The count of discreet interviews varies based on the subject, scope, and jurisdiction. The general range is between 3-5 interviews.

We utilize investigators with a background in journalism, law enforcement, or intelligence who are closely linked to the region or industry of interest to conduct discreet interviews.

Our process is double blind: the investigator is privy to subject details and which information the client is seeking, but is never told who the end client is, meaning interviewees have no way of learning who commissioned the research. At the same time, we provide clients with a general characterization of our sources without disclosing their identities.

We also carefully select interviewees who are close enough to the subject to provide meaningful, informed answers, but sufficiently removed from their inner circle to eliminate the risk of anything being reported back.

No. Unlike reference checks, where contacts are referred directly by the subject, discreet interviews are conducted with independently sourced individuals who are knowledgeable about the subject and can speak to their character and track record. Because these sources have no direct stake in the outcome, this approach tends to yield more candid, unbiased feedback.

No, we do not conduct discreet interviews to support pre-employment background checks.

Discreet inquiries can uncover red flags that are not captured by public records, giving you a fuller picture of a subject’s industry reputation, past performance, and business or management competencies before a major decision like an investment, IPO, or Board appointment.

They are especially valuable when a company or its principals operate in jurisdictions where public records are unreliable or corruption is prevalent, making human intelligence the most dependable source of insight. Discreet interviews also provide critical context around adverse information that has already surfaced in public record checks or that clients have independently become aware of, helping to assess its true significance.

Our investigator network extends to most countries in the world, except for US-sanctioned jurisdictions: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, and the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions of Ukraine.