Fraud can take many forms.

A person may discover that money has disappeared, a business transaction was misrepresented, someone used a false identity, an online relationship became a financial scam, or a trusted individual may have provided misleading information.

In other cases, the problem begins with a scam involving a fake business, investment opportunity, online relationship, financial transaction, identity, or impersonation.

DBM Private Investigator, LLC provides professional fraud and scam investigations for individuals, attorneys, businesses, families, and organizations throughout California.

Based in Irvine, DBM investigates fraud and scam matters throughout Orange County, including situations involving Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Laguna Beach, and surrounding communities.

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, the first priority is preserving information and understanding what actually happened.

DBM can conduct an independent investigation to help identify:

• Who was involved
• How the individual or business represented themselves
• Where the person or business is located
• Whether identities or information appear to have been misrepresented
• Business affiliations
• Property and ownership information
• Relevant public records
• Online and social-media information
• Potential associates or related individuals
• Other investigative leads

An investigation cannot guarantee that lost money will be recovered. Its purpose is to develop facts, identify people and relationships, and document investigative findings that may assist the client, attorney, business, or appropriate authorities.

Scams can involve individuals, businesses, online relationships, financial transactions, and impersonation.

The Irvine Police Department specifically provides reporting resources for fraud and identity theft and publishes scam-prevention information for the community.

DBM can investigate the circumstances surrounding suspected scams involving:

• Online scams
• Investment scams
• Romance scams
• Business scams
• Financial scams
• Identity-related fraud
• Impersonation scams
• Fake businesses
• Fraudulent transactions
• Real-estate-related fraud
• Employment scams
• Contractor or service scams
• Internet fraud
• Check and payment scams
• Asset-related fraud
• Other suspected fraudulent activity

The FTC continues to report significant losses associated with scams and fraud. In 2025, consumers reported losing $3.5 billion to imposter scams alone, with impersonators posing as businesses, financial institutions, government agencies, and other trusted entities.

Investment scams can involve sophisticated representations concerning businesses, real estate, cryptocurrency, financial opportunities, or purported investments.

DBM can investigate available information concerning:

• The individual promoting the opportunity
• Business entities
• Corporate affiliations
• Addresses
• Professional backgrounds
• Business ownership
• Related individuals
• Property
• Public records
• Online representations
• Other investigative leads

The investigation can help establish a factual picture of the individuals and entities involved.

Some scams develop through relationships.

An individual may establish contact through social media, dating platforms, messaging applications, or other online channels before eventually requesting money, investments, personal information, or financial assistance.

DBM can investigate available information concerning the person behind the identity, including:

• Identity information
• Location information
• Employment and business affiliations
• Property information
• Online presence
• Associated individuals
• Business relationships
• Other investigative leads

The FTC has reported increased losses associated with romance scams and continues to warn consumers about individuals who build relationships before requesting money.

Businesses can be victims of fraud by employees, vendors, customers, partners, contractors, competitors, or outside individuals.

DBM can investigate matters involving:

• Misrepresentation
• Business identity fraud
• Employee-related fraud
• Vendor fraud
• False business information
• Financial deception
• Business partner concerns
• Corporate affiliations
• Asset-related issues
• Online business scams
• Due diligence concerns

Investigations can be structured for business owners, corporate counsel, attorneys, and organizations.

Fraudsters may impersonate individuals, businesses, financial institutions, government agencies, or other trusted organizations.

DBM can investigate suspected impersonation by examining available information concerning the identity, communications, business relationships, addresses, online activity, and other relevant investigative leads.

DBM works with attorneys and law firms that need independent investigative support in fraud-related matters.

Services may include:

• Subject identification
• Locate investigations
• Background investigations
• Witness location
• Witness interviews
• Business investigations
• Asset investigations
• Hidden asset investigations
• Corporate research
• Property research
• Online investigative research
• Timeline development
• Investigative documentation

DBM can work directly with counsel to address specific investigative objectives.

Fraud investigations sometimes overlap with asset investigations.

When money or property is involved, DBM may investigate potential leads concerning:

• Real estate
• Business interests
• Corporate ownership
• Property
• Asset transfers
• Business affiliations
• Associated individuals
• Other publicly available ownership information

These services can be coordinated with DBM's Hidden Asset Investigations and High-Net-Worth & Asset Investigations.

If you believe you have been scammed, preserve all available evidence.

This may include:

• Emails
• Text messages
• Phone numbers
• Bank records
• Payment information
• Contracts
• Invoices
• Websites
• Social-media profiles
• Screenshots
• Advertisements
• Names and aliases
• Business information
• Cryptocurrency transaction information
• Other communications

Do not delete or alter potentially relevant information.

Depending on the circumstances, reporting the matter to the appropriate law-enforcement or regulatory agency may also be appropriate. The FTC accepts fraud reports through ReportFraud.ftc.gov and uses reports to identify patterns and support investigations.

DBM's role is to conduct an independent private investigation and document investigative findings. DBM does not act as law enforcement and cannot guarantee recovery of lost funds.

DBM brings more than 25 years of investigative experience, including federal investigative experience, to complex investigations.

Fraud and scam investigations often require more than searching a name in a database.

DBM combines investigative research, locating resources, records research, interviews, and other lawful investigative methods when appropriate.

When fraud involves money, property, businesses, or ownership interests, DBM can incorporate asset and ownership research into the investigation.

DBM works with attorneys and law firms requiring professional investigative support for civil and criminal matters.

DBM is based in Irvine and investigates fraud and scam matters throughout Orange County and California.

Your information is kept strictly confidential and is never shared with third parties.

DBM Private Investigator, LLC is based in Irvine and provides fraud and scam investigations throughout California, including:

Irvine
Newport Beach
Orange County
Los Angeles
San Diego
La Jolla
And surrounding California communities

DBM can also coordinate investigations outside California when appropriate.

Yes. A private investigator can conduct lawful investigative research to identify individuals, businesses, locations, relationships, assets, witnesses, and other relevant information.

Yes. DBM can investigate available information concerning online identities, businesses, websites, communications, and associated individuals.

DBM can investigate the available facts and develop information concerning the person or entity involved. Recovery of funds cannot be guaranteed.

Yes. DBM can investigate individuals, businesses, affiliations, ownership information, representations, and other relevant investigative leads.

Yes. DBM can conduct investigative research concerning the identity and background of an individual involved in a suspected romance scam.

Yes. DBM provides investigative services directly to attorneys and law firms.

Fraud and scams can leave victims with unanswered questions:

Who was really behind it?

Where are they now?

What information was misrepresented?

Who else was involved?

Where did the money or property go?

DBM Private Investigator, LLC provides professional fraud and scam investigations designed to identify people, develop investigative leads, document facts, and provide clients and attorneys with information they can evaluate.

949-422-5617
DBMPI.com

When the truth matters, experience matters.