Corporate espionage

Avoiding the UK’s Counter-Surveillance amateurs

September 4, 2024 by pdldevv2 Leave a Comment

Leading expert Peter Torley of PDL explores the growing challenges of defeating those monitoring us – while also avoiding poor Counter-Surveillance standards

It’s not very often that you see the term ‘Counter-Surveillance’ in the headlines here in London, or indeed anywhere in the UK.

But be prepared to see a lot more of it in the near future as more and more UK businesses – and indeed government agencies – continue to deal with the various security threats that come with finding themselves increasingly under one type of surveillance or another.

And, as the prevalence of business surveillance increases (with more sophisticated techniques providing greater challenges to all of us in the profession) clients need to be aware that cheap ‘off-the-shelf’ solutions no longer cut the mustard. Indeed, if you’re offered such an amateur ‘solution’, it’s time to pause and think if that’s what your business deserves.

More specific details on that in a moment, but firstly it was in fact a recent headline from the United States that prompted me to write a few words now on Counter-Surveillance and its increasing relevance.

Donald Trump

Following the massive news that an assassination attempt was made on the life of former President Donald Trump, there gradually followed several allegations that the US security authorities had dropped the ball in their Counter-Surveillance approaches.

Fox News reported that an ex-Secret Service agent ‘couldn’t believe’ that there wasn’t any counter-surveillance in place during the assassination attempt. And NBC reported that the agencies involved could – at a bare minimum – even have deployed plainclothes Counter-Surveillance agents to stop the gunman.

That, of course, is a pretty basic ‘old-school’ approach to a particular issue of Counter-Surveillance in the Trump case.

But in Britain’s modern business world – with technology evolving exponentially and with competition between businesses continually intensifying – the risk of your business being under highly sophisticated surveillance is very, very real.

So, if you have reason to suspect your commercial activities are being covertly monitored, you’ll appreciate that it’s now becoming increasingly challenging to outsmart those listening in to your calls and discussions.

Buyer Beware: Quick and Cheap or Thoroughly Professional?

While you will understandably want to get the Counter-Surveillance task completed as soon as possible, it’s important not to rush into choosing a seemingly quick and cheap solution. Very often, the cheaper and the quicker the work means that the end result will not be effective. It will not have been carried out in depth, and ultimately will probably necessitate engaging a fully qualified and ratified professional to complete the work thoroughly.

Are you one of those at high risk of Surveillance?

Let’s have a look firstly at the top three types deemed to be especially at risk of coming under surveillance:

Businesses working in highly competitive markets
High net-worth individuals
Spouses going through divorce

There are many more of course but, first, what actually is Counter-Surveillance?

As the name suggests, Counter-Surveillance involves taking steps to prevent or detect surveillance, including covert activities employed against you. Techniques may include such things as detecting hidden surveillance devices.

When effectively implemented, successful Counter-Surveillance can identify and neutralise any hostile monitoring of your business or private life.

Changed work practices play into their hands

The pandemic has, in very significant ways, changed the way most businesses and individuals operate regarding work. For example, with more people logging in from home, that level of relatively open access has inadvertently opened the doors for easier covert surveillance of one’s activities.

And in the commercial world especially, with many high-end businesses now choosing to meet in ‘halfway houses’ – such as hotels close to a major airport – it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid the threat of the premises having been bugged ahead of your meeting.

How PDL excels in Counter-Surveillance

The overwhelming advantage that we at PDL have over our competitors – and this is across all aspects of our work – is our approach and our knowledge.

Naturally, and as you would expect, our Counter-Surveillance approach covers all the bases. From domestic issues at one end of the scale to working alongside high-end, global businesses discussing incredibly sensitive information. Through all of this, our knowledge and approach helps and reassures those at risk of being subject to intrusive surveillance.

We also – more recently – have now begun to advise a large number of clients on how they can safely work with entrepreneurs on implementing constantly improving device security.

The Effectiveness of our Counter Measures

At PDL, we regularly find that we are called into a company on the back of their previous attempts at counter-surveillance ‘sweeps’ having failed.

This is largely because either not enough time or care has not been allocated to the ‘sweep’ by the service provider; or, on the other hand, the detection equipment used is of an over-the-counter type without the ability to successfully find the devices that, well, are just now so clever that they can easily escape detection by substandard, run-of-the-mill equipment.

This is why it is so crucial to use only sophisticated professional-grade equipment that can counter the range of frequencies in the latest bugging devices. And that’s what we at PDL use every time.

Indeed, in terms of the specialist Frequency Knowledge needed in this line of work, our team is unsurpassed.

For example, from our base in London’s Mayfair, we frequently send our teams all over the world. As a result, we have perfected procedures for detecting the different frequencies used in different countries around the globe. Like we always say at PDL – knowledge is indeed the key.

Counter-Surveillance: do you get what you pay for?

It’s a fact that some of our competitors charge exorbitant fees for a quick Counter-Surveillance sweep that may be largely ineffective. What’s even more shocking is that they often spend maybe just half an hour on the job, wave their equipment around a little, and then leave. Indeed, many of them lack the necessary basic training and knowledge, which is a serious concern to our industry as a whole.

Likewise, many companies may be tempted to try a DIY approach using equipment they’ve bought from somewhere like eBay. When that equipment is positioned around a commercial office or client’s home address, it may very well flash and beep and seem both impressive and reassuring. But is it really? What we find is that this approach rarely, if ever, goes deep enough to find the latest, sophisticated surveillance devices.

Guaranteed

So, reassuringly, with PDL you are guaranteed a fully immersive Counter-Surveillance sweep/investigation.

What’s more, in addition to one-time surveys, we can also offer the continuous monitoring and detection which are crucial for high-stakes events in the commercial world.

