Fraudsters Beware
Bahrain This Month
LIZ O'REILLY
March, 2017
An ex-cop with an honours Law degree in Leewarden has been dubbed a 'financial bounty hunter´. But while the title might sound glib, the job he does is deadly serious. So much so that threats are not unknown - not entirely surprising when the cases he and his firm take on involve millions of dollars and, potentially, long jail terms for their perpetrators.
But how does one end up in this field? Mark explains: "After working undercover for the New Zealand Police, I was fast-tracked into the Criminal Investigation Branch and became the country's youngest qualified detective. Early on, I worked on every possible type of crime from homicide down.
At that time I was intrigued with private investigation work. Accordingly, I started my first investigation company after I left the police and was studying for my law degree. When I did begin practice as a barrister it was with a specialist investigative bent." But it was always his intention to use his legal qualification as an investigator.
He says: "My lecturers thought I was a heretic when I graduated and decided to pursue investigation work. The normal accepted course for a law honours graduate was to join one of the big law firms.
I was convinced there was a future in the industry and knew that to be successful I needed legal qualifications to overlay my experience as a detective. As well as a 'financial bounty hunter', Mark's also been called a 'debt collector in a suit'. But, far from being offended, he actually agrees, to an extent, saying: "I find this amusing but in its most basic terms it's right. Straight debt, however, doesn't usually bear the hallmarks of dishonesty.
Fraud is fundamentally basic as well, it is just theft wearing a finely embroidered dress to make it look appealing and complex.
"Fraudsters are human game, it's a hunt and you need a quiver full of many types of resources to bring down your prey. The problem also is that, in respect to international fraud, there is no overarching investigative body so it is left to private sector initiatives to recover losses and liaise with different countries enforcement bodies regarding prosecutions. One of the fraudsters' strategies is to house different aspects of their operation in different countries thereby using jurisdictional complexities to their advantage.
Whether it is debt or otherwise, we have the ability to strike anywhere in the world, freeze victims' funds and move against fraudsters.
The problem for them is we could be lurking anywhere and in any form." As a police officer, there was, at one point, a price on his head and his current activities certainly make him unpopular in certain quarters but he appears unconcerned, saying:
"There is currently no imminent threat, however, we always take a variety of security measures when working on any serious task. There is plenty of personal protection experience in the company with deployments as bodyguards for politicians and dignitaries. I actually think these crooks should be worried about us, not the other way around! There is a new generation coming through too, with my daughter Charlotte, who is also a barrister, joining the business a couple of years ago; so the team certainly won't die.
The company operates on many different levels and, sometimes, to catch a criminal you have to think like one. Mark explains: "We remain the only company in Australasia with a dedicated undercover programme. We recruit and train agents for deployment in a variety of roles targeting theft, fraud and drug offending organisations are legally entitled to investigate dishonesty within their ranks and undercover operations produce the best most conclusive evidence.
He is no stranger to the Kingdom and reveals that he is currently investigating a financial adviser, based in Bahrain, involved in fraudulent activity. "I will be commenting on some of the specifics regarding this case and the impact on Bahrain in my address," he says. "I don't usually do addresses like this, but if elevating awareness prevents even one dollar disappearing to dishonesty I am happy to do it."
The island has made great strides in establishing itself as a financial hub, however, there are potential challenges lurking ahead Mark says: "Bahrain has done a great job of positioning itself as a financial centre, but with expansion, prominence, a high-value currency and an increase in private wealth, sharks will begin to circle. Awareness, robust controls and a strong regulatory environment are needed to protect the gains made When it comes to protecting yourself against fraud, there is a golden rule - if it looks too good to be true, then it is. "Be careful, be skeptical, your wealth could depend upon it, Mark explains.
"With investment schemes, use known professional advisers and beware of promised high returns, unsolicited calls or emails and demands for confidentiality. "Do your research, scour the Internet and call local regulatory agencies to see if they know the players. These people will try all manner of techniques to relieve you of your money
