Tag Archive for: adultery

Costa Rica Private Investigators are Significantly Different

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The difference

 

Costa Rica Private Investigators are significantly different from their American counterparts. For international investigations, i.e., those in Costa Rica are unique from those in the United States. Private investigations in the United States differ from those in Costa Rica. Since I have been here for over 15 years I know the differences. You will want to keep in mind that Costa Rica is still a third-world country. If you don’t you may be throwing your money away.

 

Comparison

When you want to hire a private investigator here, you need to understand it is different that the States. Commercial directories that include a lot of information about people and businesses in the United States are available. You can also find cross-reference directory sites that identify and associate people and phone numbers. This is not the case in Costa Rica.

Database and public records

You will note, Costa Rica Private Investigators are significantly different due to the accessibility to information. The availability of data sources is thorough making the job of a private investigator in the U.S. simple in comparison to a Costa Rica private investigator. I know that is outside the scope of this blog to explain all of the differences. Depending on which region is included, Costa Rica private investigators can not access all records. Absent a lawsuit we can access civil claim records unless they have a valid reason or a source in the government in Costa Rica.

Criminal records

When it comes to criminal records, there is no reliable database that is accessible in Costa Rica.  Rather, Costa Rica private investigators must have reliable law-enforcement sources to obtain information on criminal records.  Even then it may require the services of a Costa Rica attorney to get the information. Additionally, having resources to get in touch with various governmental agencies in possession of said records is a must. There could be 3 or 4 governmental agencies with criminal and/or civil record information.

Getting the information

Investigations in Costa Rica are normally more challenging than those in the United States. The privacy laws in Costa Rica in some circumstances are stricter when compared to personal privacy regulations within the U.S. This is often the case when it pertains to criminal record checks. Corporate records in Costa Rica are incomplete. Corporate registrations in Costa Rica and other Latin American countries are entirely different regarding needs and details obtained throughout a search of records. Business records in Costa Rica are vague. Consequently, there have been cases where people’s information is not recorded properly.

Corruption

Corruption is a major issue in Costa Rica regarding private investigators and the information they can obtain. It is necessary that when an agency, corporate body, or individual decides to utilize a Costa Rica private investigator you need to vet. I also know, relying on their results, to use in your case a straightforward investigator must be retained. If you do not, the Costa Rica private investigator involved may be influenced by outside influences.

Conclusion

I know, most international private investigators know they can frequently obtain money from both their client and the subject of their investigation. You need to be cautious when choosing a Costa Rica private investigator because of the potential for corruption. I recommend you vet thoroughly a private investigator and choose the one that feels the most comfortable and knowledgeable to you. For information on this subject please visit our website, www.codygear.com, or call us toll-free at 321-218-9209.

 

Relationship Background Checks

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I have often thought, why don’t my clients check the backgrounds with who they have a relationship? Relationship background checks are absolutely necessary for any relationship in Costa Rica. Furthermore, failure in doing so may cause you both emotional and financial bankruptcy in the future. You need to keep in mind that Costa Rica is a third-world country. Thus the economics here leave many wanting just for the basics every day. We recommend that before you do anything here, you have us do the due diligence to prevent a bad decision. Caveat Emptor, which means “buyer beware”.  Perhaps in this context, it should be “careful what you ask for, you might get it”. You as the foundation of a relationship here cannot be understated.

What do I need to do a background check

It is important that you get as much information that is available prior to due diligence. Things like the complete name, date of birth. and place of employment. You need to remember, everything person down here has two last names. Absent a cedula number it is impossible to get an accurate due diligence check done. With the complete name accessing the records will be more efficient and save money. The more information you provide the more information we will be able to get. Aslo, pinpointing where they live is important for several reasons.

What about business relationship?

