CONSULTING SERVICES

Because CHRIS MATHERS INC. provides a variety of law enforcement and intelligence related consulting services, the line between consulting and investigation is often obscured. But, whether you’re trying to identify a candidate for a Corporate Security position at your company, dealing with a money laundering compliance issue, or sweeping your office for bugs, CHRISMATHERS INC. has the expertise to guide you through unfamiliar territory.

MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE REVIEWS

Money laundering is an issue that often doesn’t get into the headlines, but is frequently associated with many of the major crimes we read about every day like fraud, drug trafficking, terrorist financing, human trafficking and financial market manipulation.

Some businesses in Canada have, surprisingly, ignored their obligation to adhere to the requirements of our anti-money laundering (AML) legislation.  This has resulted in significant penalties being assessed to them (some as high as $350,000 to date).  The regulations provide for higher penalties and possible jail time as well, but the cost to your business from loss of reputation may be incalculable.

At CHRIS MATHERS INC. we understand the legislative requirements applicable to your business.  We have substantial sector-specific experience to provide you with advice and guidance on how best to avoid becoming involved with money laundering or terrorist financing issues.  Our expertise is un-matched and includes both a law enforcement perspective and in-depth business experience. 

Our experts can help you ensure that your AML compliance regime is effective, assist you to structure your business to mitigate money laundering related risks in your day-to-day operations and keep you from running afoul of the law and regulators.  We can show you how to make proper risk assessments, carry out the required level of due diligence (or complete it for you if required) and properly document the results.  We can also train your Directors, Senior Management and staff to ensure each understands their respective compliance obligation. 

Keeping your AML policies, procedures and risk assessment up to date (as required by regulation) can be a daunting task.  Changing legislative requirements need to be managed on a timely basis to avoid possible penalties.

In Canada, the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (“PCMLTFA”) sets out specific compliance requirements for registrants and others required to establish an AML compliance regime. The PCMLTFA is administered by The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).  In addition, certain sectors have additional compliance requirements set out by OSFI, IIROC and other SRO’s.

Those businesses required to comply with the PCMLTFA and other relevant AML regulations include:

 Financial Entities

Securities Dealers (including investment advisor, portfolio manager, etc.)

Money Services Businesses

Life Insurance Companies

Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones

Casinos

Accountants

Real estate (including brokers, sales reps and developers)

British Columbia Notaries

Agents of the Crown that Sell or Redeem Money Orders

A proper AML compliance regime must include each of the following:

1. The appointment of a compliance officer.
2. The development and application of written compliance policies and procedures.
3. The assessment and documentation of risks of money laundering and terrorist financing, and measures to mitigate high risks.
4. Implementation and documentation of an ongoing compliance training program.
5. A documented review of the effectiveness of policies and procedures, training program and risk assessment.

The PCMLTFA requires that you have an independent review of your AML compliance regime at least every two years.  CHRISMATHERS INC. regularly conducts these compliance reviews for our clients. We have a comprehensive review program to help you ensure you are employing AML best practices in your business.

Penalties for non-compliance are steep. In addition, the best way to safeguard your business from becoming inadvertently entangled in money laundering or terrorist financing is to know your clients, properly assess your risks, train your employees and have an effective, up to date AML compliance policy and risk assessment.

FINTRAC has the authority to issue administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) in response to non-compliance with the PCMLTFA and related regulations. FINTRAC makes information about AMPs public on its website at http://www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca. The administrative penalties for non-compliance with the PCMLTFA range up to $100,000 for and individual and $500,000 for an entity for each offence and the possible penalties for your firm’s senior officers range up to $2,000,000, five years in prison or both.

You and your firm could also be subject to review of your AML compliance regime by OSFI, provincial securities regulators or your SRO’s.  You should know your industry-specific requirements and ensure your policy and procedures reflect them.

CHRIS MATHERS INC. provides a full range of corporate risk management services including independent AML compliance reviews, AML compliance training and advice to properly structure your AML compliance regime.

With substantial investigative skills and first-hand experience within many business sectors, we are well positioned to handle all of your regulatory and corporate risk management requirements including those related to AML compliance.

If you would like a confidential consultation, please contact info@chrismathers.com

PHYSICAL SECURITY REVIEWS: WHAT ARE THE RISKS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION?

In a post 9/11 world, the safety and security of employees and the protection of assets have become a major preoccupation for corporations.

Whether doing business domestically or overseas, organizations need to ensure that their existing security measures afford maximum protection while at the same time having a minimal impact on day-to-day business operations.

CHRIS MATHERS INC. has experienced professionals who can assist you in all areas of corporate security consulting by providing threat, risk and vulnerability assessments, as well as security recommendations.

