Robert Strang, chief executive of corporate investigations firm Investigative Management Group, says fraud often rears its head in times of economic dislocation. However, he notes the circumstances in the latest economic downturn differ in that "in a way the credit markets created this problem." Strang, a former DEA agent whose company works closely with private equity firms on investigative matters, won't identify clients by name. But, he recalls one case involving a manufacturing company that had dire implications for its financial investor. "Our private equity investor was unaware that a second set of [accounting] books existed and by the time they found out about it, it was difficult to turn the company around," he says.

 

"We provide a high-quality service," says Bob Strang, as principal at Investigative Management Group, an international security agency based in Manhattan. "We're expensive and not for everybody." IMG's services range from surveillance 24/7 to make sure a child hasn't joined a cult to protection on a family trip. Fees per job can quickly leap into six figures.

 

"Any time a sensitive document is unintentionally left behind, it's a treasure trove for a potential adversary," said Robert Strang, CEO of Investigative Management Group, a global security firm. "It enables them to look for vulnerabilities in design that they can target - an age-old military tactic." "Certainly, if you know the thickness of concrete, someone with an explosive background can develop and plot an attack," Strang said.