Page 26 - BEYONDGLOBAL MAR 2024

FEATURE Unraveling White-Collar Crime:

PI’s in the Battle Against

Financial Fraud
Mike Thompson, CEO
Bearden Investigative Agency

In the private investigation profession, taking on complex white- Through discreet observation via tactical equipment and stakeouts,
collar financial fraud cases requires a unique blend of skills – I’m able to witness how suspects actually interact away from
tenacious research paired with discretion. As financial schemes grow public personas and official documentation. It’s in casual meetings
increasingly sophisticated to exploit vulnerable victims, dedicated over coffee or private phone calls where the truth about money
professionals are critical to helping authorities piece together laundering transactions, tax evasion exchanges, or corporate
the facts. In this article, I’ll provide insight from decades assisting embezzlement schemes often emerges.
in investigations subjecting corporate fraud, tax evasion, money
laundering and other lucrative illicit operations hiding in plain sight. Surveillance captures the true intentions that paper trails are crafted
to obscure. Details like nonverbal communications, materials
transferred, locations visited and ties to known criminal associates
COVERT SURVEILLANCE bring situations into clearer focus than any paper audit alone.

Conducting covert surveillance is one of the most essential tools Perhaps most importantly, covert tactics yield admissible evidence
private investigators use when probing complex white collar crimes. for building an ironclad legal case, whereas speculation and
While not always palatable, it plays a pivotal role in obtaining theories hold little weight in court. Candid behaviors and damning
the hard evidence needed to uncover financial schemes and hold admissions revealed to associates during jobs perfectly legal on
perpetrators accountable. These kinds of frauds are designed to be paper can transform an investigation with a single surveillance
hidden, with suspects going to great lengths to make criminal plans operation. For victims of fraud seeking justice, and authorities trying
appear as legitimate business dealings. Overtly scrutinizing their to prosecute complex financial crimes, these covert methods are
activities would simply drive more of the operation underground. indispensable.

24 W.A.D Beyond Global