Two groups of people are coming to the foreground under the post-lockdown normal; those who are lonely, and those who are enterprising. This is leading to a sharp rise in online dating and online dating scams, with mature people and those who are more used to old-fashioned movie dates exploring dating websites like Tinder and Plenty More Fish.

Lonely internet daters provide a rich market for scammers wishing to siphon money, steal your identity or take advantage of you under the guise of a perfect romance.

The term ‘catfishing’ is a very real danger in the modern world. Scammers lure people into romantic relationships by pretending to be someone else, then find ways to exorcise money to get themselves ahead. Lust, infatuation, fear of loneliness and the hope for lasting love can weaken natural defenses, making you more vulnerable to criminals.

Whilst one partner enjoys a magical romance with all the joy that comes with having someone new to share things with, the shady partner enjoys a steady flow of financial rewards with unsavoury benefits. Research shows that in 2019 around £7.9 million was lost to romance scams over a period of just 6 months, with the average victim losing £11.500.

If the story seems too good to be true, it probably is. Using Owl Investigation’s private eye surveillance service to conduct a thorough background check of your new partner keeps you safe and may save you thousands of pounds.

Dating scams are not always limited to the internet.

Real people frequently take advantage of unsuspecting partners to boost their personal finances with little regard for the longevity of the relationship. If something about your new partner doesn’t feel right, there are key signs to look for:

• Your partner seems too good to be true: you may be wondering why they chose you, or how you ‘won the relationship lottery.’
• They’re perpetually unavailable: they may avoid Skype or seeing you in person. In the case of real-life scammers, you may find they’re never available on weekends or to go on a holiday. This is often because they’re secretly married or keeping multiple relationships simultaneously.
• You feel rushed: scammers rely on the infatuation to drop your guard, so fast engagements and people who come on too strongly are often the first warning sign that something is wrong.
• They have no digital footprint: some people don’t use social media, but if they’re hard to find online, show inconsistencies or only have professional photos they may not be who they say they are.
• They ask for money: scammers may ask you to send them money, support their business interests, sponsor an expensive lifestyle or legally transfer your assets into their name.

Owl Investigations is here to assist you with discreet prenuptial partner surveillance and tracing services. We’ll thoroughly investigate your future spouse to check for criminal records, falsification of personal information, multiple relationships and any potential red flags. This gives you complete peace of mind knowing that the love of your life is really who they say they are before you make any significant, lifechanging decisions.

Working from home in lockdown has been a brilliant opportunity for companies to innovate. Increased productivity at lower operating costs has boosted business, but for many companies enforced homeworking is a data security minefield. Every employer wishes for good employees to do an honest job, but so often this is just not the case.

Employees, now free to set their own hours and productivity levels, have been equally successful at finding new ways to make money, often at their employer’s expense. Online industries are booming, and a pending recession is highlighting the need for employees to have multiple streams of revenue in times of uncertainty. This mentality puts your business at risk, with expensive consequences and potentially devastating legal issues if GDPR is breached.

Job loss fears can lead to decreased employee loyalties for those on furlough, whilst ongoing boredom is motivating hardworking employees to seek new challenges. These factors, combined with opportunities and a renewed entrepreneurial spirit amongst employees, are key indicators in determining how your employees might compromise your business.

The 5 Data Protection Risks for Companies in Lockdown

1. Stealing clients: when employees have access to your company database on their personal computers, they are free to harvest your existing client base to take to your competitors.
2. Using trade secrets to win new employment: as future job security becomes uncertain many companies are seeing an opportunity to siphon skilled staff from competitors. Employees who are able to share trade secrets or have significant existing client relationships stand out in the job market.
3. Moonlighting: without close monitoring at home the opportunists are more easily able to work on sideline projects, polish their CV and LinkedIn profile or start a competing freelance business.
4. Selling data to third parties: lockdown has seen a global rise in phishing scams with personal data sold for unsolicited marketing.
5. Misuse of confidential information: home working employees with access to sensitive information are able to use your client data more freely. This puts your business at risk of breaching GDPR which can lead to significant fines and severe financial losses.

Protecting Trade Secrets with Private Eye Surveillance

At Owl Investigations we understand how frustrating it can be when you suspect employees are sharing sensitive data or causing harm to your business. We’re here to get the answers you are looking for with a fully flexible private investigation service.

• Bug sweeping: for listening devices and hidden cameras used to eavesdrop into confidential business meetings.
• Undercover surveillance: our team of private investigation specialists can interrogate your staff and competitors with complete discretion to learn how your sensitive information is used and shared by your employees.
• Employee surveillance: using GPS monitoring and personal tracking to investigate who your employees are meeting with on a regular basis.

Our highly trained private eye investigators are discreet, attentive to detail and client driven to help you get to the bottom of employee investigations in the best way to suit your unique business. Get in touch for a personal, no obligation quote.

Here at Owl Investigations we offer personal private detectives as well as corporate private detectives. Many business clients are unsure if they need a personal private detective or a corporate private detective.

More often than not, a business client will need a corporate private detective. In this blog post we look at what a corporate private detective does and how they can help you and your business.