Before you enter into any business agreement with anyone in Costa Rica you need to have them checked out. If its real estate even moreso. The biggest fraud here is real estate fraud. The main reason for this is due to no government oversight on real estate agents or companies. If you want to be a real estate agent in Costa Rica you don’t need a license to do so. Costa Rica is notorious for fostering and promoting fraud by scammers. That is the reason yo need to do your homework.

 

Cheating Girlfriend in Costa Rica

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Back in the States do you have a Cheating Girlfriend in Costa Rica?

Do you ever have a gut feeling that you have a cheating girlfriend in Costa Rica? Concluding all of us men are the same. As a tenured and professional private investigators, most, think with their hearts. Moreover, that is until the brain takes over and says “something wrong here”. More than often they don’t see what is right in front of their eyes. It’s a predicament. We try to avoid scams and cheating girlfriends. The more we get reeled in the fewer things we see that are obvious.

Sometimes it takes the scrutiny or unbiased opinion of a neutral party to give us the truth that we don’t see in front of us. Actually taking the step to seek out this advice is a big one and as men, we don’t even want to admit to ourselves that the possibility exists. We rationalize all of the telltale signs of what she’s doing and try to convince ourselves that there is an explanation for everything. There are always red flags. The red flags are usually pretty standard and anyone paying attention will see these red flags long before the man will.

Observations

Cody Gear has seen these scenarios firsthand for over 20 years. I know how to get you the answers you want….or don’t want. We won’t just bring you an opinion. We’ll bring you evidence and results to help you make difficult choices if that’s the case. If you think that you have a cheating girlfriend in Costa Rica, call us. For expert advice to help protect you from heartache and possible financial loss you might want to consider taking our short course on how to avoid getting caught in the most common traps of women who play games. If you want to find out more about this subject click here.

Mistakes to avoid in Costa Rica

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Five Mistakes to Avoid in Costa Rica

As a tenured professional private investigator in Costa Rica, I have witnessed the unnecessary loss of money and emotions. Therefore, I have prepared a list of five mistakes to avoid in Costa Rica.

The law is an amazing preventive, but can also be a devastating curative medicine.  So, please let me try and help you avoid mistakes made by those who came to Costa Rica before you, and try and keep you out of ‘hot water.’

1. Do not do anything you would not do in your own hometown: Many foreigners seem to believe they can outsmart the system when they come to a less developed country. Perhaps. the kind manner most Costa Ricans behave with ex-pats. Which in turning them into wishful thinkers. Always bear in mind that the legal system in Costa Rica is Napoleonic, not Common Law. Consequently, things are handled very differently than in the US or Canada.

Because of that, the best place to begin your investment plan is in an attorney’s office. It is best not to try the Do it yourself method! Some people, in trying to save some dollars in legal fees, avoid finding a good attorney. Subsequently, their issue is not resolved and they lack guidance through their problems. Do not do that! Do your homework. Find an attorney you feel comfortable with and stay with him for as long as he does a good job.

2. Do not rush into the decision of hiring an attorney.

If you are thinking of investing in Costa Rica; like it or not hiring a local attorney is a must for you. It does not matter if you are just buying a car, a home, or planning to set up a million-dollar business. You will need an attorney. You may not like the idea of paying legal fees, but who does? But accept it and live with it. The idea is to have your lawyer working for you as ‘preventive medicine’, as a kind of insurance against what ‘might happen.’

Consider the legal fees as your insurance premium, because that’s really what it is. Today, you will pay a fraction of what it will probably cost to try and fix that problem later on if you do not have an honest attorney to guide you.

3. Do not think of buying Costa Rica real estate and only follow the real estate broker’s advice!

In Costa Rica, real estate brokers are not licensed in the same way they are in the United States. Some of them are real professionals, but a lot of them are just ‘enthusiastic’ salespeople. Many more are con people trying to make a quick dollar.

In either buying or selling real estate, you will probably have a need for a broker’s services. But if your Costa Rica real estate agent is first class, have your attorney on board to supervise the process. Remember no real estate can be transferred here without a Notary. All Notaries here must be licensed Costa Rican Attorneys.  Never use the Notary or attorney of the buyer.  This is not only a conflict of interest, it’s a sure way to fall victim to fraud.

