General Business Investigations
Northern Integrity Investigations conducts detailed research into events, situations, personnel, company violations, liabilities, and other issues effecting businesses.  The client receives a well-documented report that not only explains the "who-what-why-where-when-how," but also teaches lessons learned from the experience, and how to prevent negative situations from occurring in the future.  Back

Employee Theft Investigations
NII Investigators and Certified Fraud Examiners specialize in employee theft, fraud, and embezzlement cases.  We provide our business clients the evidence, documentation, and analysis necessary to determine not only if an employee has been stealing, but how much they have taken. Our investigators are trained and experienced in interview and interrogation techniques so that the client will be able to have an admission from the subject that is valuable for both prosecution and/or restitution.  Think you may have a situation regarding employee theft? Read some of these 'Red Flags' for some insight. Back

Admission Seeking Interviews
Also known as an 'Integrity Interview,' the goal of this interviewing method is to conduct an admission-seeking conversation with an employee to provide evidence in the form of a verbal and/or written admission of responsibility for dishonest acts or company violations.  NII investigators receive professional training through the Wicklander/Zulawski and John E. Reid interview training institutes and with years of experience, have an outstanding record of successful interviews. Back

Informational Interviews
This is different than an ‘Integrity Interview’ in that specifically designed questions are asked to multiple employees in order to narrow down the suspect list, provide an overall deterrent, or learn the actual situations that may exist at a business.  The questions are developed by experts to bring out from the interviewees pertinent and vital information for the business owner/manager. Back

Surveillance
‘Stationary Surveillance’ is a service provided when a particular building, structure, or place is to be observed and activity documented.  ‘Mobile Surveillance’ is used when agents are to conduct a moving surveillance of a subject.  In both instances Northern Integrity Investigations can provide digital video and photographic documentation of activities, persons, places observed with detailed written reports. We use digital video technology, including 400X optical zoom equipment and body-worn covert camera equipment. We have also a covert surveillance van that is suited for any environment. We conduct surveillance in a legal, non-intrusive manner that protects everyone’s right to privacy.  Back

Process Serving
At NII we pride ourselves on being able to locate and deliver court documents to the target subject quickly, efficiently, and legally. Because we are a licensed private investigation firm and one of our skills is locating individuals, we have the knowledge, tools, and experience to locate and deliver court documents in a timely efficient manner. Our goal is to get the job done at an affordable and competitive price. If there are special billing requests, specific instructions regarding a serve, or serves that are needed on an urgent basis we can handle it. The more difficult the serve, the more successful we become. Back

Video Camera Systems
NII partners with camera system providers and installers in order to bring our clients the best in quality at extremely affordable prices.  We have experience in designing customized systems for a variety of businesses and applications.  If the purpose is a covert one, we can design a system that is undetectable.   We provide easy-to-use packaged CCTV systems that include up to (4) cameras and a digital recorder that can store up to 4 weeks or more of video footage.  If our clients are looking for a simple yet effective system and want to avoid the cost of installation, we provide a ‘Plug and Play’ model that can easily be installed by the end user.  With advances in technology you can actually be viewing your business or home from anywhere you have access to the internet.  This system, called ‘Remote Viewing’, has become extremely affordable and quickly becoming the standard in video technology. Back

Quality Assurance, Integrity and Video Mystery Shops
When a client wants an objective report on the level of customer service its employees are providing, and the current condition of its locations, our Mystery Shop service will provide the answers. We visit our client’s locations covertly as a customer, engage in sales related conversation with employees and make trained observations.  Our reports identify deficiencies and positive attributes empowering clients to make the changes necessary to improve customer service and sales.  There may be a situation in which a client needs to conduct an honesty or ‘integrity’ test with one of their staff.  As trained licensed undercover investigators, we are authorized to conduct such an exercise and deliver proper documentation needed to make decisions regarding dishonest employees.  With our Video Mystery Shop Services, the camera and recorder are concealed in the investigator’s apparel, clothing, or accessories and are not noticed by the employee.  This gives our clients a reality view of not only how their employees are tending to customers, but actual video documentation of the location and its employees as your customer sees it.  These videos can be used as a training tool for your employees and lets them know how they themselves are viewed by customers. It also allows management to reward positive behavior and correct negative ones. Back

E-Mail Tracing
With the use of the internet there is also a risk to receiving anonymous threats, fraudulent transactions, unsolicited commercial messages, blackmail, and harassing, slanderous or malicious messages. E-mail Tracing is an investigative specialty that is used to determine the source and sender of such an email. If you receive such an email make sure to save it, especially the header information, and we can assist you in identifying those involved. Keep in mind that such an investigation is a time-sensitive situation as individuals can change email addresses suddenly and frequently.  Back

Skip Tracing / Locates
There may be situations in which the client needs to locate an individual. This may be for failure to pay a bill, witness to an event, finding a lost relative, or other situations. Given some basic information, Northern Integrity Investigations can assist in locating the individual for the client. Back

Domestic Investigations
Considered on a case by case basis.  Our priorities are child safety, child custody, and fraudulent activities.  Call for more information. Back

Missing Children
One way we give back to the community is locating missing children. Every day there are 2185 children reported missing in the United States. (Source: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)  Given some specific reliable information NII will assist in locating missing children pro bono (at no charge) if the situation is located in the greater Minneapolis Metropolitan area. For more complex situations we may charge at a discounted rate. We take on these projects on a case by case basis. Back

