What is an Asset Investigation?
An asset investigation is a process of tracking down and identifying a person’s financial assets. This can be done for various reasons, such as during divorce proceedings, locating missing assets, or determining a person’s financial worth. Private investigators are often hired to conduct asset investigations, as they have the training and resources to locate and gather information on a person’s assets.
Many different types of assets can be investigated, including bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, investments, and businesses. Private investigators will use a variety of techniques to uncover these assets, including conducting public records searches, interviewing individuals who may have knowledge of the assets, and using various online resources.
One of the primary challenges in an asset investigation is identifying hidden assets. These are assets that the person being investigated has deliberately kept secret or has taken steps to conceal. This can include transferring ownership of assets to a relative or friend, using shell companies or offshore accounts to hold purchases, or failing to disclose assets on financial documents.
Private investigators have several tools at their disposal to uncover hidden assets. These may include forensic accounting techniques, which involve:
- Analyzing financial records to identify discrepancies or unusual transactions
- Accessing databases that track the ownership of assets
- Using social media and other online resources to gather information on a person’s financial activities
- Tracking digital purchases through the blockchain
- Verifying property or lock boxes where items may be hidden
- And more
Another critical aspect of an asset investigation is verifying the accuracy of the information obtained. Private investigators will often need to follow up on leads and conduct further research to confirm the existence and value of assets. This may involve contacting banks, real estate agents, or other professionals who can provide information about the assets in question.
In some cases, an asset investigation may involve working with legal professionals or law enforcement agencies to obtain information or asset access. For example, a private investigator may need to seek a court order to access certain records or assets.
Overall, an asset investigation is a complex process that requires a high level of skill and expertise. Private investigators play a crucial role in uncovering and verifying a person’s financial assets. Their work can have significant consequences for individuals and businesses involved in legal proceedings or financial disputes.
If you’re looking to hire a private investigator, chances are that you need one for an asset investigation. An asset investigation is a detailed and thorough process involving paperwork and high-tech devices to identify assets.
Do I Need an Asset Investigation?
An asset investigation is a thorough investigation into an individual or company’s assets and financial information. An asset investigator will look at all aspects of your finances, as well as how you use those assets to generate income and pay for living expenses.
Asset investigations can be helpful for several reasons:
For Employees
Asset investigations are often targeted at employees because they are the ones who actually have access to the money. Employees may be stealing from their employers, or they may be stealing from other people in the organization. The employee could also be stealing from customers by selling goods that belong to their employer and pocketing the profits themselves.
With an asset investigation, a private team of experienced investigators can explore who may be stealing from a company without disturbing the waters too much or letting on they are conducting a closer look at operations.
For those Owed Money
If you are owed money, an asset investigation can help. An asset investigation can help you find out where the money is and if the person who owes you cash has other assets.
If a debtor owes you money, it’s essential to know where your hard-earned cash is going. People can hide assets in many methods and locations, especially in today’s modern world, where goods can be sold for cryptocurrency. An asset investigator will stick to “following the money” to show ownership and proof of potential corruption.
For the Victims of Fraud
It’s been a few years since you’ve been married, and you’re starting to suspect your partner is cheating. You want to know if they are hiding assets from you, or their income is higher than what they claim. An asset investigation can help answer these questions for you.
Many times this specific situation pops up in divorce, but fraud can also occur when someone is owed more than they have received from an insurance company. Another example is the sale of goods valued much higher than the actual price you may have received from a buyer. In all these cases, a quality asset investigation will help to shed transparency on any transactions.
How Does an Asset Investigation Work?
Asset investigation is a method of determining asset value, ownership, and location. Asset investigations are done by private detectives or other professionals to obtain information about someone’s financial situation and can be used in divorce proceedings, criminal cases, and insurance claims.
Asset investigations are an important part of asset tracing, which involves finding out who owns an asset so that it can be recovered after it’s been stolen or lost.
Investigations generally involve looking at public records (such as land records), checking databases such as those found at credit reporting agencies, and more sophisticated methods like surveillance videos or even hiring investigators to follow someone around town for days.
You also want to work with an experienced private investigator that has digital resources to use during the asset trace. There are so many ways to hide valuable assets online now that not having someone there to navigate the options will slow down your investigation.
Beware of Scammers
The term “asset investigation” can be a red flag sometimes. If you are contacted by someone offering to do an “asset investigation” for you, that person is likely a scammer. Most qualified private investigators will not reach out to you. They will wait for you to come to them based on their experience, reviews, and capabilities.
Scammers will use this term as part of their sales pitch or marketing material and then try to get you to pay upfront. They might even imply that it’s not possible for them to do the job unless you pay in advance for the time they spend on it, which is another sign that something fishy is going on here.
Why Hiring Private Investigators to Conduct an Asset Investigation is Wise
If you suspect that your spouse is hiding assets, it’s crucial to hire a private investigator who has the expertise to deal with complex cases. In addition, it’s important to have an objective third party conduct the asset investigation.
An experienced private investigator can find assets that are hidden or difficult to locate. They will be able to help you avoid costly mistakes by providing crucial evidence and documentation when filing legal documents such as divorce papers, child custody disputes, and more.
Private investigators are highly trained and experienced in asset investigations because they work independently from either party involved in litigation or divorce proceedings.
How We Can Help
Our team at Privin Network has years of experience working in all types of investigations, including working with asset tracing. As most of our professional membership is composed of previously employed law enforcement experts, we are able to navigate the complex world of verifying ownership.
If you need to know more about asset investigations, contact us today. We can help you with any questions or concerns you may have when it comes to locating and retrieving valuable items.
