Thailand Investigations Blog
Do You Want to Know the Truth?

It’s a natural phenomenon for people to want relationships. Whether it be friendships, business partnerships, or romantic liaisons, humans seem to be predisposed towards having relationship. As the old and overused saying goes, “No man is an island.”

.

It is an unfortunate fact of life though, that through these relationships we can also get hurt. While hurts are normal, there are certain kinds of people that do this kind of thing intentionally. One of these kinds of people are cheaters. They lie and manipulate you to get what they want – and leave you picking up the pieces afterward. Cheaters are everywhere and can be anybody – a girlfriend, a ‘good friend’, or a business associate. Some people try to save the relationship, but trust us when we say that these kinds of relationships are not worth the effort. Sure, some do work out in the end, but those are few and far in-between – in the end, it serves you better and is less risk if you just walk away while you still can and as early as possible. It’s really just not worth it.

.

Many cases we’ve handled involve both a business and romantic / intimate side, as many scammers and fraudsters realize the value in combining the two. Many people face the problem of being cheated on and they themselves don’t know it yet. The whole experience of being cheated on is really a big issue that should be resolved immediately, as time only serves to make things worse. More often than you might think, cheating can be put to a stop and the relationship repaired, as long as it is nipped in the bud.

.

Sadly, trust is not something you can dispense with and distribute like the change in your pocket. It’s really important, and should not be given to anyone that easily. So always be careful with the people whom you trust and what you trust them with. One reader said it best: keep your cards close to your chest. Always leave something for yourself. Discipline yourself to be in control of your emotions, to have your head do the talking first before letting the heart consume everything.

.

Remember that while it may seem such a waste to let a relationship go, in the long run it will do you better to move on and realize that there will be future relationships where your trust will be well-deserved and you have better peace of mind. Now that will be a relationship worth any effort.

.

========

.

On a side note, if you have any suspicions you would like to have checked out, we recommend that you have a private investigator check it out. While we understand that you like to keep things discreet and private, but that might just lead to more trouble. We are a private investigation firm that prides itself in being not only one of the most established in Thailand, but also one of the most discreet. Rest assured that your cases and problems will be handled with the utmost sensitivity and discretion.

People go missing for various reasons, and there are times when cases we handle here at Thailand Investigation are of that sort of problem. Missing persons cases can really be exhaustive, challenging and also very uncertain, but we do our best. More often than not, the emotional stakes here are also much higher compared to other cases, and our clients will end up more disappoint should we fail to deliver. This is where skills, and experience as a private investigator kick in. All things considered though, it is one of the most rewarding experiences in our line of work.

.

I have more than several cases where I have been hired to find a missing child, a son or a daughter separated from his or her mother or father for a long time. Due to certain circumstances, the child and the parent are separated, but as with most parents, they can only endure being away from their child for so long. There are some who try doing it alone, making inquiries here and there, and sometimes they do succeed, but most often, they don’t. Sometimes those who succeed manage to do so in only a couple of months, or weeks even, if everything turns out right—but most a lot of times, when the length of the separation has been significant, it is hard to locate someone, especially when the people concerned have changed their homes or their jobs or their lifestyles. It is not common to see a searcher fail, discouraged by his lack of progress, overwhelmed by the various difficulties he has faced and those he still must face. Not all attempts succeed, even when a professional has taken the task. As I have said, it is a daunting task.

.

But as also mentioned, one with the best rewards. There are very few things in the world more heartwarming to see than a couple reunited, or a parent and child brought together again, their love renewed, their connection to each other restored. The feeling of reunion, after months or years of being apart, is truly beyond my limited vocabulary to describe to you. It is a deep and profound feeling of warmth you can only understand when you are there. Some cynics may point out that things like this are only a job for me; that is true in a sense, as I am professional although out the searching process, but I must protest that I am a human as well, and as such it is natural for me to empathize with this people, they may have paid me, but I am sure the service I have rendered for them is priceless. I daresay I would have done the same things had I been in their shoes, and had the person I hired succeeded, I would consider it money well spent.

.

It is not easy to understand what these people go through; I consider myself fortunate that I have not undergone the trials that they have gone through. I do not presume to know. I can only offer my humble services, and hope that at the end, there is a happy reunion.

