company - Global Fraud Conference

Investigating on the Internet:
Research Tools for Fraud
Examiners
Cynthia Hetherington
HetheringtonGroup.com
Researching Foreign Corporate Records
Services and Sources
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Services:
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Kompass.com
Skyminder.com
Skyminder Credit
Reporting
Bureau van Dijk
D&B
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Other Sources:
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Check out the
website
The library
Associations
Personal
histories
Search engines
Newspaper and
journals
The Possibilities
The volume is staggering:
„ Thousands of databases
„ Millions of websites
„ Dozens of possible experts
„ Hundreds of listservs, mailing lists, e-mail
groups
The Possibilities
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Someone has done this before, and you need to
find him or her
Do not forget: TRY ALL NAME
VARIATIONS!
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You might spell it right, but journalists might not
Kompass.com
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Kompass originated in Switzerland and now
operates in 70 countries
With a subscription, you can search:
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Regions
Products/services
Companies
Trade names
Executives
Codes
Kompass.com
Example One: Bugshan
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Company Name: Bugshan
Location: Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Said Bugshan & Bros
Abdullah Said Bugshan & Bros.
20th Fl., Bugshan Bldg.
Corniche Street, Balad
Jeddah, 21411, Saudi Arabia
Phone: + 966 2 6473840,6476070
Fax: + 966 2 6474627
Abdullah Said Bugshan & Bros.
Number of employees (company total): 75
Company type: Headquarter
Office hours: Sat–Thu, 9:00–1:30, 4:00–7:30
PO Box address: PO Box 378, 21411 Jeddah
Executives and Products
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Executives:
Mohd Ahmed Bugshan (Owner)
Hashim Moiny (General Manager)
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Activities:
Airport Equipment,
Air Conditioning Equipment
Search by Executive
Mohd Ahmed Bugshan
Example Two: Latin Percussion Inc.
160 Belmont Ave
Garfield, NJ 07026-2344
United States
Phone: +1 973 478-6903
Fax: +1 973 772-3568
Products and Services
Sample Two: Latin Percussion
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Executives
Martin Cohen (Chairman of the Board)
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General Information
Total # of employees: 80
Company type: Headquarter
Web Link:
http://www.lpmusic.com
Check Out the Website
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Never underestimate company websites
Information is always biased or forgotten
Look for:
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Locations and geography
Years mentioned, dates of birth, missing dates
Family members mentioned
Business members mentioned
History of any kind
Addresses, e-mail addresses, phones, and faxes
www.lpmusic.com
Mark Cohen, President . . . Then
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“The story of Latin Percussion is the
passion of one man. A passion
which drove him to create, innovate,
and unmistakably change the face of
percussion forever.”
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“In 1956, a young mechanical
engineer and avid photographer from
the Bronx named Martin Cohen
happened upon New York's famous
Birdland jazz club. . . .”
And Now . . . www.congahead.com
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Christmas Party at the Cohen's House 2004
Vivianne's Birthday 2004
Matthew's 9th Birthday Party
Germany / Switzerland (Europe 2004 Trip)
Holland (Europe 2004 Trip)
Paris (Europe 2004 Trip)
Mother's Day 2004
San Francisco Gallery—April 2004
Easter 2004 Gallery
My 65th Birthday Bash in Montvale, NJ
The Point Is the Content We Find
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In October 2002, Kaman Music Corporation of Bloomfield,
CT, the world’s largest independent distributor of musical
instruments and accessories, purchased Latin Percussion.
SkyMinder
SkyMinder
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An affiliate of Italian company CRIBIS
Used by more than 330 Italian banking and
financial institutions
More than 14,000 Italian, European, and
U.S. companies access the service
Supplies online credit and business
information
SkyMinder
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A great source for cheap D&B information
Provides financial and corporate reports
other than D&B’s
Only works with Internet Explorer version
5.0 and newer
SkyMinder
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Provides information on:
… Marketing
data
… Line of business
… Incorporation details
… Shareholders/owners
… Executives
… Employees
… Office and facilities
SkyMinder
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Provides information on:
… Business
structure (headquarters, parent, branches,
subsidiaries)
… Rating
… Credit limit
… Payment information
… Financials
… Banking relationships and accountants
… Litigations
Example: Bugshan
Note Company and Credit Results
Example: Bugshan
Abdullah Said Bugshan & Bros
SkyMinder Company Result
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Bugshan, Abdullah Said, & Bros
Abdullah Said Bugshan & Bros
PO Box 378, Jeddah 21411, Saudi Arabia
Tel: (02) 647 3840; (02) 647 5301
International Tel: +966 (2) 647 3840;
Fax: (02) 647 9397
International Fax: +966 (2) 647 9397
Company E-mail: info@abugshan.com;
sales@abugshan.com; mick@abugshan.com
Website: http://www.abugshan.com
Date of Establishment: 1923
Principal Activities
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Communications projects
Electrical projects
Civil works projects
Further Information
Board of Directors: Ali Abdullah Bugshan (President)
Management:
„ Marei Abdullah Bugshan (Chief Executive Officer)
„ Mohamed Ahmed Bugshan (General Manager)
„ Hashem Muiny (Finance Manager)
No. of Employees: 500
Size of Company – Sales: $0
Further Information
Profit Before Tax: $0
Profit After Tax: $0
Sales/Employee: $0
Principal Banks: National Commercial Bank; Saudi
Hollandi Bank
Principal Agencies: Komatsu; ZyLab; Fujitsu; AT&T;
Lucent
Technology; ADME; Nera; Deutz; Rockwell Collins
Subsidiary Companies: Saudi Wiemer & Trachte Ltd
(51%)
SkyMinder Credit Reporting
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19 companies have been found by the system.
