2022 Investigations & White-Collar Crime POWER PLAYERS Issue Is Out Now!
2022 Investigations & White-Collar Crime
- 2022 Investigations & White-Collar Crime Power Players issue is out. Corporate Research and Investigations Limited were featured in this year Financier Worldwide’s Power Players issue.
- In this edition, CRI® Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Zafar Anjum, talks about his career’s achievements, what the organisation strives to demonstrate to clients and how he sees the investigations a white-collar crime market shaping up over the coming months and all the exciting trends or developments on the horizon.
- Having dedicated his career to background investigation, fraud prevention, protective integrity, security and compliance, Zafar Anjum is a distinguished and highly respected professional in his field.
As CEO of CRI Group™, Zafar uses his extensive knowledge and expertise to create stable and secure networks across challenging global markets. For organisations needing comprehensive project management, security, safeguard testing, background investigations, and real-time compliance applications, Anjum is the assurance expert of choice for industry professionals. Such expertise is increasingly important as a result of COVID-19 – with a long list of countries worldwide still facing significant economic disruption, insecurity and suffering, which has created an increased risk of bribery and corruption. News in the past years showed that many governments began to implement measures to combat these implications from the global pandemic:
Kenyan Anti-bribery and Anti-Corruption laws
“In 2020, it was reported [by Global Compliance News] that the Kenyan Government is in the process of implementing harsher corruption and bribery laws in an attempt to curb the current statistics within the country. The Kenyan Government is concerned with preventing bribery and corruption, perhaps to ensure the appropriate allocation of resources in these unprecedented times. A proposed amendment to the Bribery Act, which is currently being tabled in Parliament, seeks to allow for the imposition of a fine amounting to KSh 5 million (circa USD 46,939) or for a period of imprisonment not exceeding ten years, where an individual is aware of, or suspects bribery taking place and fails to report it.”
US Abuse of Power Prevention Act
In 2020, the House Judiciary Committee held a mark-up of a new bill, the Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act, as US congress aims to eliminate the tolerance of alleged corruption and bribery undertaken by the current or former presidents. “Section Three of the bill amends the federal bribery statute to make clear that a (former) president can be prosecuted for accepting a bribe in exchange for a pardon… The House also introduced a related bill; the No President is Above the Law Act.”
French Compliance Legislation
The French government has also been working on implementing anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation in 2020 for the first time since 2016 adapted and improved their white-collar crime standards. As stated in a Global Investigations Review by Lexology, “in anti-bribery compliance, in particular, the recently created French Anticorruption Agency (AFA) keeps building on Sapin II by providing guidance on specific topics, auditing compliance programmes and for the first time… bringing cases in front of its sanctions board.”
Against this backdrop, Financier Worldwide turns to come of the leading lights in their field (including our CEO), who share their stories. A pre-release version of “POWER PLAYERS Investigations & White-Collar Crime 2022 – Exceptional Experts” is now available to view. Please click here to access the file.
The Security Of Your Company Depends On Effective Risk Management
Background investigations are critical to any company’s success because working with qualified, honest and hard-working employees and other businesses is integral to thriving in the business community. What you don’t know can hurt you, and the simple act of one bad decision can result in an unprecedented loss for your company.
From vendor and third-party screening to employment screening, CRI Group™ recommends background investigations as critical proactive measures to help keep your business safe. An effective background screening investigation will help screen for bad apples that can cause havoc down the road. Because we maintain a diverse talent base comprised of multilingual and multi-cultural professionals, CRI™ can traverse obstacles that often impede international background investigations. That’s why we are frequently contracted by our competitors to conduct background investigations in geographic regions not serviced or accessible by larger investigative firms. Contact CRI Group™ to learn more about its 3PRM-Certified™ third-party risk management strategy program and discover an effective and proactive approach to mitigating the risks associated with corruption, bribery, financial crimes and other dangerous risks posed by third-party partnerships.
Who is CRI Group™?
Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.
In 2016, CRI Group™ launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC™ offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
ABAC™ is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS CB number: 10613) against ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of the scheme’s management systems of ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS). This makes ABAC™ Certification the leading accredited certification body specialising in global anti-bribery and anti-corruption, risk and compliance management system standards. ABAC™ experts audit any existing compliance and anti-bribery anti-corruption management systems to assess effectiveness and vulnerabilities while ensuring your organisation complies with Internal Standards, FCPA, UK Bribery Act, Anti-Money Laundering regulations, and all other global, regional and local regulations while maintaining a competitive edge in the world marketplace.
If you are seeking to validate or expand your existing compliance frameworks to maintain a competitive edge in the world marketplace, ABAC™ can help you. Our experts audit your existing compliance and anti-bribery anti-corruption management systems to assess effectiveness and vulnerabilities while ensuring your organisation complies with Internal Standards, FCPA rules, UK Bribery Act laws, Anti-Money Laundering regulations, and all other global, regional and local regulations.
Let’s talk
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Our CEO has been Invited to Speak at The Fraud Outlook 2022 Webinar
The Fraud Outlook 2022 Webinar
Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group™) is delighted to unveil our place at The Fraud Outlook 2022 Webinar, which is being held from 12:00 to 13:00 on Wednesday 23 February on Zoom. We’re delighted to be involved. Book your seat now!
