Scratching the Surface: Due Diligence and Public Record Searches
What does it really mean when an investigator says that they are going to do a background search on a person and track down all the relevant documents "on the public record"? Well, let's start with what it doesn't mean: bank documents and cell phone records are not public record. Any investigator who tells you he can track these down for you is ostensibly promising to break more than a couple of laws to get you that information. In addition, given that he's acting as your agent, odds are it could get you in a heap of trouble as well.
So what can you expect instead? Below is a list of the various public documents that you should expect from your investigator when investigating a person. Future blog posts will detail similar lists for background research on companies and for asset searches.
The Never-ending Story: Protecting Your Privacy Online
The news is out and it’s not good. In fact, it’s downright troubling. It seems that every day, usually several times a day, there is more and more information available about the dangers of the Internet. It’s enough…
Thinking Outside the [Shoe] Box: The Shaks, Collections and Divorce Asset Searches
The media seems to be having a good chuckle over the recent legal tiff between hedge fund manager Daniel Shak and his ex-wife, professional poker player Beth Shak. The couple divorced about three years ago, but Daniel is requesting that the…
Foreign Due Diligence on U.S. Companies is a Must
We have had a number of recent cases involving foreign companies who entered into large-scale sale agreements with American-based corporations. These companies are run by sophisticated, experienced executives. In most instances, the agreements…
Etan Patz Suspect: Public Records and Family Interviews Make for a Different Picture
We take no position on the guilt or innocence of Pedro Hernandez, the man police say confessed to killing a six-year old boy, Etan Patz, in New York in 1979. Among the many things that make the case interesting from a professional point of view…
Strategy Tips for Asset Searches
Recently we were hired to track down a man who defaulted on a million dollar judgment against him by our clients. The man's family owned and operated a successful retail business. Since the judgment against him, the man had declared…
Due Diligence For Current Employees
Companies are saving recruiting and advertising costs by hiring from within. But they still need to invest in due diligence and make sure that internal promotions are vetted with the same rigor as external hires. We’ve written…
The Key to a Good Interview is Silence
We wrote in our pieces "What Greg Smith and Goldman Sachs Tell Us About Investigations" and "Hiring Due Diligence Should Include an Attitude Check" about how indispensable it is to talk to people during an investigation. No matter how thorough…
Staying Afloat in a Sea of Data
Adam Davidson recently wrote "Making Choices in the Age of Information Overload," for the New York Times magazine where he explained how consumer choices have changed in the Information Age. With so much data about a potential purchase—from…
JPM, Feynman and Investigations
A superb column over the weekend by the personal investing columnist in the Wall Street Journal, Jason Zweig, "Polishing the Dimon Principle," struck a chord or two with us because of what it said about human knowledge and the occasional lack…