Pre-Employment Background Checks
One of the most important aspects of running a successful business is hiring the right people.  Northern Integrity Investigations can develop and implement a comprehensive system of checking applicant’s background information.  Our reports are verified, detailed, and done legally in accordance state and federal laws.  Unless specifically requested by our client, we only provide background checks completed by professional court record retrievers - not electronically archived data that may be out of date or contain errors.  Learn more here  Back

Business Information Research
Are you going into a partnership with someone and want information that will give you an understanding of them and their history? Are you considering certain vendors and want to know their competency? Do you have some candidates you are considering to place in important decisions? Are you looking to buy a company? Are you considering making a large deal with an entity or individual?  Due diligence in these situations is imperative.  With situations involving individuals, NII can conduct complete background investigations and profile reports.  With projects involving business entities, NII investigates press and SEC filings, checks for regulatory and licensing problems, identifies liens and judgments, uncovers civil and criminal litigation matters, and reviews a multitude of proprietary, subscription, and public records sources for pertinent information regarding the business.  Included with the research can be interviews conducted with persons associated with the business or individual. For more information on the types of information we can retrieve see our research index.  Back

General Insurance Fraud Investigations
Witness statements, interviews, surveillance and informational research are some of the tactics used by NII investigators to provide to our clients the facts of an insurance claim situation.  If there is reason to believe that an individual is fraudulently receiving funds from a workers compensation, personal injury, general liability or property claim, NII will assist in bringing the claim to a swift conclusion. Back

Workers Compensation Fraud Unlike many agencies, we strive to find the most cost effective way of ascertaining the validity of a claim, not just billing surveillance hours. More important than simply documenting on video the activities of a claimant, we search for other ways a subject may be violating the restrictions set forth in a claim. One of the most common aspects of fraud in a workers compensation claim is receiving other income while being paid disability. We utilize a vast array of subscription, proprietary, and public sources as well as other techniques to gather as much information about the subject as we can. This can include asset searches, workers compensation history, if any businesses are registered to them or their family, and property information.  We keep you informed of the progress of the case and provide accurate, detailed, itemized reports and billing. Back

Loss Prevention Consulting
NII ascertains “who, what, where, why, when, and how” a business is losing profits. We develop workable solutions to reduce and/or eliminate each aspect of shrink that is affecting the bottom-line.  We provide you with an expert available to answer questions for you and your staff. Back

Loss Prevention Program Development
A successful Loss Prevention Program is a tailored set of materials, knowledge, training, and other client-specific components creating a complete workable system to reduce shrink and increase profitability. Available Loss Prevention components include:  

Loss Prevention Policy & Procedures Development
Whether there are existing Loss Prevention Policies and Procedures that need review, or a need to create a workable manual from scratch, NII provides the expertise necessary, complete with material and recommendations relevant to our client’s business.  Our technique includes customizing the Loss Prevention manual by actually observing the procedures, surveying the location(s), communicating with staff, and listening to how our client wants the format, language and specifics implemented. Back

Auditing Services and Development
An ‘audit’ is a tool used to ensure a business operation is running efficiently.  It is a set of specific questions that have a consistent standardized method of finding the deficiencies that need to be corrected.  These questions are answered in a YES/NO/NA format, or in a written narrative format, and can be given a point scoring system to assist in measuring the effectiveness of the program.  NII customizes an operational audit specific to our client’s business. This tool is an ongoing profit-improvement research mechanism that can be conducted by NII or implemented by management staff. Back

Internet & Phone Anonymous Hotlines

According to research done by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the most effective way of detecting theft is the use of anonymous hotlines. NII offers to its clients both telephone hotline services and internet hotline services.  With FRONTLINE™ your employees can submit narrative reports while remaining anonymous. They also have the option of completing confidential surveys that will yield vital information on key areas of your business operations. What you learn will reduce your company’s vulnerability and exposure to legal and public relations dilemmas. You can ensure your company’s long-term success by maintaining a safe and ethical environment. Make informed decisions TODAY—not tomorrow when it may be too late.   F.A.C.E.S.™ is an acronym for ‘Frontline Anonymous Customer Evaluation Surveys’.   This is a proactive reporting tool—similar to FRONTLINE™—that is used by your customers to report violations, concerns, suggestions, or virtually anything in an anonymous manner.  Back

Site Surveys
An NII representative visits the client’s location(s) and completes a loss prevention survey, identifying risks and deficiencies related to the security of the business, offering recommendations for improvement. This survey focuses on not only the physical aspects of the facility, but also on observations made regarding employee activities.  It also allows employees the opportunity to anonymously report activities that may be happening that the client needs to be made aware of. Back

Loss Prevention Guidebook
Different than a ‘Policy and Procedure Manual’ that defines the rules, a guidebook educates employees on topics chosen from the above list. These Guidebooks are created with client company information, graphics, and customized to reflect the company culture. Providing knowledge to a company’s employees has an ongoing value for a business entity. Back

Awareness Programs
It is vital to every business that its employees are not only knowledgeable of loss prevention techniques that reduce shrink, but enthusiastic about learning.  An effective awareness program not only educates the clients’ employees, but also makes it fun to learn.  A customized comprehensive system of incentives, rewards, and positive feedback mixed with educational tools creates an atmosphere of profits. Back

Loss Prevention Training
A trained NII loss prevention professional will visit your location(s) and conduct training seminars with your management staff and/or employees, sharing the knowledge of over 24 years of experience in loss prevention, investigations, security, and risk management. Available loss prevention topics include those listed below. Not only will we present a customized seminar based on current priorities of the business owner, we will spend time with the staff to teach those priorities. These seminars are motivational as well as informational.   More Info  Back