4. Do not blindly trust your own countrymen!

Just because they have been here more time than you have. I have seen US citizens being conned by US people and, Canadians by Canadians and so forth. Be careful! There are a whole lot of strange people in this country, some of them fleeing from the FBI, Interpol, ex-wives, and even from mental institutions.

5. Gentlemen! Please remember that you do not, I repeat, do NOT need to marry the first beautiful ‘Tica’ (Costa Rican woman) that you meet! You will find yourself in the middle of the biggest financial and emotional nightmare imaginable.

Equally important is getting romantically involved with a woman you have only recently met. Ask yourself this simple question, “if she were in the United States, would she be this interested in me?’ This is particularly true if you are 55 and she is 23.  Chances are she is using you as a sponsor. Women will sleep with you after talking to you for 10 minutes. It is a business and she is doing her job. You are paying her for a service that she is doing. If she tells you she loves you she is only doing her job and you are paying her to lie to you. Prior to making and romantic or financial commitment, get her checked out.

 

Catch a Cheater in Costa Rica

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Five-Step Plan to Catch a Cheater in Costa Rica

The five-step plan to catch a cheater in Costa Rica: Cheaters that come to Costa Rica have often laid the groundwork for their misdeeds long before they actually arrive. Technology advancements have given cheaters a false sense of security with new devices. Today most cheaters think they have an advantage by using such devices and applications to communicate. To take advantage of this misconception I recommend the following five steps to catch a cheater in Costa Rica.

 

My Five-step recommendations

Step 1: Make a Decision

First, you should decide whether or not it’s worth knowing if your partner is cheating. I know of instances where some prefer not to know. Innocent victims of a cheater owe it to themselves and their families to know the truth. Decide to catch a cheater if knowing the truth is the best thing for you and your family.

Step 2: Be Prepared

Once the decision has been made to catch the cheater you must prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario. Having definitive proof that your partner is cheating can be devastating. It’s also important to be financially prepared to investigate. Cheaters never perform on cue. It takes perseverance and patience to catch a cheater. The more information you supply the investigator the more effective and efficient they can be and thus save you time and money.

I will need recent photos, itinerary, flight number, location, traveling companions, habits, distinguishing marks, and length of stay for the investigation. We will discuss more details in our pre-investigation interview.

Step 3: Deploy

Probably the most important thing that you will have to do is the hiring of a private investigator in Costa Rica. You want to hire a private investigator with the experience and resources to carry out the mission. You also want a private investigator that listens to your ideas and concerns with regard to conducting the investigation. Be cautious of investigators in Costa Rica who try to bully or misguide you. Be especially wary of those who ask for payment through Western Union, or ask you to send money to a third party, as this is a red flag.

Probably, the most frequent question I get is about cost and conducting an investigation in Costa Rica. Although a third-world country the cost of living and operating here is higher than that in the United States. For example, gasoline is almost $6.00 a gallon; a 2 Liter bottle of Coke is $3.00; a combo from McDonald’s is $6.50; these prices are due in part to the Costa Rica government placing taxes on all consumer goods.

Competent and experienced investigators the United States routinely charge between $60 and $100 per hour plus expenses for their services. You should expect similar rates from competent and qualified investigators in Costa Rica. When you interview investigators in Costa Rica and they tell you they have a flat rate of $200 a day, you will sadly learn that this is nothing more than a ruse to ask you for more money as the investigation progresses. Some will hold the results of their investigation as hostage until you send them more money.

Step 4:  Wait and be patient

As I mentioned earlier cheaters never perform on cue. To catch a cheater it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time to capture his/her indiscretions. This is not rocket science but it does require perseverance and patience not only on the part of the investigator that on the client as well. I know it is human nature to want to know everything that is going on during the course of an investigation. But it is extremely important that you follow my instructions during the surveillance. I will keep you informed of any relevant or important events but will require that you keep this information to yourself until the investigation is complete. The investigation is only as good as the secrecy of the operation is maintained.