1. ABDULLAH ALI A BUGSHAN
2. ABDULLAH SAID BUGSHAN & BROS.
3. ABDULLAH SAID BUGSHAN & BROSHEAVY EQUIPMENT
4. ABDULLAH SAID BUGSHAN AND
BROTHERS
5. ABDULLAH SAID BUGSHAN COMPANY
Immediate Versus While You Wait
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The company report from
SkyMinder was generated
by Graham & Whiteside
Ltd and cost $10.
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The credit report can be
purchased by any number
of vendors, and will range
from $3.50 to $400, based
on turnaround time and
service provider.
SkyMinder’s D&B Report
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For $3.50 you get …
ABDULLAH SAID BUGSHAN AND BROTHERS COMPANY
DUNS number: 86-966-3518
Company address:
SAUDI FERENCH BANK BLD.6TH FL., OLD AIRPORT STREET
RIYADH
11411
SAUDI ARABIA
Middle East
Mailing address:
PO BOX 80
RIYADH
SAUDI ARABIA
11411
Middle East
Telephone number:
0966 14760105
Fax number:
N/A
Year founded:
1923
Location type:
Single Location
Line of Business:
ELECTRICAL APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT, NSK
SkyMinder’s D&B Report
SIC Codes:
1521
1522
1629
1711
4813
5063
Import/Export Indicator:
Imports & Agents
Executives:
ABDULLAH SAID BUGSHAN, CHAIRMAN
SULIMAN SAID BUGSHAN, GENERAL MANAGER
MARAI ABDULLAH BUGSHAN, MANAGER ADMINISTRATION
ABDULLAH AHMED BUGSHAN, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
IBRAHIM AL DEMAIS, PROJECT MANAGER
YOSEIF ABU ALREESH, DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
FAROOQ ALKATHEERI, COMMERCIAL MANAGER
FAWZI ASSAD TUFAHA, FINANCE MANAGER
Employees:
Employees Here: 250
Total Employees: 250
Annual Sales:
Annual Sales in Local Currency: 19,000,000 (Estimated)
Annual Sales in US Dollars:19,000,000 (Estimated)
Report update:
June 22, 2003
Single-family house construction
Residential construction
Heavy construction
Plumbing/heating/air cond contractor
Telephone communications
Whol electrical equipment
Bureau van Dijk
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There is much this service offers.
… Osiris
offers the most comprehensive search, yet
there are language-specific and industry-specific
services.
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Information tends to be generated by
chambers of commerce, state/regional
filings, and annual reports. U.S. and
Canadian reports do have D&B information.
Bureau van Dijk
Bureau van Dijk: International
Bureau van Dijk: International
The all-in-one service
Bureau van Dijk: National
Bureau van Dijk: Economic
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Zephyr – Merger and acquisition data,
including IPO and venture capital deals with
links to the company records (>230,000
transactions)
Cameo/Trace – You can search for, and
verify, any individual’s name and address
anywhere in the UK via Electoral Roll
EIU Modules – City, country, and more
Example: Latin Percussion
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Company name
Identification numbers
Financial information
content
Top companies
Geographic location
Industry
Expert
Employees
Search
Financials
Items
Ratios
User-defined variables
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Ownership data
M&A deals
Listed/unlisted
Active/inactive
Legal form
Auditors
Board members and
managers
Year of incorporation
Accounting data
Updated reports
Example: Latin Percussion
Example: Latin Percussion
Dun and Bradstreet
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The largest provider of corporate reports
internationally, it covers 100 million companies.
Information can be contributed into the report;
use D&B reports as a lead, not the answer.
Best parts of the reports are not the financials!
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Name of company and owner
Phone and fax
History of company and principals
Public filings
Best part of D&B is being able to search inside
its database!
D&B
D&B
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United States
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Fraudulent companies often share fax numbers even though
they generate new phone numbers.
… Searching by principals’ names will often show former
company interests or current interests.
… D&B automatically does SOUNDEX searching. The name
“Bill” will generate “William” hits.
… Address searches will show other companies listed at the same
address, including Mail Box, etc.
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Foreign company searches can be limited
Other Sources of Information
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International Associations:
•www.ACFE.com
•www. intelnetwork.org
•www.wad.net
•www.cii2.org
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Local and foreign libraries
Associations
Personal histories
News, media, and trades
Foreign press
Embassies here and there
The Library
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Visit the nearest large library and ask to speak with
a business reference librarian
This individual is trained in information research,
not analysis
Business reference librarians:
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Answer questions.
… Locate sources for new information.
… Assist on expensive database searches.
… Talk to other librarians all over the planet, specializing in all trades, who
are happy to assist.
Associations
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Check out the related associations for the
industry of your target company
Scan by:
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Name of company
… Name of subsidiary companies
… Affiliated companies
… Personal names
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Read association newsletters, press releases,
meeting minutes, and conference proceedings
Personal Histories
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Check out Zoominfo.com
… American
citizen tied to company in Riyadh
… Board memberships showing conflict of interest
… English language only, so far
Search Engines
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Be sure to scan foreign search engines to get
foreign news and mentions of your target
Specialized engines and invisible Web
sources:
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SearchSystems.net
BRBPub.com
Corporateinformation.com
Countries’ patent and trademark sites
Countries’ stock exchange sites
Google and Other Engines
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Popular search engines like Google and
Yahoo! have country-specific engines that
the examiner should explore.
Newspaper and Journals
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Try your library at the office, at home, or at
the university.
Fee-based services are:
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Lexis-Nexis (nexis.com)
Dialog (dialogweb.com)
Factiva (factiva.com)
All three have foreign-language searches,
date back to the 1970s in content, and offer
full-text searching.
Nexis.com