eBay, amazon and online fraud/deception investigations

The Rise of Online Fraud and How We Investigate

In today's technology-driven world, online shopping has become one of the most popular ways for people to purchase goods and services. Unfortunately, it also creates unprecedented opportunities for fraudsters and those seeking to defraud online retailers, individuals, and charities by obtaining goods or services through deception.

Investigation Network specializes in cases involving fraudulent purchases, where individuals use false credit cards or other payment methods, such as PayPal, and later claim they never received the goods or that there was an issue with the product. In cases where there has been no communication between the buyer and the seller to resolve the issue, it raises immediate red flags. When fraudsters cannot show they tried to resolve the issue, and the circumstances are suspicious, it's often the case that they engage in this behavior habitually. At this point, it becomes relatively easy for us to prove deliberate attempts to obtain goods or services through deception.

Turning Civil Disputes into Criminal Investigations

While many of these inquiries are initially viewed as civil disputes, our expertise lies in digging deeply into the buyer's history to find evidence of persistent fraudulent behavior, turning the case into one for law enforcement. We do this by accessing multiple sources, such as credit files and historical data. For example, frequent bank changes on their credit file might indicate a pattern of chargeback requests with credit card companies or PayPal. Once we confirm habitual fraudulent behavior, we often provide this information to local law enforcement, particularly if the individual has a criminal record related to fraud.

During our investigations, we frequently encounter other companies that have also dealt with the perpetrator and can provide statements supporting the evidence of illicit activity.

Legal Action and Debt Recovery

Even if law enforcement is unable to pursue the case, it can still be addressed through debt recovery or the Small Claims Court. Once we identify the perpetrator and their location, they often negotiate to prevent costs from spiraling out of control. For instance, when a judgment is issued, people often think they can avoid payment. However, by identifying where they work, we can apply for an attachment of earnings order. This means the employer will deduct the funds and pay them directly to the victim, under court order.

In some jurisdictions, administrative charges for court payments further increase the costs, providing the perpetrator with a strong incentive to settle quickly. For example, in a recent case involving a $500 mobile phone purchase in California, the total cost for the individual committing the fraud reached $3,400 after our fees, court costs, and collection fees were added. The perpetrator had the option to settle early but chose not to, resulting in a terminated employment once their employer learned of the case details. When the individual found new employment, we simply presented the attachment of earnings order to the new employer.

The Cost of Online Fraud

Online fraud, regardless of how it's committed, can be very costly and dangerous. Fortunately, every type of online activity leaves a data trail, such as IP addresses. By combining our forensic email system with detailed investigations into a fraudster's internet connection and computer system, we can build a strong case for law enforcement or civil action.

Our Expertise

Investigation Network has access to one of the world's largest databases of domain/IP profile information. We have worked with some of the world’s largest companies, governments, and law enforcement agencies to bring individuals and corporations involved in fraud to justice.

We specialize in investigating a wide range of fraud and deception cases, particularly tracing email addresses to the actual name and location of the email sender. If the fraud involves platforms like eBay or Amazon, we can frequently cross-reference accounts to find patterns of false claims or disputes, which strengthens our investigation.

By uncovering previous incidents of fraud, we can turn what initially appears to be a civil matter into a criminal case, handing it over to law enforcement for further investigation.

Investigative Techniques

Our inquiries answer critical questions, such as:

• What has the person done online that could constitute fraud or deception?
• What is their social media presence?
• Has their email address or phone number appeared in previous fraud investigations?
• Do they have a criminal record related to fraudulent behavior?

If the information exists, we will find it and present it to you in a way that eliminates the mystery surrounding internet-related fraud. Many people wrongly assume the internet provides anonymity, but they quickly discover that it’s far from anonymous when investigated the right way.

Specialized Services for Internet-Related Crime

Investigation Network is one of the leading investigators of computer-related crimes, eBay and Amazon fraud, and other internet-based scams such as fraudulent online purchases, investment fraud, and property scams. While investigating online auction fraud, cyber-stalking, or network vulnerabilities is only part of what we do, if a case involves the internet, we provide the highest quality investigation services available.

We have successfully investigated over 2,000 cases of internet-related crime.

Our Services Include:

• Tracing the Sender of Anonymous Emails
• eBay & Internet Auction Fraud Investigations
• Online Fraud Inquiries Involving Credit Card Payments
• Cyber-Stalking & Email Harassment Identification
• Internet Scam & Fraud Investigations
• Internet Profiling & Online Activity Checks
• Celebrity Threat Assessment & Management
• Computer Forensics & Data Recovery
• Telephone Harassment Traces
• Investigating the Historical Behavior of Individuals Involved

If you are a victim of email harassment, cyber-stalking, internet fraud, auction fraud, dating scams, or other types of internet-related crime, contact us, and we will be happy to discuss your case.