External Security

CHRISMATHERS INC. can provide a security review or survey to evaluate your current security systems and recommend improvements. This evaluation will include a thorough examination of your grounds, buildings, lobbies, perimeter boundaries, gates and protective lighting.

We can also examine your monitoring systems to ensure their effectiveness and will make recommendations for improvement.

In addition, we can develop a security package that includes recommendations on integrated access/egress systems, intrusion detection, closed circuit video monitoring, fencing, lighting, parking and traffic control.

Internal Security

We can assess the adequacy of locks, alarms, access controls and other security measures to protect sensitive documents and information technology.

Your computer security, electronic mail and voice mail systems can also be evaluated to ensure they are secure from internal or external tampering.

Business Resumption Planning

Recommendations for disaster recovery, contingency and emergency planning can be provided. In addition, we can develop and implement plans appropriate for your organization's special needs.

Loss Prevention

We can conduct a risk assessment and develop counter-measures and policies to reduce internal and external theft.

Personal Security

Your organization's personnel security measures will be evaluated to determine whether employees are safe from external threats such as disgruntled employees or upset customers.

We can develop and implement awareness programs, employee screening methods and executive protection at office and home. 

SECURITY MANAGEMENT

CHRIS MATHERS INC. can assess all current security services and will assist with: 

• Selection of candidates for the corporate security role
• Management of security services
• Development of policies and procedures
• Security awareness programs
• Training of security personnel 

NOTE: It is our position that in order to provide an objective security review, clients’ interests are better served if the organization performing the review does not sell any type of security equipment.

Once our review is completed, we will assist in the preparation of the required tender documents and recommend contractors that we know to be reliable and qualified. The choice of contractor is the responsibility of the client.

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTING

In a world where computer crime, fraud and theft are commonplace, the requirement for professional, competent compliance or security professionals has become an important issue for corporations.

The challenge for Human Resources professionals is identifying the appropriate individual for the role. Typically, candidates for these types of positions are difficult to assess since their former employers are often restricted by statute from providing anything more than a confirmation of employment.

At CHRIS MATHERS INC., we specialize in assisting corporations seeking candidates for positions in a variety of security related disciplines such as:

• Investigations
• Computer forensics  
• Research and analysis (Intelligence)
• Compliance
• Money Laundering
• Risk Management
• Physical security
• Loss prevention
• Personal Protection

FILM AND TELEVISION CONSULTING

CHRIS MATHERS INC. has consulted on feature film, documentary and television on a wide variety of subjects relating to law enforcement, crime, terrorism, and espionage.

CHRIS MATHERS INC. can provide consultants in most countries that can assist in pre-production, story consulting and location & studio filming.

We provide specific consulting expertise that adds realism and credibility to any production.

ELECTRONIC COUNTER-MEASURES EXAMINATIONS (SWEEPING)

The American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) has estimated that US companies are losing as much as $1 billion per month from espionage activities conducted against them by foreign intelligence agencies.

In Canada, there have been numerous examples of Canadian companies being victims of espionage activity. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has stated that ''certain foreign governments direct their departments, state-owned corporations and intelligence services to engage in economic espionage against Canada''.

But corporations are not only at risk from foreign espionage. Domestic spying by competitors, unethical private investigators and sometimes your own staff can place your company’s intellectual property at risk.

In the past, high technology eavesdropping devices were very expensive and only available to government spies. Today, sophisticated electronic surveillance equipment is available at many retail electronic stores.

CHRIS MATHERS INC. can conduct an expert examination of your office, home, telephone systems, computer networks and vehicles to detect the presence of illegal eavesdropping devices.

An examination typically begins with a physical inspection of the suspect locations. This examination is typically followed by a wide spectrum sweep for radio frequency (RF) transmitters. When required, more sophisticated detection techniques are employed to detect the presence of more esoteric technologies.

Some realities about electronic surveillance

If you are losing information and you suspect that you are the victim of an electronic surveillance operation, chances are that you are wrong. The reality is that most information that is stolen from companies is stolen by people, not through the use of technology. Mounting an electronic surveillance operation against an organization is extremely expensive and labor-intensive. Bribing or extorting an employee is a much more cost-effective method of stealing secrets.

An electronic surveillance professional can only guarantee that a location is free of technical surveillance equipment at the time that the examination is conducted and the location is secured. Once a location is unsecured, it can no longer be considered free of devices.

If you suspect that there are electronic surveillance devices present at a location, DO NOT contact us from that location. Contact us from a secure “land line” telephone.

If you are involved in criminal activity, you may be the subject of a lawful interception of your private communications by the police or intelligence services. Our consultants are former law enforcement officers and they are able to determine if a device was installed by the police or a government agency. If they encounter such a device on your premises, WE WILL NOT DISCLOSE THE EXISTENCE OF THE DEVICE TO YOU.