One of the things we cannot emphasize enough when it comes to private investigations is the need for discretion. There is a reason why our profession is called “private investigations”. And the key word here is “PRIVATE”. Again, we cannot emphasize that enough. One of the main reasons why people enlist the services of private investigators is so delicate, complicated, or sensitive private matters remain private, away from other prying eyes and public documents (which is the case when you bring things to the regular authorities).

.

We believe, first and foremost, in helping our clients. More than a business, we believe that catering to what our clients need IS good business. And one of those needs is the need for privacy. Many amateur or newbie PIs commit the gravest mistakes in inadvertently (this is given the benefit of the doubt) compromising their client’s privacy. That is a big NO-NO in the way we do things. It is not an easy thing to protect a client’s privacy while trying to conduct an effective investigation.

.

We here at Thailand Investigation consider our discretion one of the best assets of our professional services. You may have all the modern gadgets and gizmos that help in investigations, but if you do not keep as low a profile as possible, you do a disservice to your client. If the client does not mind things getting out in the open, then that’s another matter altogether, but in our experience, the majority of our clients preferred a quiet solution to their problems and silent data gathering. It is THEIR problem and THEIR life anyway, and we always respect their privacy and their desire to be as hidden as possible.

.

We understand that many clients prefer to have any investigations done quietly and discreetly, most for personal reasons. This is why our default approach to any investigation is always to take the least noisy and attention grabbing methods to get the job done. The privacy of the client is one of the most important factors that we take into consideration whenever we undertake an investigation. It is bad enough that many clients are afraid to consult with agencies to resolve their problems because of the dilemma’s delicate nature, and we try our best to keep things as quiet as possible.

.

It is a very basic fact of the business that the private investigation business is a business built on trust. Clients come in and give away sensitive information, as well as hard earned money, to an agency to help them solve a particular problem. It may be finding a missing relative, catching a cheating spouse or girlfriend, doing background checks on business partners, or any other related job. Clients are always the ones who take the first step by trusting the agency and take whoever they hire by their word alone, as there are no government standards or certifications they can turn to. This is why it is essential for us to maintain our clients’ privacy – and this we are committed to doing, 100%.

A lot of problems we handle here at Thailand Investigation involve women. And in some cases, trouble could have been prevented if only the men saw what kind of women they were from the get go. There are several types of women whom you should avoid at all costs, because they’re just much more trouble than they are worth.

.

Girl #1: Baggage girl.

This girl quite a handful. While I’m sure many of you out there entertain the fantasies of being some sort of convoluted savior to a girl in trouble, it would do you well to mark these words – you are asking for trouble. I will admit that there are relationships that start out like this that turn out well, but that fairy tale ending doesn’t happen all the time. What if she’s involved with a violent gang or even with drugs? Relationships are hard enough to maintain with a normal woman, but adding all sorts of baggage into the mix will just complicate things further and make everything worse for YOU. Yes, you. You, because the girl will be constantly running to you and asking for your help. It’s going to be like running a marathon while carrying someone on your back – and the person you’re carrying is the participant, not you.

.

Girl #2: She’s all about the money

Okay, here’s the thing – girls are materialistic. But there’s a fine line between a girl who likes pretty things and a girl who’s just going to bleed your wallet dry. This woman has attached herself to you just because you have money to give her. That’s all you’re good for. Cut her spending, and she’ll throw tantrums like you’ve never heard, shut you out of the room, break your things, or even leave you. And chances are, she’s also cheating on you – since all she cares about is that thick wad of cash in your wallet.

.

Girl #3: Career cheater

There are girls who’ve been through boyfriend after boyfriend, and most times, these guys overlap – this is one sign of a habitual cheater. And believe us when we say that we here have seen enough grief over this to know that cheaters should never be tolerated. You should also know that there are going to be women, regardless of how faithful, caring or kind you are – rich even – will cheat on you. Some women just seem to have the creating gene built into their system – like many men – that they just can help but be unfaithful. Remember this rule: you catch her once, you can afford to forgive her, if you’re up to it. But catch her the second time, it only means that you made the wrong decision the first time around. Toss her out into the street – you don’t need a woman like this.

.

Girl #4: The “most important” girl in the world

Another woman that’s a pain to be with. They always want to be pampered and flattered, and they always want only the most expensive things. Why? Simply because it’s expensive. She’ll have you running to the nail salon AT ONCE if a nail breaks, or to the hairdresser or to the mall for the latest style she just saw five minutes ago. She doesn’t know how to do a thing in the house, and is completely useless, and lazy besides. Work is a word that does not exist in her vocabulary. They’ll always vie for attention, and it will not always be your attention they want.

