My name is Mark Fenton and I specialize in investigating online crimes. I am a Senior Investigator at Haywood Hunt & Associates Inc. I oversee and manage the OSINT Intelligence Division focusing on anything related to the Internet; background checks, locating individuals, corporate due diligence and personal online safety.
I was formerly a Detective with the Vancouver Police Department and spent my last 12 years investigating computer crime for the Technological Crimes Unit. As well as investigating online fraud I assisted with homicides, gang activity, extremist groups and spousal abuse. I was also tasked with training other police officers in the use, and investigation, of online files.
I have been declared a court expert in social media. I have my Masters in Criminal Justice and currently train other investigators right across Canada. I have been a licensed private investigator for the previous 5 years and only investigate online crime if it can be done in the real world it can be done online.
But We Only Make Widgets
I have presented to many business people and organizations and the most common question I receive is, “Why would we be a target of online attacks”? There are many reasons; corporate espionage, your competitors, fraud, theft of customer and vendor information and the most common reason ransomeware (the theft of your data for monetary gain).
Foreign actors continually target Canadian businesses for economic gain. They constantly probe your website looking for a way in, they monitor your employee’s online activity for personal information (for targeted phishing attacks) and they watch employment sites to see what positions you are hiring for (and apply).
Most businesses outsource cleaning companies. When do cleaning companies work? After everyone has left. What areas of the office do they have access to? Everywhere. How much do they make? Minimum wage. Conducting proper due diligence on the businesses you outsource to is one of your first lines of defense.
According to a 2020 CNBC article 78% of job seekers lie during the hiring process (https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/19/how-many-job-seekers-lie-on-their-job-application.html).
Conducting a proper employee background check can save you, your employees and your business from potential lawsuits. It’s easy to deceive on a piece of paper, but the Internet often tells a different story.
At Haywood Hunt & Associates Inc. we can offer the necessary due diligence to protect you, your employees and your business. Contact us today for a free consultation.