Our CEO has been invited to speak at the Fraud Advisory Panel forthcoming webinar, which will take a forward look at some of the current and emerging global fraud threats and what they mean for practitioners. It will provide a timely update on:
- The current fraud landscape in Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia
- Key insights into anticipated fraud trends over the next 12 to 18 months
- Implications for counter fraud professionals and businesses.
If you are a counter-fraud professional or a future fraud professional, or you are simply an interested stakeholder, we invite you to join us online. Book your seat now!
Guest speakers are:
Olivia Allison, Senior Managing Director, K2 Integrity
Olivia is a senior managing director in the Investigations and Risk Advisory practice for K2 Integrity, resident in London. She has extensive expertise helping large private, state-owned and publicly listed companies carry out investigations into fraud, bribery, corruption and other misconduct. Olivia has also worked closely with a range of entities to improve their governance and controls, including in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other emerging markets. Her practice has been particularly focused on oil and gas, mining and extractive industries, as well as healthcare, retail and financial services.
Joanne Taylor, Senior Managing Director, K2 Integrity
Joanne, a senior managing director at K2 Integrity, has 20 years of legal, investigations and financial crime compliance experience, which includes fraud risk management, anti-bribery and corruption, regulatory enforcement and investigations experience working within the financial and legal services industries. She has extensive experience in leading investigations relating to conduct issues, fraud, bribery & corruption and AML, and her previous roles have included Global Head of Whistleblowing and Global Deputy Head of Anti-Fraud Bribery & Corruption at a major European bank.
Zafar Anjum, CEO, CRI Group™
Zafar is the chief executive of Corporate Research and Investigations (CRI Group™) – building a 32 years’ career in anti-corruption, fraud prevention, protective integrity, security and compliance, Zafar Anjum is a highly respected professional in his field. As a trusted authority in fraud prevention and securities among corporate clients, government agencies and industry groups, he is known for creating stable and secure networks across challenging global markets.
With an impressive educational background coupled with his industry expertise, Zafar Anjum is often the first certified global investigator on the scene when multi-national EMEA corporations seek to close compliance or security gaps.
Starting his educational background in 1989 with his Bachelor of Arts Degree; he then went on to earn a Master of Science in Counter Fraud and the Counter Corruption University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom along with specialized knowledge and certification in Fraud Investigations, Fraud and Financial Crimes, Corporate Fraud Control and Anti-Corruption. He was also awarded with Distinction in Master of Fraud and Financial Crime and included in Executive Dean’s List of 2016 by Charles Sturt University, Australia.
All while continuing to earn his LL.M Legal Practice (Intellectual Property) from the University of Law in the United Kingdom, which he was completed in February 2019. Alongside enhanced further capabilities and competencies, specifically in the Bribery Risk Assessment framework, he has ICA International Diploma in Governance Risk and Compliance, ICA International Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering and ICA International Diploma in Financial Crime Prevention from the International Compliance Training Academy in the United Kingdom which is mapped and are also awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester.
His training and business acumen give Zafar Anjum in-depth precision when dealing with fraud risk management, security consultations, crime investigations, crisis management, risk governance, event security and strategic threat management for industry leaders seeking proactive long-term risk prevention.
His leadership abilities create strong collaborative relationships among prevention teams, crime investigators, government officials, and business executives seeking dynamic solutions across international marketplaces.
For industries needing large project management, safeguard testing and real-time compliance applications, Zafar Anjum is the assurance expert of choice for industry professionals. CRI Group™ invites you to schedule a quick chat with Zafar to discuss any current and emerging global fraud threats to your organisation.
GET IN TOUCH:
e: zanjum@crigroup.com | LinkedIn
t: +44 207 6861415 | m: +44 (0)7588 454959
Reach out for solutions in EMEA, APAC, Americas
Languages spoken: English, Urdu
CRI® Group invites you to schedule a quick appointment with us to discuss in more detail how our risk management solutions can help you and your organisation.
The Fraud Outlook 2022 Webinar Agenda:
| 1200: | Welcome speech and introduction by the chair |
| 1205: | The current or emerging fraud trends being seen by CRI® Group in the Middle East, Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia (especially any differences) and predictions for the next 12 – 18 months by Zafar Anjum, CEO of CRI Group |
| 1220: | The current or emerging fraud trends K2 is seeing in the US and Europe and any trends anticipated over the coming 12 – 18 months by Olivia Allison and Joanne Taylor, Senior Managing Director of K2 Integrity |
| 1240: | Q & A session |
| 1300: | Session end |
Details: UK time
Delegates: Counter fraud professionals/future fraud professionals and other interested stakeholders
Costs: Free FAP/FFPN members; £25 + VAT Non-members
About Fraud Advisory Panel
The Fraud Advisory Panel is a respected, influential and independent voice of the anti-fraud community. We champion best practices in fraud prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution and help people and organizations to protect themselves against fraud. Our members are drawn from all sectors – public, private and voluntary – and many different professions who are united by a common concern about fraud and a determination to do something about it.
Who is CRI Group™?
Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.
