What is the structure of a typical undercover investigation?

The initial planning stages are critical, and include establishing objectives of the case with the Client, in-house preparation of the field consultant, logistical considerations, and completion of the application and hiring process.

Once the field consultant is in place, he or she will first learn the job and build relationships, and then actively gather facts to further the Client's objectives, submitting reports throughout the entire process. When the information gathered has reached a point of diminishing returns, we move to a case shutdown process that includes on-site interviews to verify the field consultant's information and expand our information base. These processes give the Client the maximum level of information, allowing them to make proper decisions for the company.

Who, within my company, needs to know about the undercover project?

The operation will be more discreet if fewer people are aware of the investigation, but often, the involvement of certain individuals is necessary to begin the project, including a Security Director or Human Resource Manager. The individuals involved should be at a high level within the organization and very trustworthy.

What types of company information and documentation will I need to provide you at the beginning of the project?

Company policies, handbooks, employee rosters, and recent incident reports are all useful when sending an undercover field consultant to evaluate policy violations. We will also ask about application and hiring procedures and existing security protocols.

What are the qualifications and characteristics of your undercover field consultants?

Our field consultants typically have backgrounds and experience in undercover and special investigations, security, military, and/or law enforcement. Additionally, all of our field consultants are well-trained and have various skill sets that allow them to easily adapt to the cover job, determined by the Client. We have field consultants on staff who can blend into nearly any demographic category and are outgoing, friendly, and intelligent.

How will I know what information your undercover field consultant is collecting about my workplace?

The field consultant submits detailed daily reports to the case manager, and we in turn provide updates to the Client on a regular basis. In addition, a categorized Summary Report is generated every ten working days that details all of the information reported by the field consultant. Any unusual or urgent incidents will be submitted immediately in the form of Special Reports.

What is the length of the typical investigation?

The size of the problem, the number of employees involved, and the skill of the consultants drive the length of the process. Although the lengths of our investigations vary, successful undercover investigations rarely run less than twelve weeks. Theft cases tend to take longer than drug cases.

Is the interview phase of the investigation necessary, and what typically is the result?

The interview portion of the investigation is an integral component of most projects and their success. Employee interviews usually produce and verify 80-90% of the total volume of information gleaned during the investigation. We are successful in obtaining both written and tape-recorded admissions from over 90% of all those we interview.

What will be the total cost for the project?

The total investment is difficult to determine and depends on the amount of time the field consultant is on assignment. We charge a weekly management fee, plus an hourly differential based on the field consultant's cover position and expenses.

Expenses for out-of-town cases include lodging and transportation. The number of interviews during the case shutdown will drive the cost of the interview process following the undercover portion of the investigation.

How are the police involved and is prosecution necessary?

Law enforcement is involved to some degree in all of our drug investigations and on a case-by-case basis where theft of Client property is discovered. However, prosecution is an option that should be carefully considered and decided by both Client and law enforcement.

Are drug and theft investigations dangerous?

Drug and theft investigations can sometimes be dangerous. However, at the first indication of danger or a potentially violent situation we will make recommendations regarding the appropriate precautions. No one has ever been hurt or injured during one of our investigations.

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