The Corporate Fraud Investigation Checklist
A practical OSINT checklist for corporate fraud investigations, focusing on beneficial ownership, shell companies, and related-party transactions.
Corporate fraud often relies on complex, opaque structures to hide assets and obscure relationships. OSINT is the key to unraveling these networks.
Step 1: Beneficial Ownership Mapping
Query global corporate registries to identify ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs). Look for nested LLCs or offshore trusts designed to mask true control.
Step 2: Identifying Shell Companies
Red flags for shell entities include:
- •Registered at known mass-registration addresses or mail drops
- •Lack of online presence or functional websites
- •Directors who hold positions in hundreds of unrelated companies
Step 3: Uncovering Related-Party Transactions
Cross-reference directors and registered addresses to find undisclosed relationships between ostensibly independent vendors and internal executives.
Unravel Complex Networks
Aletheia's visual link analysis tools help investigators instantly map corporate structures and expose hidden connections.