In 2016, CRI Group™ launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC™ operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
CRI™ Named Certified Provider by HRO Today Association
CRI Group™ has been approved by the HRO Today Association as a Certified Provider to the human resources services industry. CRI Group™ completed a rigorous audit process and “demonstrated a high level of accountability of standards and ethics,” according to an HRO Today Association statement.
“The HRO Today Association has long been the HR industry’s standard-setting organisation,” said Renee Preston, Global Executive Director of the HRO Today Association. “We are pleased to add CRI Group™ to the growing list of certified providers who are dedicated to offering the highest level of service to the HR community.”
“We are extremely proud to be recognised by HRO Today Association for our diligence and rigorous processes to ensure best practices across organisations,” Anjum said. “At CRI Group™, we share the vision with HRO Today Association that shifting demographics and increased globalisation means that human resources truly lead from the front among employers, candidates and customers,” Anjum said.
Established in 1990, CRI Group™ is a leading global provider of expert employee background screening services. Serving clients worldwide, CRI Group™ also provides investigative due diligence, third-party risk management, compliance and other professional investigative research services. Addressing a need for thorough pre- and post-employment background screening, CRI Group™ developed its own EmploySmart™ background screening service to avoid negligent hiring liabilities. EmploySmart™ can be tailored into specific screening packages to meet the requirements of each specific position within an organisation.
Proper pre-employment checks can reduce the risk of hiring someone who could cause irrevocable damage. Zafar Anjum, founder and CEO of CRI Group™, said “Firms spend years, thousands, even millions to brand their products and services, and one bad hire can cause loss of capital and reputation. EmploySmart™ focuses on using best practices, technological solutions, and a ‘boots on the ground’ approach to provide the best possible background screening for clients.”
About HRO Today Provider Certification Program
HRO Today Association certified members demonstrate that they have undergone evaluation and testing to verify themselves as credible and trusted providers. This form of certification ensures customers have access to qualified service providers in the HR services and technology industry.
Let us know if you would like to learn more
If you have any further questions or interest in implementing compliance solutions, please contact us.
About CRI Group™…
Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS102000:2013 and BS7858:2019 Certifications is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.
In 2016, CRI Group™ launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC™ operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group™’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organizations. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
Meet our CEO
Zafar I. Anjum is Group Chief Executive Officer of CRI Group™, a global supplier of investigative, forensic accounting, business due to diligence and employee background screening services for some of the world’s leading business organizations. Headquartered in London (with a significant presence throughout the region) and licensed by the Dubai International Financial Centre-DIFC, the Qatar Financial Center – QFC, and the Abu Dhabi Global Market-ADGM, CRI Group™ safeguard businesses by establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with your business. CRI Group™ maintains offices in UAE, Pakistan, Estonia, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, China, the USA, and the United Kingdom.
Contact CRI Group™ to learn more about its 3PRM-Certified™ third-party risk management strategy program and discover an effective and proactive approach to mitigating the risks associated with corruption, bribery, financial crimes and other dangerous risks posed by third-party partnerships.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Zafar Anjum, MSc, MS, CFE, CII, MICA, Int. Dip. (Fin. Crime) | CRI Group™ Chief Executive Officer
37th Floor, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AA United Kingdom
t: +44 207 8681415 | m: +44 7588 454959 | e: zanjum@crigroup.com
Happy holidays!
As we move into 2022 and seek new opportunities, know that CRI™ is here, as your partner, to help you by establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers, employees and customers seeking to affiliate with your business. We are working closely with our internal teams to ensure your 2022 business goals are met, and we are continuing to support you in the manner you are accustomed to and fully deserve.
2021 has been filled with a multitude of victories. As 2021 draws to a close, I want to take the opportunity to look back on a year that turned out much differently than anyone could have imagined. Over this past year, we have added staff, new clients and new services, 2021 saw an expansion in our service capabilities with our 3PRM™- Certified solution, Anti-Money Laundering Advisory services and BS 7858:2019 Screening investigations solutions (CRI™ is the only BS 7858 certified background screening services provider in the UAE and across the Middle East); in addition to announcing the opening of our new offices in Turkey (Corporate Research and Investigations Danışmanlık Hizmetleri Limited Şirketi). For more, we have released our end of year open letter talking about our projects and accomplishments across all regions.
While it was challenging in many ways, it also showed how strong we are as a company – even in the most challenging times. And the success of the CRI™ is based on the relationships we have built over the years, and we really wouldn’t be where we are without you. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with and for you, and this past year has been a pleasure.
As the end of the year approaches, we know there will be many challenges ahead. But we are so excited we all that 2022 has in store for us – enthusiasm and anticipation are building around new opportunities in all our locations worldwide. Stay tuned for more details in the new year.
Both on behalf of our entire CRI Group™, as well as personally, I hope that when you’re celebrating the holidays with friends and family, you look back on the year with the same sense of accomplishment that we all should feel and thank you for your continued trust in us.