Step 5: Review the Results

 Many times, due to circumstances and or obstacles clear-cut proof cannot be obtained. For example, getting a video are photographic evidence of an intimate encounter between the cheater and his lover is rare. However, when reviewing the available evidence, and taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances to which the evidence speaks, you need to ask yourself; what a reasonable person viewing the same evidence would conclude? This is what you call circumstantial evidence and the conclusion is drawn from the preponderance of the evidence. If we obtain photographic evidence of the cheater at a bar that is known to be a meeting place for prostitutes and the cheater is captured with a woman in such a place and then leaves with that woman, what would a reasonable person to conclude?

Regrettably, these investigations lead to divorce. I recommend that prior to confronting a cheater with the evidence of his infidelity, you sit down with a divorce attorney and allow him to advise you as to the best manner to proceed.

For more information call us at 321-218-9209 or visit our Facebook page.

Husband Cheating on you in Costa Rica?

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Is your husband cheating on you in Costa Rica? Don’t let him get away with it. Cheating is common in Costa Rica and men always leave a trial. At Cody Gear & Associates, we have a list of common signs of cheating spouses in Costa Rica.

You owe it to yourself to find out and get proof if your husband meets one or more of the signs of cheating. Be cautious of websites that connect men with young Latin women in Costa Rica. Verify your partner isn’t advertising or communicating with sex tour guides on these sites.

Cheating men are more likely to cheat when they’re out of town, away from familiar surroundings that could expose them. Men are more likely to cheat when out of town, away from familiar surroundings that could reveal them. So, setting a trap could be an easy method for catching a cheater. All of the signs are under your nose, pay attention and plan.

Preplan and think

Be guarded not to let him suspect anything before his “fishing trip” to Costa Rica. Make him feel that your relationship is fine. Show him that his trip without you is not a problem. This sets the trap. Be prepared for the outcome. Usually, the first sign you will notice is the increased level of communication between him and his buddies about the upcoming adventure. You’ll notice him chuckling at text messages or hear him have conversations with his friends with limited content. Usually responding by “yes I’m looking forward to that” or “can I call you back/”. The point is you will notice that his conversations with his buddies all of a sudden have become vague and ambiguous.

Pay attention

The second thing you may notice is his lack of specificity as to the itinerary once they arrive at the San Jose International Airport. Lack of telephone information or computer access is common among men coming here to look for women. However, you should encourage him to give you as much information as possible in case of an emergency. After all, he is traveling to a third-world country and you are concerned about his safety.

Indicators

The third thing and not necessarily in this order, is the purchase of new clothes, especially clothes for going out after fishing. Pay attention to his purchases of clothes as well as colognes and other things he customarily does not use in around you.

Fourthly, be on the alert for any unusual phone calls or text messages from international calls with the country code of “506”. For your information, there are two distinct sets of numbers for telephones in Costa Rica. Those beginning with “2” are landlines, and those beginning with “8” are cell phones. If you see one of these by chance take note of it as it will aid any subsequent surveillance. This is particularly true if this is not the first time your husband has come to Costa Rica.

Usually, men that are married check in with their wives each day during the visit. Usually, this check-in comes around the same time every day and is usually followed by, “we are going out to eat and gamble.” Anywhere they go they will be confronted by young attractive and available Latin women asking them if they want companionship. This starts innocently enough with the buying of drinks then one thing leads to the other and the woman will ask him if he wants sex.

It has been my experience that the amount of alcohol consumed is commensurate with the amount of resistance a man will muster to remain loyal to his wife and family. Of course, the women here are in business and will move on if he says no or otherwise refuses to pay the going price.

