Duplicate vendor payments, missing inventory, or a reimbursement claim that does not match its receipts can point to an honest mistake or to a pattern someone is hiding. Personal Protection Solutions provides fraud investigation services that turn those concerns into a documented, evidence-based account your leadership team, attorney, or insurer can act on.
Fraud matters are handled by the investigative services team at PPS, a veteran-owned protection and investigations firm based in the Baltimore area. We work with companies, family offices, and individuals across Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and seven more states, and we can start quickly when records are at risk of being lost.
What Our Fraud Investigation Services Cover
Fraud rarely announces itself. It usually shows up as a small discrepancy that keeps coming back. Each assignment starts with one defined question, such as who approved a changed bank account or why inventory counts keep falling short, and expands only when the evidence supports it.
Internal and employee fraud
Expense and reimbursement schemes, payroll irregularities, fictitious vendors, and misuse of company cards. We review authorized records and approval chains to show how each transaction moved through your organization.
Vendor and procurement fraud
Changed remittance details, inflated invoices, duplicate billing, and kickback concerns tied to a supplier or contractor. We compare invoices, purchase orders, and delivery records to find where they stop matching.
Inventory and asset loss
Recurring shrinkage at a warehouse, construction site, or distribution facility. When a loss points to a physical security gap, findings can be paired with our asset protection services to close it.
Fraud affecting individuals and families
Suspected misuse of a family member’s accounts, unauthorized transactions, or questionable requests involving a household employee or advisor. These matters call for discretion, and we handle them with the same care we bring to protective details for high-net-worth clients.
How a Fraud Investigation Works at PPS
Our process is built to stand up to review by counsel, insurers, and auditors. A typical engagement follows these steps:
- Scoping call: we define the concern, the records you are authorized to share, who receives updates, and a budget.
- Records review: invoices, approval logs, correspondence, transaction histories, and access records are organized into a timeline.
- Pattern testing: we rule out ordinary explanations, such as bookkeeping errors or misdelivered shipments, before treating a discrepancy as misconduct.
- Interviews and field work: when appropriate, and only after the records are understood, so an early conversation does not narrow the inquiry.
- Written findings: a clear report that separates what the evidence shows from what remains uncertain, with sources and methods documented.
Our investigators work within the law. We do not access accounts, devices, or property without authorization, and PPS works with properly licensed investigators and complies with the regulations in each state where an assignment takes place.
When to Hire a Fraud Investigator
Consider bringing in an outside investigator when:
- Discrepancies continue after a routine accounting review
- The suspected activity involves a senior manager, long-tenured employee, or trusted vendor
- Your internal team lacks the time or independence to look into it objectively
- An audit finding, whistleblower report, or insurance claim needs documented follow-up
- Losses are growing and records may be overwritten or discarded
If funds or accounts may be compromised right now, contact your bank or platform provider first to secure them, and consider reporting consumer fraud to the Federal Trade Commission. For a broader look at internal inquiries, see our guide to corporate investigations.
Why Clients Choose Personal Protection Solutions
PPS was founded by Christopher Quirk, a U.S. Army veteran with 18 years of service and more than 500 executive protection details. That background shapes how we handle fraud matters: careful planning, discretion, and a clear chain of documentation. You can learn more about our founder and team.
You work with a direct point of contact rather than a chain of departments, and our team is available 24/7 for urgent concerns. Our pricing is typically lower than large national firms, and when a fraud review uncovers wider exposure, we can also support a broader security risk assessment of your controls and procedures.
Fraud Investigation FAQs
Yes. We review the expense reports, receipts, card statements, and approval records you are authorized to share, then determine whether the pattern is isolated or recurring. An allegation alone does not establish wrongdoing, so we test ordinary explanations first and document findings in a form your HR team and attorney can review before any employment decision.
Usually not. An early confrontation can lead to deleted records, altered files, or an explanation that shifts to match what you already know. Preserve the original documents, limit who knows about the concern, and speak with counsel or management first. We can talk through the timing of any conversation during your initial consultation.
We investigate and document the facts, but we do not recover funds directly. Recovery depends on actions taken by banks, insurers, law enforcement, or your attorney, and a well-organized investigative report can support those efforts. We cannot promise repayment, but we will give you a clear account of what happened and where the evidence leads.
We document sources and methods so findings can be reviewed by attorneys, insurers, and authorities. Whether a court admits specific evidence is decided by the court, not the investigator. If litigation is likely, involve your attorney early so the scope and documentation are built around the needs of your case from the start.
Yes. PPS is based in the Baltimore area and supports clients in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, and North Carolina. Investigator requirements differ by state, and we confirm the right approach for your location during scoping. You can view all the areas we serve.