Best,
Zafar I. Anjum
MSc, MS, LLM, CFE, CII, CIS, Int. Dip. (Fin. Crime), MICA, MIPI, MAB
Group Chief Executive Officer
(Certified Fraud Examiner)
(Certified International Investigator)
(MSc Counter Fraud and Counter Corruption Studies, University of Portsmouth UK)
(Master of Fraud and Financial Crime – CSU Australia)
LL.M Legal Practice (Intellectual Property)
t: +44 7588 454959 | e: zanjum@crigroup.com | LinkedIn
CRI™ Celebrates 2021 International Anti-Corruption Day
CRI™ celebrates 2021 International Anti-Corruption Day: Organisations are urged to unite on December 9th for International Anti-Corruption Day
Corruption is the single greatest obstacle to economic and social development around the world. According to the World Bank, every year $1 trillion is paid in bribes, while an estimated $2.6 trillion are stolen annually through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (World Economic Forum).
To help combat this growing problem, Corporate Research and Investigations Limited “CRI Group™” is spreading awareness and encouraging organisations to support the United Nation’s International Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December 2021. CRI Group™ is a global leader in corporate investigations and risk management that serves clients in Europe, Asia Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and North America.
Here is more bad news about corruption:
- Worldwide corporate corruption continues to disrupt socioeconomic progress in developing nations.
- Corruption weakens governments, fuels organised crime, stifles economic growth and discourages development.
- The cost of corruption can have a devastating effect on any business and its stakeholders, from the damaged corporate image, devalued stock, negative public perception, costly legal challenges and even incarceration of corporate directors.
- Organisations are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate the complex web of multi-jurisdictional laws and regulations related to anti-bribery and anti-corruption practices.
CRI Group’s CEO, Zafar Anjum, said that CRI Group™ offers solutions for building global compliance frameworks that safeguard the world’s leading organisations. For example, CRI Group’s Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Centre of Excellence provides consulting services to organisations seeking to validate or expand their existing compliance frameworks to maintain a competitive edge in the world marketplace.
Anjum noted that CRI Group™ also offers independent ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification to ensure that organisation is in compliance with this newly established standard, which is recognised and practised in more than 160 countries worldwide.
CRI Group’s DueDiligence360™ involves a review of all relevant information pertaining to virtually any business on the planet to ascertain past business dealings, criminal records, executive stability and suspect associations to ensure your organisation is protected from internal threats and outside risks.
CRI Group’s exclusive 3PRM-Certified™ solution provides Third-Party Risk Management while ensuring compliance with FCPA, UK Bribery Act, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption, and other global, regional and local regulations.
Contact CRI Group™ to learn more about preventing and detecting corruption.
Who is CRI Group™?
In 2016, CRI Group™ launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC™ operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
CRI™ Opens Office in Turkey
CRI Group™ Opens Office in Turkey
Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group™), a global leader in Risk Management and Compliance solutions, announced today the opening of its offices in Turkey (Corporate Research and Investigations Danışmanlık Hizmetleri Limited Şirketi). CRI Group™ has been safeguarding businesses from fraud, bribery and corruption since 1990. CRI™ protects businesses by establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with your business.
Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions providers. We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. Our global team can support your organisation anywhere in the world.
Zafar Anjum, Group CEO at CRI™, said: “The ability to effectively pre-empt fraud and corruption by mitigating internal and external risks to prevent these issues can save corporations from immense potential losses and reputation damage. Our services such as DueDiligence360™, 3PRM™ and EmploySmart™ can significantly help organisations deal with bribery and corruption, third-party risk management, noncompliance with the regional and international regulatory framework and malpractice. CRI Group’s expertise will enhance the diverse pool of business support services available within Turkey.”
“Today’s business climate dictates an increasing demand of international business organisations for proactive measures designed to reduce bribery and corruption, particularly in the financial, government and multi-national business sectors,” Anjum further said. “CRI Group’s worldwide network of multi-disciplined subject specialists and analysts help organisations prevent and deter bribery and corruption, third-party malfeasance, threats and corruption risks while ensuring our clients conform to the local and international regulatory framework. The establishment of our offices in Turkey gives us the platform to expand further and enhance the level of support we offer to the international business community.”
CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle, and it is a licensed and incorporated entity of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and Qatar Financial Center (QFC).
Turkey Office Details:
Emar Residence Blok. No:82E İç Kapı No:219 Üsküdar-İstanbul, 34662 Istanbul/İstanbul, Türkiye
t: +90 544 100 03 69
e: Istanbul@crigroup.com
Global integrity DueDiligence360™ Investigations
CRI™ investigators employ a proven, multi-faceted research approach that involves a global array of databases, courts and public record searches, local contacts, industry and media resources, and in-depth web-based research. Our resources include:
- International business verification
- Individual business interest search
- Personal profile on individual subjects
- Company profile on corporate entities
- Historical ownership analysis
- Identification of subsidiaries & connected parties
- Global/national criminality & regulatory records checks
- Politically Exposed Person database
- International digital media research
- Company background analysis
- Industry reputational assessment
- FCPA, UK Anti-Bribery & corruption risk databases
- Global terrorism checks
- Global financial regulatory authorities check
- Money laundering risk database
- Financial reports
- Asset tracing
- Country-specific databases that include litigation checks, law enforcement agencies & capital market regulators.