No stone unturned

The bottom line is that when we leave your office, we will have left absolutely no stone unturned in finding the bug that other services may never find.

Additionally, we offer you a detailed report with recommendations for strengthening your existing Counter-Surveillance measures.

Talk to us now and let’s beat those buggers – professionally and thoroughly.

Check our full Counter-Surveillance Service here.

Corporate Fraud: How to protect your business

January 1, 2017 by pdldevv2

With corporate fraud on the rise, it’s crucial to ensure your business is protected in the modern age. Here’s some information on the ways that corporate fraud can operate, and how best to protect yourself.

Consider The Modern World

Arguably – in this modern, technological world – we know more about each other than ever before. However, the flipside to this is that there can be great difficulty verifying information or put simply – knowing what we can believe. We’re also in an age of unprecedented global mobility. These two factors in conjunction mean modern businesses – of all kinds, from sole trader to international corporation – face many challenges.

Internal Fraud

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for businesses large and small to face the threat of internal corporate fraud – that is to say, fraud from within the organisation itself. The most common forms of this strand of corporate fraud include financial theft, data theft, or overall abuse of a position by an employee or group of employees.

It’s important to remember that by definition it is usually those in positions of trust who are able to commit fraud. A fraudulent individual usually requires some autonomy to be able to act in a fraudulent manner.

We also advise corporate clients concerned about potential internal fraud to be mindful of which employees or partners might be under increased pressure, which is often a major factor in pushing a predisposed individual towards any fraudulent activity. Of course, it’s good practice in general to be trying to alleviate pressure within your organisation where possible.

Background Checks

Background checks are part of essential risk assessment. Before signing important contracts, agreeing to high-stakes deals, or giving job offers, background checks can be both useful and reassuring – whether you have specific concerns, or are simply undertaking thorough due diligence.

As an employer it’s important to establish what it is you need to know before being happy to commit to any agreement of a business-sensitive nature. Read more on our background checking services

Discretion Is Key

At PDL, discretion is key in everything we do. However, the necessity for the utmost discretion is something we often have to remind corporate clients when they’re attempting to uncover and prosecute fraudulent individuals who pose a threat to their business.

In order for any fraudulent individual to be successfully prosecuted – and any assets recovered – it’s essential that evidence is gathered and fraudulent individuals are identified in the most professional and inconspicuous manner.

We are here to advise further on discretion and all other aspects of handling corporate fraud investigation. If you need our assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Ongoing Disputes

Disputes can vary in nature and magnitude, but they all can drain resources and impact upon your ability to manage business as usual. It’s important that any ongoing disputes – including legal issues, partnership disagreements, and so on – are handled professionally throughout, to bring matters to a satisfactory close.

Bespoke Solutions

Remember that every case requires a bespoke solution. Situations should be judged on the evidence, and solutions found with the protection of your business firmly in mind. We don’t give catch-all advice because we prefer to analyse the specifics of a case and deal with its details up-close. You may require data forensics, for example, or vehicle tracking. It might be surveillance, or background checking. The key is that the circumstances themselves indicate the best course of action.

Monitoring, Early Detection, and Process

We’ve worked on many corporate fraud cases in our history, and it has become apparent that by far the most effective way to prevent corporate fraud either from occurring, or from escalating or causing irreparable damage, relates to good monitoring, early detection, and establishing processes to handle any relevant cases.

Of course, what this specifically means is different from company to company, but what doesn’t change is that the first question we’ll ask an organisation concerned about preventing corporate fraud is – what process do you have in place to ensure good monitoring and early detection of any initial warning signs of impending fraud?

To discuss how we can help you prevent or resolve corporate fraud, please call us on:

+44(0)203 747 1865

Who’s Listening In? Why you might want to consider a bug sweeping service

August 9, 2016 by pdldevv2

Corporate espionage and bug sweeping services might seem like the stuff that blockbusters are made of, but while the gun-toting heroes and simpering heroines with a backbone of steel are very much the remit of Hollywood, the fact remains that espionage is a very real threat in today’s business culture. And it’s not just business premises which make the prime targets.

Bugs can be freely purchased at a range of stores; compact and discreet, they can be installed practically anywhere. This means that if you are a target of surveillance for any reason, your office, your home and your car could all be subject to bugging. And you may never even know about it. It’s something of a disturbing thought. Especially when you factor in the advent of high speed internet and the wealth of hardwired solutions which have sprung up around it, hijacking your own technology and using it to relay confidential information to unwelcome sources. It’s hardly surprising then, that the demand for bug sweeping services is on the rise.

So those are the facts, but what can you do if you think that you’ve been bugged?

The first step is to remove yourself from the environment that you’re suspicious of until the bug sweep takes place. If you can’t take yourself completely away, remain alert and ensure that nothing that you would not wish to be openly known is said or done within that vicinity.
Secondly, seek help from a professional. PDL surveillance professionals will visit your premises for a comprehensive bug sweep, employing military-grade training and techniques to search all liable areas. We won’t make a big song and dance about it, waving around bleeping devices and looking concerned; we’ll simply get on with the job quietly and professionally, until all areas of potential threat have been eliminated.
While you’re waiting for the bug sweep to happen, try to avoid using your telephone – landline and mobile. For any private or confidential calls, seek out a local payphone. This is particularly important when reporting your concerns to PDL.

Anyone can become a victim of surveillance for any reason: a business competitor may be seeking the edge with inside information; a spouse (or ex-spouse) may be looking for ammunition to leverage a better divorce deal; a colleague could be trying to cover their own tracks by keeping an account of yours.

Do you need bug sweeping services in London

At PDL we have counter surveillance experts from all fields, and our confidentiality is guaranteed. If you have any concerns about who is listening to you, call us today; we’re ready to help: +44(0)203 747 1865.