Loss Prevention

Are their losses taking place in your business? This could be theft inside your workplace for example. A corporate private detective can pose as a new employee or fake customer for your business and help uncover the truth. If there is theft within your business our detectives will uncover it. This will help towards the loss prevention within your business.

Claim Investigation

Do you think that an employee is making a false claim against your business for a fall in the workplace or sickness for example? Our claim investigation detectives will run a surveillance project on your behalf and see if the employee is as sick or injured as they claim. This can also be done for potential false customer claims too.

Banking Fraud

Have you noticed that there is less money in the business bank account than there should be? Perhaps less money is showing in your cash flow or something doesn’t seem quite right with your banking? We can look into your business and your banking to see if banking fraud is taking place.

Background Checks

While a candidates CV may look good, how much do you really know about them? The candidate may have references but do they seem too good to be true, or just a little bit suspicious? If it feels like there is something not quite right about a new potential candidate, why not use our background checks service?

These are just some of the services that a corporate private detective can do for you business. Call us now to see how we could help you. All calls will be dealt with in complete confidence.

Owl Investigations Ltd

 Your Checklist For A Cheating Partner

West Yorkshires Local Investigator

Your Checklist For A Cheating Partner

When you think your partner is cheating on you it is a horrible feeling. You feel like you’re going mad, friends tell you that you’re crazy for thinking that and your partner blames the way you feel on your past. Yet still, that feeling that you have a cheating partner stays within your gut.

If you have a cheating partner there will be certain behaviours and characteristics that will change about them. In this blog post we have put together a checklist for a cheating partner. Take a look at the list below and see how your partner scores.

• Is your partners’ computer locked with a password when it wasn’t before? Are they are unwilling to let you use it, when this was never a problem before?
• Has your partner got a new mobile phone suddenly, and seems to have no reason for having a new phone?
• Perhaps your partner suddenly has to work late into the evening or work away some nights?
• Have they start saying ‘you’re just paranoid’ all the time you ask about anything in their work or personal life?
• Has your partner stopped letting the kids play games on their phone, when this was a regular occurrence before?
• Maybe their routine has changed, they are washing more, buying new clothes or wearing a different aftershave or perfume?
• Does your partner have a new credit card or there have been unusual amounts leaving the joint account?
• Have the bills stopped coming to your house and they are being emailed to your partner instead.

If you have found yourself nodding to one or more of these questions then it is likely that your partner is cheating on you. This checklist for a cheating partner points are often the first signs that your partner is cheating on you.

While this is not real proof or evidence that you are being cheated on, they are signs that you could have a cheating partner. It may mean that your suspicions are right and you should follow that gut feeling.

If you want to catch your cheating partner then call our team. We have specialists private investigators that catch cheating partners. They will give you all the evidence and proof you need. You can then decide what you will do next, but your fears and worries will have been resolved.

Co Habitation Investigations

Owl Investigations

West Yorkshires Private Investigator

Co Habitation Investigations

What is a co-habitation investigation?

Co-habitation investigations are required for two primary reasons:

1. When an ex-partner is suspected of claiming financial support although they have a new live in partner and are therefore ineligible for these payments. This is fraud and includes the fair share of assets, CSA claims, housing benefits.
2. New partner background checks and thorough investigations look at the new person in the home environment and ascertain whether your children are safe in their company.

If you believe that your ex-partner could be exploiting you financially, you could be correct. Owl Investigations handles numerous co-habitation investigations each year and we’ve witnessed the increase in occasions when fraud is being perpetrated as exes continue to claim support despite a change in circumstances. When an ex isn’t playing fair, why should they be allowed to live from your earnings? Child maintenance isn’t an issue, you’re happy to pay that and to ensure that your offspring have the best life possible.

Who is the new person in the family home? Are they honest, principled and worthy of being around your children? You obviously want to know that your children are safe at all times.

Suspicions don’t help you sleep at night or pay your bills. Choose to obtain facts using professional resources.

Private Investigator in West Yorkshire

Surveillance is a fundamental tool in co-habitation investigations and although it looks simple enough to the uninitiated, it is a specialist field. Could you ask questions in the local area or watch a property over days and weeks to secure the truth without appearing suspicious or betraying confidentiality?  

When is spousal maintenance paid?

According to the Money Advice Service when a relationship breaks down there are two options, a clean break and a lump sum payment, or financial support is agreed to the party who cannot support themselves without assistance. The amount varies according to circumstances including how much you need to live, income in possession already and potential earnings.

Did you know that if co-habitation circumstances do not alter and the union was a long one, the spousal support can last until death? When an ex-partner is unable to work, it can be paid for life. However, if the marriage lasts for less than five years, spousal maintenance may not be appropriate or a short term maintenance called a term order may be instigated. 

The financial support ceases when:

• The person receiving spousal maintenance remarries or enters another civil partnership.
• The agreed payment term ends.
• Either you or the ex-partner passes away and there is no life insurance to continue payments.

Maintenance doesn’t always stop if the ex-partner lives with a new partner without marrying or entering a civil partnership, although this can be a reason for the person paying the sum to ask for a review.  

If you feel that one of Owl Investigations co-habitation investigations would prove beneficial, why not contact us today?