VIEW DUEDILIGENCE360™ BROCHURE
Ensure a safe work environment for all with EmploySmart™
EmploySmart™ can be tailored into specific screening packages to meet the requirements of each specific position within your company. We are a leading worldwide provider, specialising in local and international employee background checks, including pre-employment and post-employment background checks.
CRI® Employee Background Checks are an investigation into a person’s character – inside and outside their professional lives. Some checks you already carry out in-house, such as candidate’s qualifications (documents provided), work history (with a reference check), right to work in the country and even a quick social media presence scan. However, we provide a full in-depth background screening service for candidates and employees at all levels – from senior executives through to shop-floor employees including BS7858 vetting.
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Our EmploySmart™ is a robust pre-employment background screening service certified for BS7858.
Third-Party Risk Management solution (TPRM), also known as 3PRM™
The solution includes establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers, customers, and other sources worldwide seeking potential affiliations with your organisation.
If your organisation requires any of the following within your compliance checklist, then you must consider a third-party risk management solution:
- Have a lack of visibility or understanding danger of the risks posed by your relationships with many types of third parties?
- Want greater visibility into third-party performance and risks?
- Need to improve operational costs, process, efficiencies, and organisational agility associated with your third-party relationships?
- Need to gain greater control over the related risks?
- Want to be confident that third parties are compliant with your business’ policies, as well as their own based on government regulations and industry requirements?
Working with us you get…
- With expertise in domestic and international screening, one of the largest, most experienced and best-trained integrity due diligence teams globally.
- The ability to manage multiple background checks online
- Quick turnaround times
- High-quality searches, backed by numerous checks and quality controls
- We have a flat structure which means that you will have direct access to senior members of staff throughout the due diligence process.
- Our multi-lingual teams have conducted assignments on thousands of subjects in over 80 countries, and we’re committed to maintaining and constantly evolving our global network.
- Our solutions are easily customisable, flexible and we will tailor our scope to address your concerns and risk areas, saving you time and money.
- Our team of more than 50 full-time analysts is spread across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America and fully equipped with the local knowledge to serve your needs globally.
- Our extensive solutions include due diligence, employee pre and post background screening, business intelligence and compliance, facilitating any decision-making across your business no matter what area or department.
Our Mission and Vision
- CRI™ mission is to safeguard the corporate world by detecting and exposing those elements that can cause irreparable harm to a business
- Stand up against the outside forces that, through corruption, collusion, coercion and fraud, can cause financial, organisational, reputational and legal harm to our global clients
- Stand out as the preeminent provider of specialised investigative services that enable our clients to exhibit the highest standards of business integrity, ethics and behaviour
Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. We take great care to ensure that our experts are the best at what they do. We pride ourselves on having the most stringent recruitment standards in the industry. Our experience, skilled workforce, technical resources, networking capabilities, internal flexibility and global offices maximise our solution efficacy. Added to that is the fact that our extensive experience gives us the breadth and depth of knowledge needed to make sure that your organisation is protected at all turns, at every corner, and through every deal.
Speak up – Report Any Illegal, Unethical, or Improper Behaviour
If you find yourself in an ethical dilemma or suspect inappropriate or illegal conduct, and you feel uncomfortable reporting through regular communication channels or wish to raise the issue anonymously, use CRI Group’s Compliance Hotline. The Compliance Hotline is a secure and confidential reporting channel managed by an independent provider. When reporting a concern in good faith, you will be protected by CRI Group’s Non-Retaliation Policy.
Towards a Fraud-free future: CRI™ Celebrates 2021 Fraud Week
Towards a Fraud-free Future
CRI Group™ is proud to be celebrating International Fraud awareness week 2021. Alternatively known as Fraud Week for short, this day proves to be a critical effort to put a spotlight on fraud, help educate people about its perils and build a fraud-free future. CRI Group™ regularly partakes in this week and are happy to once again be a proud Official Supporter of this global movement. Fraud Week was created to reduce the impact of fraud and corruption by promoting anti-fraud awareness and education.
CRI Group™ founder and CEO Zafar Anjum says “Fraud Week reminds us that awareness is any organisation’s first line of defence against fraud and corruption, as properly trained employees will have a better opportunity to recognise the red flags of fraud and a better understanding of their organisation’s zero-tolerance policy toward such behaviour. Fraud is everybody’s problem, and it cannot be prevented and detected if employees aren’t provided with the information, they need to combat it. Providing a robust anti-fraud training program increases your company’s protection from risks of fraud and unethical behaviour. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.”
The solution to mitigating fraud is not always as visible as one would hope which is why CRI Group™ is proud to announce that we, alongside our sister brand, Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence Group, will be hosting a free webinar with Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MICCI) on 9 December 2021 as an effort to raise awareness for Fraud. Our intention is to be able to provide resources on corporate compliance to organisations around the globe that will aid them in expansion and an ethical working environment. We want to open up an in-depth discussion on the third-party due diligence frameworks and explore its best practices as a means to help provide insights and ideas for your organisations’ compliance programme. Take advantage of this free webinar. Join us and save your seat now!
