Know Your Investment
Don’t Let Investment Fraud Steal Your Profits. Secure Your Future with Checks & Traces.
$4.57 billion
38%
$726 million
Generic, automated investment due diligence is not enough. Fraudsters use sophisticated methods to bypass them.

Trusted by leading Organisations

What Our Investment Screening Provides
Our Comprehensive KYI Due Diligence Framework
Corporate & Legal Verification
Financial & Reputational Vetting
Digital & Offshore Analysis
Investment Verification
Investment Verification
Management & Reputation Analysis
Management & Reputation Analysis
Corporate Registration Review
Corporate Registration Review
Corporate Structure Analysis
Corporate Structure Analysis
Adverse Media Review
Adverse Media Review
Ownership & Control Review
Ownership & Control Review
Political Exposure Check
Political Exposure Check
Litigation History
Litigation History
Sanctions Screening
Sanctions Screening
Know Your Investment
Verify investment opportunities before committing capital. Our investment due diligence investigates companies, leadership, ownership structures, and reputational risks to identify potential fraud indicators and hidden risks behind investment offers.
Get Started in 5 Simple Steps
1. Initial Consultation & Scope Definition
Our process begins with a confidential consultation to understand your investment thesis, risk appetite, and specific areas of concern. This allows us to define the precise scope of the due diligence required.
2. Intelligence Gathering & Analysis
Our expert analysts deploy a multi-jurisdictional approach, using advanced systems to discreetly investigate the investment. We conduct a thorough evaluation of its corporate structure, principals, and financial reputation.
3. Delivery of Strategic Intelligence Report
Within 7 business days, you’ll receive a detailed report containing all verified data, our risk assessment, and actionable intelligence, highlighting key findings and potential red flags with a clear recommendation.
4. Decision Support & Strategic Context
We don’t just deliver a report; we provide clarity. Our team is available to discuss the findings and provide the strategic context needed to empower your final, confident investment decision.
At Checks & Traces, Data Ethics is a core principle. Our checks are purposefully developed to provide crucial insights for our clients to make informed decisions while protecting the integrity of all involved parties, including people and companies being screened.
Our General Manager, James Smith, specialised in Data Ethics and Privacy Protection as a member of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking and the Unit for the Ethics of Technology at Stellenbosch University. James is certified in Research Ethics Evaluation with TRREE and ensures all screenings are compliant with international data protection and ethical standards.
Checks & Traces has a zero tolerance for the misuse of our services. Any attempts to use our services for illegitimate purposes, such as doxxing, harassment, or extortion are quickly identified and reported to the relevant authorities.
Ethical Screening, Always.
Click Click vs. Checks and Traces
“Click-click” is used in the intelligence industry to describe automated intelligence investigations that produce reports without human analysis.
At Checks & Traces, we believe in the power of human expertise. While we leverage advanced technology and vast global databases, our employee screenings are always conducted, verified, and interpreted by skilled analysts.
Our team of experts, trained in open-source intelligence and cyber investigations, meticulously assesses candidates to uncover key risk indicators. We go beyond data to deliver comprehensive and contextual insights.
| Features | Click-Click | Checks and Traces |
|---|---|---|
| Human Analysis | No | Yes |
| Design Expertise | Coders | Corporate Security Experts |
| Check Focus | Generic Database Queries | Targeted Risk Indicators |
| Compliance | Minimum Requirements | Enhanced & Meaningful Insights |
| Outcome | Ticks a Box | Mitigates Risks & Protects Your Business |
Questions? We have all the answers.
Investing in a financial advisor or a new opportunity can be exciting, but it’s important to do your due diligence. KYI checks provide peace of mind for investors at all levels, including individual investors, venture capitalists, fund managers, and consultants. These checks help ensure the legitimacy of your advisor or investment, minimising the risk of fraud and avoidable problems.
Yes. Our investigations can examine companies and individuals operating across multiple jurisdictions. We use global data sources and investigative techniques to assess investment opportunities beyond a single country.
We combine human expertise with advanced AI to ensure a thorough investigation. Our analysts use cutting-edge technology to uncover critical insights that automated systems or analysts alone might miss, providing a comprehensive and accurate risk assessment.
To start the process, we typically require the name of the company or individual involved in the investment opportunity. Additional details such as website links, investment materials, company registration numbers, or known associates can help guide the investigation.
The report outlines verified corporate information, ownership structures, key individuals associated with the investment, and any identified risk indicators. It may also highlight reputational concerns, litigation history, or other findings relevant to assessing the legitimacy of the opportunity.
Absolutely. We adhere to all legal standards and conduct our checks with the utmost respect for client confidentiality. Our General Manager, James Smith, with a Master’s in Data Ethics, oversees all processes to ensure they meet the highest ethical standards.
Our investigation focuses on red flags specific to investment fraud, including verifying company registration and litigation history, identifying offshore holdings, checking for sanctions or adverse media, and analysing the investment’s digital assets for forensic scam indicators.
Most investigations are completed within 7-10 business days, depending on the complexity of the company structure, the jurisdictions involved, and the amount of publicly available information.
The dedicated Checks & Traces support team is here to assist you. If you have any questions or concerns about your report, please contact us at info@checksandtraces.com. We will address your inquiries promptly and work to resolve any issues.
No. Our investigations rely on discreet open-source intelligence methods and database analysis. The individuals or organisations being investigated are not contacted or alerted during the process.
Absolutely! We take pride in the quality of our work. You can download a sample report here to see the level of detail and insights we provide.
Checks & Traces is powered by the expertise of Futurum Risk, a team of corporate security and cyber investigation specialists. Connect with our leadership team, James Ellender and James Smith, on LinkedIn to learn more about their extensive experience in the field.
Download Sample Report
Enter your details below to download a sample report. We won’t share your information with any third parties.
Checks and Traces has access to over 3000+ data sources
Customer Reviews


Related Products
Related products
FAQs
Who are Checks & Traces
Checks & Traces is a team of highly trained intelligence professionals trained at a government standard to utilise powerful machine learning, web scraping, and AI tools to gather targeted information globally.
How long has the company been around?
Checks & Traces is a branch of Futurum Global, a risk and intelligence company serving governments and multinationals for over a decade. Developed to offer direct-to-customer intelligence services, Checks & Traces makes it easier for individuals and companies to access targeted information on demand.
Are these checks legal?
Absolutely. Our checks are entirely legal. We are intelligence experts collecting open-source information and analysing it to highlight legitimate concerns.
Can I do these checks myself?
No. We use various proprietary tools, databases, covert profiles, hidden devices, and operating systems, along with government-level trained investigators to identify information and concerns. You could probably service your own car, but it’s often best to leave it to the professionals.
How long until I get my report?
Typically, we deliver a comprehensive report within 7 working days, depending on complexity. If something concerning arises, additional time may be needed to verify findings.
What if I'm not happy with my report?
We invest in powerful data collection and analysis tools and provide extensive training to our team. If you believe we’ve missed something, we’ll conduct further investigation into your concerns.
