Financial Fraud · No. 06
Financial Fraud Investigations in New York City
Forensic investigation of embezzlement, partner fraud, securities misconduct, and complex financial schemes.
Forensic investigation of embezzlement, partner fraud, securities misconduct, and complex financial schemes.
Financial fraud investigation is where private investigation overlaps with forensic accounting, asset tracing, and litigation support. Our financial fraud cases typically involve embezzlement by a trusted employee or business partner, hidden assets in divorce or estate disputes, securities or investment fraud, and the broader category of fraud against businesses by insiders.
The hardest fraud to detect is fraud committed by trusted people. The bookkeeper who's been with the company for years, the partner who controls the financial side, the family member running the family business. These cases need both surveillance (because you need to know what's being done outside the office) and forensic financial work (because you need to document the paper trail). We coordinate with forensic accountants when that level of work is needed.
In contested divorces and contested estates, hidden assets. Undeclared bank accounts, offshore holdings, properties in nominee names, business interests structured to look like someone else's. Are extremely common. Our hidden asset work includes lifestyle analysis (what is someone spending vs. what they claim to earn), document tracing, and where appropriate, surveillance to set up actual control over assets that appear on paper to belong to someone else.
Ponzi schemes, fake investment opportunities, advance fee scams targeting wealthy people. These are unfortunately ongoing in New York, and they often need investigative work to recover funds or build the case for criminal referral. We work with attorneys and sometimes with the SEC or FBI on the larger cases.
Insurance fraud is a distinct service line. See our dedicated Insurance Fraud page. The investigative methods overlap, but insurance fraud cases run on insurer or defense counsel timelines and are billed differently.
Financial fraud work is scoped case by case and usually set up on a retainer billed against hourly investigative and forensic work, because the effort depends entirely on how complex the money trail is.
The main things that move the fee:
A simple asset check is far less involved than tracing money across multiple entities and jurisdictions; engagements are quoted to the specific scope. Every case is quoted individually. The initial consultation with David is free and confidential, and you’ll get a written estimate before any work begins, with no obligation.
Straight answers to what clients ask most. If yours isn't here, call David directly for a free, confidential consultation.
Embezzlement, partnership and shareholder fraud, investment and Ponzi schemes, hidden assets in divorce or litigation, vendor and procurement fraud, and elder financial exploitation. We trace money and document the conduct behind the loss.
Yes. Asset searches combine public records, corporate filings, property and lien data, and lawful database research to surface bank relationships, business interests, real estate, and other holdings a subject may be concealing in a divorce, judgment, or fraud matter.
Yes. We gather details through lawful means and document the chain clearly, so the results support civil litigation, support proceedings, and criminal referrals. We work alongside your counsel and can testify to our findings.
It scales with complexity. A focused asset search is far less involved than tracing a multi entity scheme. We scope the work after understanding your situation and give you an estimate before starting, with the first consultation free.
Either works. Many clients come to us first to confirm what happened, then bring documented findings to counsel. Others are referred by their attorney. We coordinate smoothly with lawyers and can work under their direction when that is preferable.
Financial fraud investigations are scoped individually and usually run on a retainer billed against hourly work. A simple asset check costs far less than tracing funds across multiple entities and jurisdictions. We assess the scope and give you a clear estimate after a free, confidential consultation.
New to working with an investigator? See how we work, our confidentiality standards, or why a licensed PI matters.
From the field: What motivates financial fraud · How attorneys use surveillance to win cases.
New York Intelligence Agency works across all five boroughs and the surrounding metro. Understanding the population we serve. Its scale, density, and makeup. Informs how we plan surveillance, locate people, and build cases in the city.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (New York City).