Our Mission and Vision
- CRI™ mission is to safeguard the corporate world by detecting and exposing those elements that can cause irreparable harm to a business
- Stand up against the outside forces that, through corruption, collusion, coercion and fraud, can cause financial, organisational, reputational and legal harm to our global clients
- Stand out as the preeminent provider of specialised investigative services that enable our clients to exhibit the highest standards of business integrity, ethics and behaviour
For CRI Group™, though, helping organisations prevent and detect fraud is a year-round commitment. That’s why Fraud Week is a great time to reflect on CRI Group’s recent efforts in the fight against fraud and to also look ahead to activities on the near horizon. As the world slowly recovers from the devastating impact of the pandemic, CRI Group™ is looking forward to conversing with our clientele face to face once again. So far, our confirmed events include but are not limited to:
- The U.S. Commercial Service’s Trade Winds Middle East and Africa Trade Mission and Business Forum | Dubai, UAE | March 6-8, 2022
Organised by the U.S. Commercial Service, Trade Winds will feature meetings with U.S. commercial diplomats from over 20 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, exciting conference programming and plenty of networking. Trade Winds is a multifaceted program designed to help organisations achieve growth and exposure in specific markets or regions around the world.
- 2022 PBSA Mid-Term Conference | Virginia, USA | April 10-12, 2022
The PBSA Mid-Year Legislative & Regulatory Conference in April between 10-12th is convened each year in the spring with a large emphasis on law, legislature, training, and compliance associated topics in correlation to the background screening industry. This specific conference offers insight and support for everyone across a range of industries at all levels in the operative hierarchy.
Given that borders across the globe will slowly start reopening themselves to conferences and forums, you can expect to see a lot more confirmations on our end in the near future. In the meantime, it is an honour for us to be a part of such activities that extend to and facilitate so many organisations across the globe; more information on the event will be released soon so keep your eye out for our updates! We hope to see you there.
CRI Group™ is here to help and create a fraud-free future. Contact us today to learn more about our ABAC™ Training and Certification opportunities, our EmploySmart background checking process, our investigative services and other offerings.
Who is CRI Group™?
Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.
In 2016, CRI Group™ launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC™ operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
Do You Know What are the Measures to Implement to Prevent Fraud?
Measures to Fight Fraud: The Implementation
Measures to fight fraud. What are measures every organization must implement to prevent fraud? Reporting fraud is crucial for any organization to do as it aids in not only safeguarding your organization from the outside but also in protecting the economy. When the event of fraud happens on a large scale, it can set back a nation’s economy substantially. Consumers which consist of the public as well as any trade suppliers will not purchase goods or services if there is any possibility of them developing into victims – an issue that has plagued third-world countries in recent years but is not exclusive to just them.
Reporting fraud protects your organizations internal and external team, and organizational leaders must come to realize that they have a responsibility to look out for their personnel whilst also promoting a workplace that encourages the employees to look out for one another. It is therefore vital that all suspicious activity must be brought to light. When offenders are allowed to operate without restraint, the rate of fraudulent conduct tends to spread with many victims clueless to the notion that somebody is taking from them.
The question of mandating the reporting of fraud has always been of prevalence and the ACFE released a report in which it was found that “the main reasons given in support of mandatory fraud reporting included: the prevalence and damaging nature of fraud; the opportunity to gain a better overall understanding of fraud; the need to escalate tackling fraud as an item on the government’s agenda; the value in creating more and better intelligence for policing; and encouraging organisations to take more responsibility for managing fraud.”
Regardless of where you stand on the mandating of reporting fraud, it is important to know what you can do as an organisation to safeguard yourself from the ramifications. We leave you with food for thought on what preventive measures you should implement to avert fraud.
The Fraud Triangle Theory
Renowned criminologist Donald R Cressey developed a theory that implicated three aspects that trigger fraud, these include:
- Opportunity
- Rationalization
- Pressure
Trusted persons become trust violators when they conceive of themselves as having a financial problem that is non-shareable, are aware this problem can be secretly resolved by violation of the position of financial trust, and are able to apply to their own conduct in that situation verbalizations which enable them to adjust their conceptions of themselves as trusted persons with their conceptions of themselves as users of the entrusted funds or property (Donald R. Cressey, Other People’s Money (Montclair: Patterson Smith, 1973) p. 30
When offenders are allowed to commit fraud, they will do so promptly. An absence of core regulations or reporting structure/oversight increases the chances of fraud as the offenders are aware that they are unlikely to face any repercussions.
The offender then goes on to rationalize the repeated dishonesty, which, feasibly over a few years, rises slowly and becomes a prerogative as they feel entitled to the easily obtained profits they received from the deceptive act.
They may feel that the gains are easier to obtain rather than confronting the vast pressure, be it corporate reasons such as meeting organization targets or personal pressures, such as addiction or financial crises which is what prompts them to carry out their fraudulent conducts over a prolonged time. Consequently, it is incredibly important to implement preventative measures to safeguard your organization from fraud.
What preventative measures should I implement to fight fraud?
At CRI Group™, we offer a wide array of services catered to several industries to help implement anti-fraud procedures. Fraud can be found in many aspects of an organizational core and peripheral structure, so it is, therefore, important to tailor it to each element.
