Investment Fraud Investigations
Did you unwittingly transfer money to an investment opportunity you believed to be genuine, and now realise it was a scam?
IYE Global work at the forefront of global financial crime prevention and resolution and remain unmatched in our depth of experience of highly complex, multi-jurisdictional fraud investigations.
From Cryptocurrency, Binary, Forex and Commodities Trades to exotic Private Placement Platforms, Pension fraud and Ponzi schemes, we have access to the largest combined database of scam brokers and traders with thousands of fake documents as evidence of their criminality.
We understand how devastating it can be to lose your money to deceptive criminals. By utilising advanced tactics and technologies to commit elaborate scams, we are all vulnerable, susceptible and widely exposed to financial fraud.
The most important, and often hardest decision to make, is to ask for help.
Obtaining professional advice allows you to evaluate your circumstances rationally and to develop a constructive plan to protect your personal and financial well-being.
Our extensive experience of tackling investment fraud has taught us the importance of acting quickly and getting expert assistance. Achieving a rapid response can be critical to the success of any investigation.
Our team brings together fraud and financial crime experts with a range of backgrounds in criminal investigations, forensic accounting and forensic computing and are skilled at conducting sensitive financial investigations.
We regularly conduct large-scale, complex investigations, liaising with many of the world’s leading law enforcement, prosecution and regulatory agencies, as well as other statutory authorities and commercial organisations.
We conduct detailed pre-investigation research to establish whether we can achieve a successful outcome for you.
To help us pursue your case we’ll need certain information from you if you decide to use our services.
We’ll confront every entity, including banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, who aided the transfer of your money to a crime.
Our investigators will leave no stone unturned to secure the return of your funds, or to achieve the outcome you have requested.
Our lawyers are regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA).
We work with law enforcement agencies and financial regulators.
Our investigators are experts in resolving complex financial crimes.
Forged documents are used as an illegitimate means to secure investment, or to scam people out of hard earned savings.
It is estimated that up to 90% of bank instruments (MTN, BG, SBLC) in open circulation are false, or part of a wider criminal deception.
Our proprietary investigation resource, Cobra AI, analyses confidential security markers, often placed in bank documents (which act as document DNA) with artificial intelligence to stay one-step-ahead of criminals.
For example: a broker offering a financial trade transacting via a particular bank in a certain jurisdiction using distinct terminology in a document presented in a certain way – will provide a unique DNA of that transaction.
Document DNA can detect alteration, forgery, fraud or criminal intent within bank instruments, certificates and investment agreements.
We conduct pre-investigation research to establish the complexity of fraud involved, the precise resources required to achieve a successful outcome and importantly, the probability of success.
Our analysis takes into account how funds were transferred, including through which bank, App, broker, website, trading platform, exchange, digital wallet or financial institution to identify precise points of culpability.
Insights obtained during our pre-investigation assessment allow us to map out the entire investigation with pinpoint accuracy. IYE fraud investigations are unique in method and remain unparalleled in capability.
Click on the headings below to read our recent case studies.
Investment Fraud
Client Loss: £254,000.
Our client found an advert online whereby a celebrity was endorsing the services of a business called Intrabroker (IB). IB offered services in relation to stock trading.
Our client was able to see his investment accrue profits using the MetaTrader4 platform IB gave him access to. Able to withdraw small amounts, our client felt confident to invest significant sums.
As is typical in scams of this nature, in order to withdraw funds our client was asked to pay suspicious taxes and release fees.
Using unique investigation methods to acquire intelligence about the scammers, IYE was able to demonstrate to the client’s bank that the investments showed clear characteristics of a scam and that the sums invested were out of character.
IYE’s investigation resulted in the bank refunding £254,000 plus 8% interest.
Forex Trading
Client Loss: £340,000.
Client engaged an online stock market brokerage company named INTERABROKERS.
Interabrokers.com circulated (fake) celebrity endorsed adverts across social media to entice UK investors to their highly sophisticated Meta Trader 4 Platform.
Using ‘police method’ investigation techniques, IYE investigators gathered evidence to prove criminality to a police prosecution standard. This was pivotal to presenting a legal challenge against the client’s bank.
Proof of criminality was important as it placed a culpability issue on any ‘legitimate’ agents who aided the transfer of funds, in this instance the client’s bank.
IYE’s legal team substantiated crime by deception which exposed negligence in banking practices.
Financial Instruments
In a case lasting over two years and involving exotic financial instruments in America, IYE assisted in the arrest of two individuals who had defrauded clients of over $18m in cash and $7b in CMO’s (collateralised mortgage obligations).
Working with American enforcement agencies two individuals have pleaded guilty on a reduced tariff (but can still get between 20 and 40yrs) and will return to court in the autumn for sentencing. Our American partners are vigorously pursuing the lost funds and have made seizure orders on these criminals’ personal assets to try to recover victim’s money.
Pre-Investment Verification
A private individual client requested investigations into an individual he was about to invest £650,000 with, and with whom he had attended a face to face meeting in America. The individual presented as an accomplished trader and wealth manager with a professional looking website and trading credentials.
This individual was proved to be a criminal with no discernible assets working with a crooked bank officer to encourage victims to deposit funds into his control. Forensic IT investigations identified over 200 similar websites connected to this individual conducting a coordinated scam at multiple locations worldwide. IYE assisted authorities in closing down this operation and in arresting two individuals. Enquiries are ongoing, and more arrests are expected.
Fraud Investigation
An ex-professional footballer was conned out of a substantial amount of money some years ago, and despite many assurances over the years from the perpetrator, this had not been resolved.
Our client became aware of similar victims this man had defrauded and asked IYE to investigate. We soon identified a multi-million £ fraud running into three jurisdictions globally. Further enquiries identified ongoing criminal activities with this individual, involving car and credit card crime and a fraudulent carbon credit scam in South America. IYE is working with American and UK based agencies to bring this man to the justice he deserves.
Pre-Investment Verification
An established corporate entity in the UK had formed an association over almost two years with an individual in America who represented a well-known company, with a diverse portfolio of business interests. IYE was commissioned to research an investment opportunity the group presented them with, and the individuals connected with it. Investigations, which included physical enquiries in America proved conclusively that this was a scam.
Documents, including financial instruments were proved fraudulent and individuals had numerous criminal associates some of whom were involved in high end car crime, drugs and financial fraud. Contracts the client was about to sign were forensically examined and found to pose a significant risk to the client who was prevented from placing funds at risk. Algorithmic predictive analysis confirmed the scam.
Upon receipt of your enquiry we’ll contact you to discuss your requirements.
By submitting an enquiry, you are under no obligation to use our services – sometimes it’s just good to talk!
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA).
Claims Management Activities in Great Britain.
IYE Global is fully compliant with the FSMA 2000, and the provisions of Section 89 of the Act which specifies who may engage in claims management activity. IYE Global Ltd, is a firm, organisation or body corporate, that carries on a claims management activity through a legal practitioner, and as such is exempt from the provisions of the Act under section 89N.
If you have already transferred funds and it is clear it is a scam, we can investigate, propose a strategy for recovery and work with you to pursue recovery options. IYE Global conduct investigations to understand the crime committed and to gather supportive evidence. Although IYE Global is not a claims management company and is not authorised by the FCA to engage in regulated activities in the UK, to protect clients the recovery of all clients funds is conducted by our lawyers who are regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) and operates under the (UK) FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) regulations.