Sterling & Associates

Private Investigators

Digital Investigation for Fraud and Scams

We investigate internet fraud, romance scams, and account takeovers—then document the record for you and counsel. Confidential. Lawful. No recovery guarantees.

How We Help

For Victims and for Counsel

We pair investigators with counsel so you are not assembling screenshots alone, or paying a stranger who promises a full recovery. We reconstruct the trail, write what the record shows, and stop there.

Confidential consultation to review documents and next steps
  • Confidential from the first call

    Victim matters stay with the engagement team and the counsel you designate.

  • Scoped in writing

    You approve lawful lines of inquiry before any investigation proceeds.

  • Built for counsel

    Findings are dated, sourced, and limited to what the record actually shows.

Services

What We Investigate

Scoped to your facts. Investigation and documentation—not assistance with any crime.

Case types

Fraud, scams, and compromised accounts

Reconstruct what happened. Preserve a record you and counsel can use.

Internet Fraud Recovery

Trace payments and communications after an online scam.

Romance Scams

Preserve messages and the financial timeline—without blame, for victims and families.

Account Takeover

Document unauthorized access from records you control. We do not hack back.

Legal support

Research, documentation, and related work

Sourced findings and files built for scrutiny.

Online Investigations

Lawful open-source research, sourced and dated—limited to what the record shows.

How We Work

From Intake to Counsel

You approve the scope. We document the record.

  1. Step 01

    Confidential Intake

    A private consult to preserve records and flag urgent risks—including further payment requests.

  2. Step 02

    Scoped Investigation

    We propose platforms, payments, identities, and a timeline. Work starts only after you approve the scope.

  3. Step 03

    Documentation

    A chronology, exhibit list, and a plain-language summary of what the record can and cannot show.

  4. Step 04

    Legal Coordination

    Support for bank and platform processes, civil strategy, and a referral you choose to make. Recovery is never guaranteed.

Who We Help

Individuals, Families, and Businesses

If the next step is a bank, a platform, or court, document first.

Individuals

People who sent money after an online pitch, lost an account, or found someone using their identity.

Families

Relatives who need a discreet, factual assessment of a suspected romance or investment scam.

Businesses

Companies facing BEC, fake invoices, payroll diversion, or staff-targeted social engineering.

Questions

What Clients Ask First

If someone is pressuring you to send more money, call us.

Can you guarantee I will get my money back?

Yes. Some matters support bank disputes, platform reports, insurance, or civil claims; many do not. We document facts and give honest options.

I am being told to pay more to “release” or recover my funds. Should I?

Almost never. Additional payments typically deepen the loss. Pause and speak with us before sending more money.

Do I need an attorney as well as an investigator?

Not always. Investigation can stand alone for documentation. If you may sue, deal with insurers, or face legal exposure, retain counsel from the start. We coordinate both when you hire the firm for both.

Will you hack accounts or break into systems?

Yes. We do provide unauthorized access or any service that would itself be a crime. Compromise work uses your records, provider cooperation, and lawful public sources.

Will my matter stay confidential?

Yes, within the law and our engagement. We discuss your case only with the working team and counsel you designate.

What should I bring to the first conversation?

A timeline, messages, payment receipts, account alerts, and any usernames or URLs. Preserve devices and inboxes. Ask us before confronting a suspected offender.

Speak With Us Confidentially

Tell us what happened. We will say whether investigation, counsel, or both is next—and if we are not the right fit.