To detect employee fraud, for example, it is advised that you pursue the proficiency of a skilled employee fraud accountant as early as possible. Employee fraud accountant aids in inspecting an employee’s professional conduct. This can be done by obtaining and by reviewing your organization’s bank statements and financial documents and advising you whether an employee is committing fraud and to what extent; the report will also give you the evidence you need to take the necessary action against your employee and act as a preventive to others. However, this is vastly different from conducting a pre-employment screening check.
What are the makes of an ideal candidate? The experience, qualifications, and academic accreditation, right? But how do you verify everything that they have presented to you? Employee background checks and necessary screenings are crucial to avoid a bad hire that can impact HR, your business, or even your brand –the financing of sufficient screening can save you time, money, and despair.
Know Your Workforce
Employee Background Checks investigate a potential candidate’s character in and out of their professional lives. These checks as inclusive of a candidate’s qualifications (documents provided), work history (with a reference check), right to work in the country and even a quick social media presence scan. Conducting employee background checks can diminish the probability of hiring a candidate who could cause irreversible damage to your organization. Organizations can spend years and a substantial amount of money to brand their products and services; one bad hire is all it takes to cause a loss of capital and reputation to the extent that may cause an organization to break.
EmploySmart™ is CRI Group’s exclusive employee background checks service providing a comprehensive check of all the necessary data required for pre-employment. EmploySmart™ is a robust pre-employment background screening service certified for BS7858 and is used in a bid to avert inattentive hiring charges. CRI™ helps organizations create a safe work environment for all and our EmploySmart™ system can be customized into special screening packages to meet the requirements of each specific position within your organization. Why not check out our brochure?
Why not contact one of our specialists for a free 30-minute consultation? Our experts range from different fields and industries hence allowing us to provide your organisation with a truly bespoke service. Prevent fraud in your workplace today – it all starts with you.
Implement a Third-Party Risk Management Process
Apart from the internal aspects of fraud, it is equally as important to remember that fraud can happen with any external connections your organization may have including suppliers, consumers, investors and so on. It is vital to ensure that you are conducting third-party risk management to avoid such an instance. CRI Group’s private but professionally developed 3PRM™ facilities aid organizations in proactively abating risks from third-party associations, safeguarding your organization from legal responsibility, brand damage, and any other impairment to the organization. Regardless of where your organization is in terms of the stages of development, our 3PRM™ solution is the perfect solution for eradicating exterior risks associated with your progress. The 3PRM™ restructures the third-party risk management process through scalability and efficiencies – from third-party risk identification to assessment.
Fraud can be an incredibly formidable task and with more legislation looking to be implemented regarding reporting fraud, you must keep yourself aware of it. Overall, the process of preventing fraud can be an extensive one, but one whose benefits outweigh the onerous course. Protect your organization from liability, business interruption and brand damage by partnering with the CRI Group. Our 3PRM solution address various specific areas, including:
- Third-Party Integrity Due Diligence & Screening: ensures global compliance, provides adequate monitoring & protection against potential litigation;
- 3PRM Enhanced Background Checks: uncovers derogatory information within the public & private record resources through risk-based background checks, including investigative research into suppliers & individuals, ultimate-beneficial owners;
- ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System: CRI Group’s independent and accredited Certification Body can examine your Anti-Bribery & Anti-Corruption procedures & issue an accredited Certification; and
- ISO 37301 Compliance Management System: CRI Group’s independent certification body helps companies worldwide to increase & measure their efforts against regulatory compliance risks.
If you still have any questions surrounding fraud prevention, why not contact CRI™? Our experts have years of experience and have been trained to provide your business with bespoke advice that fits your organizations’ needs.
Don’t hesitate to prevent fraud in your workplace today.
About us…
Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS102000:2013 and BS7858:2019 Certifications is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.
In 2016, CRI Group™ launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC™ operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI® Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organizations. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
2021 Fraud Week: Prevention is Key
The 2021 Fraud Week: Prevention is Key!
Every year, for one week in November, organisations around the world embrace a movement aimed to minimise and prevent fraud and corruption. International Fraud Awareness Week (“Fraud Week,” for short) is November 14-20, 2021, and CRI® Group has been an enthusiastic Official Supporter since the very beginning of this important campaign.
According to the ACFE, the world’s largest anti-fraud association and founder of Fraud Week, organisations worldwide lose an estimated 5 per cent of their annual revenues to fraud. To make things worse: “A single instance of fraud can be devastating: the median loss per fraud case was $145,000, and more than a fifth of the cases involved losses of at least $1 million.”
But there is good news. For Fraud Week, the ACFE offers some basic steps any organisation can take immediately to lessen their vulnerability to fraud:
- Be Proactive. Adopt a code of ethics for management and employees. Evaluate your internal controls for effectiveness and identify areas of the business that are vulnerable to fraud. Find out more about what an Ethical code of conduct is and what should it cover?
- Establish Hiring Procedures. When hiring staff, conduct thorough background investigations. Check educational, credit and employment history (as permitted by law), as well as references. Check out the consequences of neglecting background screening
- Train Employees in Fraud Prevention. Do workers know the warning signs of fraud? Ensure that staff members know basic fraud prevention techniques, here are some Tips on Identifying and Preventing Employee Fraud
- Implement a Fraud Hotline. Fraud is still most likely to be detected by a tip. Providing an anonymous reporting system for your employees, contractors and clients will help uncover more fraud. Find out more on how to set up an Ethics & Compliance Hotline.
