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As
Investigators, we spend a great deal of time making sure that
the people our clients use are who they say they are. We spend
many hours looking into prospective employees, business
partners and contractors, ensuring that our clients get the
complete information regarding these people or companies and
all that they have said about themselves, checks out.
But do we undertake the same diligence when we sub-contract work
to other investigators? Do we take these “investigators”
at face value? Do we assume that they are what (and who) they
say they are, and that they have the credentials they claim to
have?
Just
because the investigator is a member of a ‘Professional
Association’ or we meet them at a conference, or at a social
function, does not mean they have the education,
qualifications, titles, honors or positions they claim they
have.
They
may well have any number of them proudly displayed on their
business cards, pamphlet Bio or web site. But
how do we know that some, or indeed all, of it was not
purchased on the internet? Just
because it is written down does not make it a fact. These days
you can buy almost anything on the Net, including educational
qualifications, professional qualifications and even titles
and honors.
For
your information see; www.speedydegrees.com
When
you engage an investigator or other professional who does not
legally have the qualifications or honors and titles he
purport to have, you could have very serious problems if these
dubious claims are discovered by the client or, worst still,
are exposed when giving evidence in court.
Some
years ago my business partner was giving evidence in a long
fraud case we had worked on. My partner’s first two hours of
cross-examination was taken up with him verifying his PhD. The
defense lawyer was obviously trying to destroy his credibility
before he gave evidence: Luckily
he had earned his PhD.
Another
recent case I worked on involved a client who had libeled
someone by accusing him, in an email, of being a con-man.
The person libeled, who everyone believed to be a
‘Sir’ (Knight of the realm), produced all the paperwork
with the fancy seals etc, to prove the title. However, our
investigation discovered that he had purchased this title for
1000 GBP from an internet site (e.g. www.Lords'R'Us.com
). By using the title he had paid for and not having been
honored by the state or the Queen, it was shown to the court
that he was in fact a con-man. My client won the case and was
awarded all costs incurred.
Remember;
many cases we work on can, and do, end up in court. When
sub-contracting investigators, if you do not know beyond doubt
that their credentials are bona fide, you should check the
claimed qualifications. When it is not possible to confirm
these claimed qualifications, or other titles, with the
issuing authority, they should be checked with a third party,
preferably with another member located in the same
jurisdiction as the sub-contractor.
Can you imagine having to explain to your client that the
reason why the case was lost was due to the fact that your
subcontractor’s qualifications (or title) were proven to be
a sham? After the
defense lawyer pulls your guy to pieces for “his self
proclaimed or purchased qualifications… living in a world of
self- elevation”, all other statements and explanations
coming from your agent’s mouth would be viewed with the same
contempt as the fairy tale of his ‘self-delusionary’
opinion of himself.
This
may also then result in litigation against you by the
client, for failing to be diligent in managing the case.
Some
associations do check investigators at the application stage.
However, the applicant may not disclose all and the vetting is
completed without a hitch.
At
a later stage as a full member, they then slip in the acquired
qualifications,
titles,
positions or honors as it is more likely that it will be taken
at face value and accepted as being true without question.
To
protect all concerned (the association, its members and the
public in general); all newly claimed qualifications, titles
and positions should always be investigated and confirmed.
When
invalid or false claims are made, it should be taken as
serious breach of confidence, as it would be quite obvious
that the false claim was intended to mislead.
False
titles or positions are, in my opinion, an insult and a
dishonor to all who have studied and worked for many hours, or
indeed years, to gain educational / professional
qualifications. It is also an insult to those who have been
truly and respectfully honored by the government, and the
people, for deeds of bravery, humanity and service to their
country.
Just
because it says it on the label, does not mean it is true.
Roy Whitehouse CFE. CII.
WIS
International.
www.wis-int.com
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WIS International offers
private investigation, research, intelligence and detective
services. We have
been established in Portugal for over 10 years with offices
in Lisbon, London and the Algarve . We undertake various
investigations into all manner of subjects throughout the
world. We have agents throughout Portugal, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Angola.
Being a member of many professional
organisations enables us to carry out assignments throughout
the EU and the rest of the world using trusted associates
and international investigators.
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