Asset Tracing
Asset Tracing
It is important to note that asset tracing must be conducted within the bounds of the law. Privacy and confidentiality considerations should be respected. Legal advice and consultation with professionals experienced in asset tracing are often crucial to ensure a thorough and lawful investigation.
Asset tracing may be undertaken for a variety or reasons, such as legal proceedings, debt collection, fraud investigations, or financial planning. Prometheus Investigation & Intelligence uses its years’ long expertise and experience to assist with asset tracing. If required, we also put Clients in touch with vetted and reliable local law offices that can assist with enforcement proceedings once assets have been identified.
Our asset tracing reports consist of the following segments:
Open-Source Intelligence Analysis
Corporate and Public Records Analysis
Through the analysis of corporate records, we identify shareholdings in companies both locally and internationally. Although the availability of publicly available data can vary from country to country, we strive to be as thorough as possible, employing both official and secondary database research methods as well as analysing press and online media references that may provide additional leads.
Public records may also provide insights into associated addresses, financial records or legal proceedings which can assist in locating assets.
Financial and Bank Records
Reviewing financial records, if available, is done to understand a person’s or an entity’s declared assets. Typically, to review bank records, court orders are required but Prometheus can assist Clients with identifying probable locations of bank accounts, thus enabling them to focus their legal efforts in specific countries or even specific banks.
Litigation
Sometimes, people or companies are involved in property-related disputes. Thus, analysing available litigation records can provide leads on valuable assets.
Land, Properties and Vehicles
The availability of public records concerning land, property and vehicle ownership varies depending on the country where the asset is located. In most countries, it is not possible to publicly enquire about a physical person’s assets without a court order or similar. In the case of legal entities, the laws and regulations are generally more flexible and it is usually possible to relatively easily identify such assets owned by them.
To assist Clients with identifying such assets owned by individuals, we employ open-source intelligence methods such as press and online media analysis as well as social media analysis of a debtor, as well as their family members or known trusted confidants who may be hiding assets for the debtor in their own names. Once assets and/or associated addresses are identified, it is usually possible to publicly make enquiries relating to the specific plot of land, property or vehicle. Where this is not the case, we put our Clients in touch with local law offices or debt collection agencies which possess the legal means of further assisting them in the specific country.
Human Intelligence
If legally permissible, interviews with individuals associated with the person or legal entity can provide insights into potential assets or financial activities.
International Considerations
If the individual or entity has international ties, investigations are expanded to consider the implications of cross-border transactions and assets held in different jurisdictions.
Private Investigators
With legitimate interest, Prometheus can assist Clients in liaising with local private investigators who can assist with asset tracing or provide services such as physical surveillance which may lead to the identification of potential assets. Utilising the services of private investigators can often make or break an asset tracing case. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure that they are licensed, vetted, capable and reliable. Over the years, Prometheus has successfully developed ties with such professionals in 80+ jurisdictions globally.