Founder of Canada’s Largest Bookkeeping Association Sets Out to Combat Fraud with iHonest.com

Langley, Canada, January 13, 2012 --(PR.com)-- 5 years ago, Gordon Skillen started the Institute of Professional Bookkeeping of Canada and grew it into the largest bookkeeping association in Canada. Despite 30 years of industry experience, Gordon was a victim of fraud.

It's the same story you've probably heard a number of times. A "professional" who looked and sounded normal, and even had references stating how fantastic he was. Instead of doing his Due Diligence, Gordon believed the information that had been shared with him.

Information that, at face value, showed the professional to be nothing less than a saint among men. Glowing references, a professional designation, and membership in respectable and well known organizations.

"Unfortunately, this is what snakes in suits look like. They do their best to blend in, trying to look exactly the same as every other professional," says Gordon Skillen, CEO. It's not until you look a bit deeper do you learn that the story they're telling isn't quite true. The glowing testimonials were fabricated by their friends. The professional association has never heard of them. And the criminal record they neglected to mention is proof that they've suckered someone else before. Yet there they were, offering their services to the next victim, and this time it was Gordon Skillen. He fell for it and it nearly ruined his life.

To ensure he would never have to feel the embarrassment and shame of being a victim, Gordon sought a third party verification system to investigate future business relationships. He was looking for an easy to understand verification system to identify people and businesses; a verified level of trust and transparency. He couldn't find it, so he created iHonest.com, allowing professionals to prove their honesty and demonstrate a commitment to transparency.

iHonest helps it's members establish instant trust and credibility through 3rd-party verification of their criminal record, professional memberships and designations. Every member consents to be verified by iHonest and is given a member profile to advertise their trustworthiness and transparency. iHonest is focused on the most risky professionals such as bookkeepers, accountants and financial planners.

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