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Ecuador’s Financial Crime Investigation Techniques: A Closer Look

As Ecuador continues to crack down on financial crimes, investigators are employing a range of techniques to gather evidence and build cases against perpetrators. At the heart of these efforts is the creation of a subject profile, which provides a comprehensive overview of the target individual or entity.

Creating a Subject Profile

A thorough subject profile should include information such as:

• Name, date and place of birth, copies of birth certificates, passports, and national identity cards.
• Names and dates of birth for spouses, children, parents, new partners, siblings, and immediate relatives.
• Relevant contact details, such as phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses.
• Recent photographs and government-issued identification.
• Fingerprint cards.
• Results of criminal record searches.
• Academic records, employment history, and association memberships.
• Public-source search results using internet search engines, social media sites, local and international media reports, and libraries.

Securing Admissible Evidence

As investigators gather more information on targets, they must also ensure that reliable, admissible evidence is secured for trial. This may involve collecting financial data, including:

• Assets and liabilities.
• Income and expenses.
• Gathering documents from a range of sources, including government agencies, financial institutions, law firms, and real estate agents.

Open-Source Information

The use of open-source information is another critical component of Ecuador’s financial crime investigation techniques. Open-source information refers to publicly available data that can be gathered through legal means, including:

• Official public records, such as incorporation or birth certificates.
• Private databases, including property and credit reports.
• Civil litigation and probate proceedings.
• Corporate registrations and filings.
• Patent and trademark applications.
• Nonprofit organization registrations.
• Tax filings and retirement plan information.

Categories of Open-Source Information

Some categories of open-source information used in Ecuador’s financial crime investigations include:

• Official public records, such as incorporation or birth certificates.
• Private databases, including property and credit reports.
• Civil litigation and probate proceedings.
• Corporate registrations and filings.
• Patent and trademark applications.
• Nonprofit organization registrations.
• Tax filings and retirement plan information.

Conclusion

By combining these techniques, Ecuador’s financial crime investigators are able to gather comprehensive evidence and build strong cases against perpetrators. As the country continues to strengthen its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) efforts, these investigation techniques will play a critical role in disrupting criminal networks and protecting the integrity of the financial system.