International fraud investigation — cross-border cooperation

International fraud: when money disappears across borders

In a globalised economy, fraud does not stop at national borders. Criminals exploit international corporate structures, foreign bank accounts and complex financial constructions to cover their tracks and place assets beyond the reach of creditors and law enforcement. For victims — whether businesses, lawyers or individuals — tracing missing assets abroad is one of the most frustrating and complex challenges.

Europol reports that cross-border financial crime is one of the priorities on the European security agenda. The amounts extracted annually from the legitimate economy via international fraud run into the billions. Despite intensive cooperation between law enforcement agencies, a large proportion of this fraud remains unpunished, partly due to jurisdictional differences and limited capacity.

A professional asset tracing investigation with international reach can make the difference. By mapping assets abroad, concrete leads emerge for attachment, recovery or criminal prosecution.

Common forms of international fraud

International fraud manifests in various forms. The following patterns occur most frequently in Dutch practice:

• Advance fee fraud where victims pay fees for a promised reward that never arrives
• International investment fraud via offshore platforms with false licence claims
• Trade-based fraud through manipulated invoicing or fictitious trade flows
• Bankruptcy fraud with assets transferred to foreign entities before insolvency
• Identity fraud by criminals abroad posing as partners, lawyers or authorities

Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre, notes that the Netherlands is a frequent target for fraudsters operating from the United Kingdom and vice versa, partly due to the intensive trade relations between both countries.

The challenges of international investigation

Tracing assets and perpetrators across borders brings specific challenges:

• Jurisdictional differences in legal systems, limitation periods and enforcement
• Banking secrecy in jurisdictions where account holder data is hard to obtain
• Complex multi-layered corporate structures with nominee directors and trusts
• Language and cultural barriers affecting local legal and business customs
• Higher time and cost demands compared to domestic procedures

How SAJ Recherche conducts international investigation

At SAJ Recherche, we have the experience and network to conduct international asset tracing and fraud investigation effectively.

• International asset investigation via foreign registers and property databases
• Corporate structure analysis to identify ultimate beneficial owners across jurisdictions
• International network of trusted local partners with jurisdictional expertise
• OSINT with international scope across media, social media and corporate databases
• Reporting prepared for both Dutch and foreign proceedings

All work is conducted under POB licence 8779 and in compliance with the Wpbr and GDPR.

Practical example: trade fraudster traced via foreign property

A Dutch manufacturer paid a substantial sum to a foreign trade partner for raw materials that were never delivered; the business address proved to be a virtual office. SAJ Recherche analysed the trade partner’s corporate structure and discovered a network of entities in three countries, all registered to the same director. Our asset investigation revealed this director owned multiple properties in Southern Europe through one of those entities, and social media analysis confirmed his current whereabouts. With our report, the manufacturer’s lawyer seized the foreign property via a European procedure and filed a civil claim for recovery.

Do not let assets simply disappear across borders

International fraud is complex but not unsolvable. With the right expertise and network, it is often possible to trace assets and create recovery opportunities.

Facing international fraud or seeking assets abroad? Contact SAJ Recherche for a confidential consultation.