There’s a bit of a misconception about private investigations: it’s an easy business to get into.

.

I’ve been in the business for a while now, and I can tell you that it isn’t easy at all. You might think it’s as simple as the kind of investigations you see on television shows or in the movies, but let me tell you right now that there is a lot more to it than the things you see on the surface.

.

Investigation isn’t easy – I cannot emphasize that enough. True, there are cases when you feel that things are going to be a walk in the park, but those kinds of cases are few and far in-between.

.

Sadly, this fact is lost on a lot of people, and a number of individuals have put up their own private investigation businesses with the assumption that it’s an easy and profitable business to do. The result? Many end up disenfranchising their clients and short changing them, in terms of the quality of their work. He have had countless clients come into our offices with some kind of bad experience from these hacks, who entice unwitting clients through their dirt cheap prices. Many try to hide themselves by not having a physical address – just a telephone number or an email.

.

It may be a bit too forward to say, “You get what you pay for,” but I’ll say it anyway. It’s something that needs to be said. Quality service requires that your PI, as well as the firm he or she represents, also have the right tools and skills – either of which is not cheap to procure – to get the job done, and done well.

.

And since Thailand does not require private investigators to procure a license or undergo any sort exam or test to establish qualifications, how are clients supposed to distinguish between a legitimate private investigator from someone who’s trying to pass himself as one? Who’s to say that the person you’re consulting with doesn’t know the first thing about investigating and doing background checks? Is he familiar with the territory? Is he discreet? Does he know what kind of questions to ask and who to talk to? Does he have the right connections?

.

It’s easy to let yourself get carried away by promises of quality work for dirt cheap prices, but we all know quality can’t be bargained with. There are people who can do the job well, and there are those who just try to copy the real thing.

.

Here at Thailand-Investigation.com, we are the real thing. I myself am a former police investigator for the Belgium police force, and am thus very knowledgeable regarding the various investigative techniques that only a person with prior police experience can have. I am used to dealing with people from all walks of life; I know what kind of questions to ask; I know what kind of information is useful, and what kind of information is not. My experience with the police also has given me insight into the criminal mind—which some cases require. I am familiar with the different kinds of modus operandi by both big or small-time crooks. And through the years I’ve spent here in Thailand, I’ve established a wide network of contacts that make for more efficient and accurate results.

It goes without saying that regardless of whatever business you are in, things can get really competitive at times. Business secrets, assets, and all sorts of information and data should always be closely guarded and protected to keep the business safe.

.

There are people today who take advantage of that competitive situation by engaging in corporate espionage and sabotage. It may sound a bit intimidating – the stuff of movies, if you will – but it does happen in real life. Even the smallest bit of information has a price, and because of the competition between companies and the amount of money that is ultimately involved, many people find it very lucrative to engage in such activities.

.

It really does not take a lot to infiltrate a company, really. Even electronically and digitally. A recent study by security experts say that a majority of companies around the world are not conscious of their internal security protocols to keep sensitive data safe, which makes it very easy for anyone with a specific set of skills to take advantage of. May it be financial information, marketing, and creative leads, and intellectual property – there is a lot at stake. One client we had approached us because they were having problems with people selling certain inside information about the company, which were making them lose millions of dollars’ worth of sales. They wanted an investigation done discreetly to find out what exactly was happening in the company and who were the culprits behind the whole scheme.

.

Of course, it was our computer monitoring system that put us on the right track, and we were able to trace who was involved, both in and out of the said business. One of the reasons why we were hired to assist in this problem was that since the incident involved information of a sensitive nature – at least to the company involved, we were counted on to be very discreet in the way we proceeded with the case. While a full blown investigation by company would have alerted the culprit and thus made it more difficult for us to find out who it was, a more discreet and quiet approach allowed us to capture perpetrator red handed, leaving no room for doubts and or excuses.

.

It is very important for any business to guard their information well, as misplaced sensitive information can be devastating to a company. In the hands of a person with the right skills, these data can be used to drive a business to the ground – to their profit, naturally. Which is why it is important for every business to take concrete steps to ensure that their computer systems are properly secured and protected.

.

With our computer monitoring software installed, you are always informed of what’s happening in your system. You are always appraised of how your employees are doing, and WHAT they’re doing. This software will help alert you if there is anything fishy going on, and you can catch the culprit red-handed while you’re at it.