- Increase the Perception of Detection. Communicate regularly to staff about anti-fraud policies, ways to report suspicions of misconduct, and the potential consequences (including termination and prosecution) of fraudulent behaviour.
At CRI Group™, our experts are trained to help organisations implement the above measures. Our integrity due diligence and risk management services focus on preventing fraud before it happens, not after the fact, when it is often too late to recover stolen funds and assets.
In one case study, a multinational company engaged in the provision of equipment and supplies used by the medical industry contacted CRI Group™. The client wished to contract with a company and wanted to ensure that there were no regulatory or reputational problems associated with the potential partner, and thus wanted to know their track record, integrity and reputation.
During the course of this integrity due diligence, CRI Group™ local operatives focused on whether the company in question was a legitimate business, and sought to identify the key players running operations both in Egypt and Iraq for the company in question. However, questions arose: Research showed no physical locations; the office address was found to be a residential site with no indication of business operations. No commercial relationships in Iraq were evident.
Local operatives further investigated the company’s distribution capabilities in the country, especially to the north and south, as claimed in a questionnaire provided to the client. Yet no information was found from any source to corroborate the company’s claims. Additionally, discreet interviews with local individuals found that no one was aware of the company.
Scepticism was confirmed, CRI Group™ discovered that the company’s principal was previously charged with “criminal breach of trust” and there was still a trial proceeding with regional trial courts. Three other civil damages claims against the principal were discovered, with USD $1.2 million claimed in liabilities.
CRI Group™ helped the client avoid becoming entangled with a fraudulent business and an alleged criminal – protecting the client from making a bad business deal that could have resulted in severe economic loss and a potentially damaged reputation.
Our due diligence services can help put any organisation on the right track to being better protected and positioned to prevent and detect fraud – not just during Fraud Awareness Week, but year-round. Contact CRI Group™ today.
Who is CRI Group™?
Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.
In 2016, CRI Group™ launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC™ operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
50th UAE National Day 2021
50th UAE National Day 2021
50th UAE National Day 2021. Today is the UAE’s National Day, which coincides with the country’s Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years since the founding of the Emirates, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate. This UAE National Day reflects the dreams, development and dynamism of the last 50 years for those who call this nation home. The UAE wasn’t always a prosperous, cosmopolitan country; the country had humble beginnings. The UAE’s rich history is rooted in trade. The Emirates’ location between Europe and the Far East attracted merchants from India and China and was prized by Europeans, particularly the Portuguese, Dutch and British.
Those working from Sunday to Thursday get four days off to celebrate National Day and Commemoration Day from Wednesday, December 1 to Saturday, December 4, giving both private and public sectors a much-needed four-day weekend. Read more about the public holiday here. Join us as we celebrate the remarkable journey of the UAE and now it’s time to experience the festivities together as we honour the Year of the 50th. across Dubai.
Who are Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group™)?
Ever since 1990, Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group™) has committed itself to safeguard organisations from fraud, bribery and corruption. Based in London, United Kingdom, CRI™ is an international organisation with specialists and resources situated in key, provincial marketplaces throughout the Asia Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, North and South America and aim to shield organisations from detriment by determining the lawful compliance, financial feasibility, and integrity measures of external partners, suppliers and consumers pursuing to associate themselves with your brand. They are acknowledged as a prominent Compliance and Risk Management organisation accredited and interconnected in the objectives of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and Qatar Financial Center (QFC).
With a profession spanning over 30-years in the disciplines of fraud prevention, defensive integrity, security and compliance, CRI® Group’s CEO Mr Zafar Anjum is a highly revered authority in his line of work. As a dependable influence in the field of fraud deterrence and protections together with commercial clients, management organisations and trade units, Mr Anjum is renowned for producing secure and reliable networks throughout the dynamic, challenging worldwide markets. In conjunction with a remarkable educational experience coupled with his trade proficiency, Mr Zafar Anjum is continually the first accredited global investigator on the scene when multi-national EMEA corporations pursue to eliminate compliance or security breaches.
2016 found the organisation instituting the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an autonomous certification body that aims to assist organisations in abating core risks as well as peripheral ones through the delivery of a comprehensive group of Anti-Bribery, Compliance and Risk Management programs.
Why CRI™?
CRI Group’s extensive efforts and reliable record in this field of work heavily align with what The UAE Innovation awards stand for – the aim to assist organisations across various sectors in strengthening their vetting capabilities in a manner that demonstrates sustainability in and of the public interest at large while maintaining legalities and development within the internal corporate structure is one to advance innovation in the industry for certain. In a sector that is accelerating the congealment of innovative proficiencies across a countless sum of industries comprising of automotive, aviation, oil, gas & energy, IT & telecommunications, property and many more industries, the services that CRI Group™ have to offer paired with a constructive influence on the society adjacent to it, a significant increase in the development of innovative systems is certainly to be anticipated.
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CONTACT US
Headquarter: +44 7588 454959
Local: +971 800 274552
Email: info@crigroup.com
Headquarter: 454959 7588 44
Local: 274552 800 971
Email: info@crigroup.com
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