We have years of experience in these matters and are considered the experts in capturing cheaters in Costa Rica. For more information call 321-218-9209.

How to find a private investigator in Costa Rica

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How to find a Private Investigator in Costa Rica? That seems to be the number one question that our colleagues get asked in the states. Followed by, When should I hire a private investigator?  Honestly, both of the questions are 100% valid. Finding a Private Investigator is hard; finding an investigator in Costa Rica is even harder. To find a trustworthy, licensed, and experienced investigator, you will need to conduct your own research. Having investigative skills will help you find a PI that fits your needs.

If you found this article, it means you probably came from a Google Search. Because of the internet, nowadays, it seems that everyone is advertising private investigation services here in Costa Rica. In doing so, there are some things you need to know.

First:

There is no governmental oversight of the private investigation industry here in Costa Rica. Likewise, there is no governmental oversight of Real Estate Industry. As one can imagine, this opens the door to all types of opportunities for fraud or a scam. Thus, there are no licensing requirements for either of these two industries here in Costa Rica.

One of the things that you have to remember is that Costa Rica is a small nation and does not have the infrastructure to oversee such industries. So, there really is no easy shop and go for this kind of thing. We can’t teach you how to find a private investigator in Costa Rica, but following the next three tips will making find a reliable and trustworthy investigator an easier decision.

Second:

DO NOT SEND MONEY TO ANYONE INCLUDING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR THROUGH WESTERN UNION. It is well documented here in Costa Rica that the majority of scams are carried off by using Western Union. Especially if you are told to send it to another name, not the requestors.

Since Costa Rica does not offer any type of licensing for Private Investigators, anyone can literally begin to offer Investigative Services under any name. The same holds true for mortgage brokers, real estate agents, and other services that normally require licensing in the United States.

But, just because your investigator is not licensed in Costa Rica, it doesn’t mean that he’s not licensed anywhere else. Because Costa Rica is held to different standards, this means that if you get scammed, you won’t be able to come after your investigator. Always protect your assets when you’re conducting business with a company outside of the United States.

Third:

Before hiring a Private Investigator in Costa Rica, make sure that the investigator is qualified to complete the task at hand. Do they have a Private Investigator’s license in the United States? If so, they probably have a company as well.

Always request licensing information, if they don’t have one, ask for a reason as to why they don’t have one. If they came from the United States, ask for proof that they are still in good standing with the licensing department in the United States. Costa Rica is the land of the Wanted & Unwanted. Many people run away from the United States due to legal reasons. Is your private investigator fleeing the country due to unethical practices? You need to make sure.

Trustworthy & Reliable

Does your private investigator have an office in Costa Rica? If so, is the address a legitimate address, or is it a parking garage? Do they have a phone number where they can be reached easily? Will he provide you with a detailed billing of his work and expenses? Does he have a bank account, or will you have to wire him money?

Experience & Education

Do they have any certifications? Are they certified fraud examiners? Anyone can tell you that they have years of experience, but without any type of certification, this is hard to prove. The same holds true when they claim to have Federal Government background experience. How can you prove that? And does this mean that they were on the field conducting investigations, or were they in an office foreseeing investigations?

Experience is a very valuable tool, as long as you have experience in the right field. We have been offering investigative services for over 30 years starting in the United States. Our corporate office, located in Orlando Florida, is still operational in the states. But we don’t offer every type of investigation. We focus on the three main investigation services in order to guarantee quality control.

We hope that If you follow these simple guidelines, and take your time to interview your investigator, you’ll be able to find a private investigator in Costa Rica, and any other part of the world. These tips will save you money and frustration in the long run. We have found over the years that our clients are intelligent people who can recognize a pretender. Real investigators have the verifiable experience, licensing and training to carry out your objectives. if you want to know more please feel free to contact us at Cody L. Gear and Associates.

Don’t forget this tip: A good investigator will never hesitate to give you the information you’re asking for.  Remember, you don’t depend on us. We depend on you.

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