A lot of times, many of our clients commit the simple mistake of not heeding and seeing the signs – of infidelity, of fraud or any other tell-tale sign – that things are going wrong (or that things may go wrong). Naturally, things do not work out for them, and the rest is history, repeated.

.

It’s sad, really, when we hear stories like this, sadder and more unfortunate, still, that it is hardly an uncommon experience. On the contrary, it is much more common than any of us like it to be. A harsh reality we must face in this kind of business. But few realize that something can always be done to prevent something bad from happening. In our business, one of the ways we like to think about ourselves are problem solvers and troubleshooters. We step in when there’s already trouble, when there is already a problem to solve or a dilemma to fix.

.

What we always tell people – personally or in the posts we have here on the website – is that there are always, ALWAYS, preventive measures that can be done to ensure that go a long way in stopping these kind of situations from happening, and one is always being alert and conscious of any suspicious things and warning signs.

.

Dishonesty

It might sound a bit obvious for the casual reader, but dishonesty is actually one of the most common things people let pass when it comes to any kind of relationship – many people seem to be more comfortable turning a blind eye to dishonesty and lack of sincerity rather than confronting the issue head on. It is always “something too trivial” to notice. But people should realize that confronting does not always necessitate a blatant and obvious confrontation – as there are many avenues (such as having background checks done) that can help you gain a better grasp of the situation before making any bigger decisions.

.

Manipulative behaviour

We’ve talked at length about the kinds of manipulative behaviour people use to take advantage of others, but many people still continue to allow themselves to be played and used as puppets in the hope that their suspicions may be wrong. But manipulation is actually a much bigger problem than dishonesty as oftentimes, this is consciously done one person to another – making it intentional and thereby implying that there are hidden motivations and reasons behind it; reasons that are usually unpleasant.

.

Bad behaviour in general

Again, seemingly somewhat obvious, but in reality much more difficult to notice or confront. We emphasize though, that it is important for people to differentiate between casual flaws and mistakes from consistent and constant bad behaviour.

.

HEED THE SIGNS. We can never say that enough. If you are in a bad relationship – business, professional, romantic, intimate, or whatnot – just opening your mind a bit more will help you see things in a more realistic light. Actually seeing these signs isn’t hard, but the difficulty lies in enabling yourself to have the mentality and mindset to see and accept these things as true and real possibilities you should always be on the lookout for. And always, bring professional help in when necessary.

Let us just say this up front: We really believe that Thailand is a wonderful country. We’ve been here for so many years, and we appreciate the warmth and the culture of the people here. However, nothing is perfect. We have had many clients that have found themselves disillusioned and lost because they became victims of some of the society’s lesser and baser elements.

.

What we always say is this: Practice caution. And not only with locals, but with everyone. In this business, we’d like to think we’ve seen every conceivable complication and loss and whatnot. We know what happens, and why it happens, and more often than not, it boils down to a simple but careless lack of caution.

.

This time around, we’d like to give a few tips on how you can begin a relationship here. Many plunge into things, with again, a saddening lack of caution. a lot men get blinded by to an extent that they fail to see that they’re being manipulated and led on for a ride by these women. Unbeknownst to them, they are simply “business opportunities” that will be used and then discarded when the benefits run out.

To help you clear your head, here are a few pointers that you might want to ponder on for a bit before plunging headlong into a serious relationship:

.

Never underestimate what people can do.

On the surface, she may seem to be a meek and mild mannered woman, but we kid you not, these women are not beyond manipulation, lying, and deceit. And on a positive note, there is really no reason to believe that these women are not intelligent and do not possess wits and wiles that can possibly be superior to yours. We hate to break it to you, but if they are indeed the unscrupulous types, they’ve been at this game far longer than you have and know the ins and outs of the game intimately.

.

Have the necessary background checks done.

It’s not always a guarantee that just because you’ve known the person for awhile, she can be trusted. Even if you both met in an ideal manner, it always pays off to do a background check. You never know what kind of skeletons your girl is hiding in her closet. This is especially needed if you plan on staring a business together. This can also tell you what kind of family she has (just in case she invokes her family when asking for money).

.

Always leave something for yourself.

Many men prefer to live false lives of fantasy, and go all out, not leaving anything for themselves. A lot of clients we’ve handled made the mistake of giving the girl credit cards, telling here the combination of the safe or even the PIN for his ATM card. Only when the whole thing comes crashing down – painfully, most often – do they say to themselves, “Why didn’t I think of that before?” or “I should have done this before.”

