time. According to an article in Forbes.com: “Some folks don’t want their competitors to know how well or how poorly they are doing, or that they have made key investments or divested assets.” The article further says: “Some folks think that the less potential claimants can find in potential assets, the less of a target they are to lawsuits”. Thorough asset investigations can help reveal any hidden assets and properly identify a debtor’s possessions.