Showing posts with label international investigator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international investigator. Show all posts
December 9, 2013
U.S. Government Working to Bring Tax Havens to an End











Switzerland has been known for a long time as a tax haven, and banking privacy has always been a priority. It´s no secret that many illicit fund flows did eventually end up in Swiss banks, away from international treaties or laws that could put them in danger or that could put its owners in an awkward situation. The fact that the government didn´t make the banks disclose any information about assets to any international organization made this place ideal for the wealthy and private people of the world, where no explanations were ever needed. However, things are changing now.

Last week Switzerland reached a tax agreement with the United States, ending its status as a tax haven country. As a part of the deal, the Swiss government is expected to disclose information about its American clients and crack down on any Swiss bank that helped wealthy Americans "hide money" from U.S. tax authorities.  What is this really about?  The U.S. government is nearly bankrupt, printing dollars and pushing the country into financial oblivion, with record amounts of national debt.  So, the Obama administration is looking for new ways to pay the bills, taking from those who have.

The new policy pretends to help international organizations fight against illicit crime, terrorism, corruption and money laundering, all part of today´s biggest problems around the world. Many other countries considered as tax havens will be taking steps to avoid being bullied by the IRS and forced to comply with the U.S. demands.  In fact, complying with the U.S. demands is such a burden, that in Switzerland, banks no longer want U.S. citizens' money.  They're no longer welcome.

The Swiss government has directed banks and other financial intermediaries to comply with enhanced requirements in order to prevent the inflow of untaxed assets. Taxes are the base of a government budget, the means in which politicians say social progress occurs. But for big wealthy companies, taxes are a huge expense that prevent growth, and limited the amount of hiring and expansion possible.  Individuals who pay more tax, have less money to spend in the markets and economy.  Most economists now agree that higher taxes are counterproductive to economic growth and ultimately leads to lower government revenue, but it seems governments are slow to learn this lesson.

International due diligence services are essential to help individuals and companies expand and protect their capital in the global marketplace, and to properly navigate through all the domestic and international laws that face international investors in today's high tax world.  When you expand or invest abroad, don't think about taxes alone, but safely evaluate all the risks.


S. Birch
© 2013 S. Birch



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August 6, 2013
Military Scams Targeting Dating Sites












Men and women of uniform, traditionally, have been those we can trust.  Those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom.  There are many military men and women who use online dating sites and social networks such as Match.com, eCupid.com or Facebook to find love and new friends.  Many women subscribers are often approached by men claiming to be in the U.S. or U.K. military.  They often claimed to be stationed in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, or even in Africa. Profiles show names, military ranks and photos stolen from real soldiers, some of them while still on duty, some of them who even died in service. Because internet criminals have had much success in the scam, the number of these cases are on the rise, and the risk is growing.

Dating background checks  have been a great solution for those who wish to verify their online contacts from online dating and social networking.  Scammers take advantage of the good will and naive nature of their victims. Many of these techniques would fail if internet users understood the risk and knew the warning signs.  Unfortunately, some scammers are so good that it can be nearly impossible to determine who is real and who is not.  In a growing number of cases, there is simply no way to know the truth without hiring a reputable private investigation company.

Military scams can be especially difficult for victims to detect and accept.  Many victims want to help the soldier and support their country, and in doing so end up losing thousands of dollars, or have their identity stolen.  Learning about military ranks and what different soldiers do can help educate those not from the military, and also is a great help in avoiding fake soldiers.

Hiring an international investigator can be a great option for those who have met someone they want to know better, or who think they may have met someone special, but that person happens to be a soldier who was met online.  Fraud experts and law enforcement agree that it's important to verify early in the relationship to avoid the dangers and damage from internet fraud.

There’s a special kind of magic to see those uniformed men, giving their lives to protect us.  Investigators say to remain skeptical online and remember any profile and photo can very easily be false, and in fact nearly half of all online profiles on the internet today are false!

Be safe online and watch out for the warning signs.  If you meet Mr. Perfect on the web, and you're thinking of starting a relationship with this person.  Be safe.  Get a background check.

S. Birch
© 2013 S. Birch
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