One of the most devastating ways many of our clients suffer comes from business scams. These days, many people are spending less and looking for different ways to use and invest their money. A lot of them are expats who have fallen in love with the country and the culture here in Thailand that they want to build a nest egg here so they can enjoy their retirement years here.

.

There is nothing wrong with that. Thailand is indeed a beautiful country and there is a lot here that appeals to people who want to retire – a lower standard of living, for one, that makes retirement funds last longer. Many of the people here are warm and great to be around with. There a lot of chances for long and lasting friendships and relationships and a very colorful culture that appeals to many who visit the country.

.

But when one decides to invest here in Thailand – or any other place in the world, for that matter – there should be a couple of things that one must take into consideration before forking out your hard earned money. It is always prudent to think things through and consider all the facts and information you have before going into an investment scheme. Here are some rudimentary tips that will help you make a more informed and empowered business decision:

.

1. Get as much information about the investment as you can.

The mistake many people make when it comes to investments is to trust the word of very few people. They allow themselves to be easily taken in by promises of big interest rates and fast return on investments. Investing money is much more than that – and you need to know all the factors that play into this particular investment before you commit your money.

.

2. Have background checks and investigations done.

ESPECIALLY when you are looking to invest a large amount of money, it is only practical that you enlist the services of a reputable private investigation agency to look into the background of the people as well as the scheme being presented to you. Has it been done before? Are the documents, papers and legalities in order? Are the people running the scheme trustworthy? These are just some of the questions you can answer once you ask a private investigation agency to look into things for you.

.

3. Recoup your initial investment first.

If you really do decide to put in money, always recoup your initial investment first. Some people will encourage you to keep adding money into the scheme to maximize your profits, but getting your initial investment back will ensure that if things go wrong, you still retain the original amount you put in, thereby minimizing your losses.

.

4. Have monitoring.

If you are starting a business yourself – one that requires offices – you need to have the proper monitoring software to ensure that everything is going according to your instructions. Especially if you aren’t in the office a lot, monitoring software will go a long way in enabling you to see what’s happening in your office real time and how your resources are being used and managed.

.

It is unfortunate that many people are unwitting victims of manipulation – but that is really what master manipulators do. They bend you to their will and make you do their bidding through them most subtle of ways – you not meant to notice it. You are just meant to follow and say yes. As is the case with many of the clients who’ve come to us for help – there is a lot of manipulation going on before the guillotine falls, so to speak. Only after they’ve gotten through the whole plethora of emotions of loss – financial and / or emotional – only then do they notice the signs that they should have seen way before.

.

Manipulation is an ugly thing, and it would do you well to stay away from people who like to practice the “art” – for lack of a better term.

.

One of the signs to look out for is lying. It’s an obviously a bad sign, but the real challenge here is to determine the truthfulness of your partner. A background check made against her claims is a very effective test to help you see if she can be trusted or not. Also try to give little honesty tests at the beginning of a relationship to see whether the person is trustworthy or not.

.

Another sign is when one is always on the offensive. Sometimes you feel it, and sometimes you don’t, but the basic point is that they never truly give in. This is called being passive-aggressive. There are the two types of aggression that they use – one is a passive approach while another is open aggression. Each has its own functions and uses. Open aggression is easy enough to distinguish, but passive aggression is much harder to distinguish. Oftentimes manipulators divert the conversation to focus on your weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Usually they disguise this aggression by pretending to be hurt or by giving subtle suggestions. The effect is that you don’t see you are being abused, and thus fall into their trap.

.

Another great way of misdirection that many manipulative people employ is to act dumb. For many people, the normal attitude would be to preserve pride and always appear to know better. It’s the reverse for manipulative people. This pride is precisely what manipulators capitalize on when they try to act dumb and appear to be less knowledgeable than they really are. This way, they become less suspicious because people normally dismiss them automatically. The dismissal in turn, gives the manipulator more freedom to do what she or she wants – covertly and discreetly – because no suspicion is cast on him or her.

.

One last thing – sex. Seduction is a powerful agent of manipulation, remember that. For many, seduction makes them forget about all their defences and simply give in. This is what wily manipulators are counting on. Sometimes they’re just teasing you and want to get what they want without necessarily giving you what you want, but it is also not unheard of some going all the way just to get what they want.