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My solicitor recently informed me they have not received a response from Estate Research Ltd, nor any communications from them after multiple attempts from since 18th May 2023. This, in regards to tracing family descendants. I paid £400.00 in total, having agreed a initial £300.00 with my solicitor, having paid an extra £100.00 as the company said they needed the extra payment to further conduct research. When my solicitor informed me of the companies failings, one of my relatives, who the company had contacted, contacted them on 6 Sep 2023 and spoke to a women named (Zoe Heaton). Zoe Heaton claimed she had sent the required information to my solicitor, but my solicitor confirmed the information wasn't in a formal format (meaning in a format which is legally acceptable). Therefore, it appears the company, for what ever reason, is deliberately sabotaging the legality of their research, and my own legality to my case? Either way, this conduct is unacceptable. I advise if you find yourself having to use 'Estate Research' and find yourself in this position, have yours MP back you up when you submit your complaint and claim for compensation!

Date of experience : August 31, 2023

Terrible company been 16 months since…

Terrible company been 16 months since they first contacted me about inheritance every time you call them get told something completely different I understand these things take time but when you call get told different scenarios makes you feel you can't trust them and are very unprofessional.

Date of experience : July 04, 2023

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• Padders' Bar: General Discussions

Anyone heard of this firm?

By Mrs Overall May 16, 2013 in Padders' Bar: General Discussions

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Mrs overall.

My hubby's received a formal letter from Estate Research Genealogy Matters this morning saying as they were unable to contact us by phone today.

This firm is saying we are a beneficiary to a claim regarding his parents. This firm says we pay nothing untill we receive the cheque off our solicitor..

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http://estateresearch.co.uk/

Have you seen the programme "Heirhunters"

Have his parents passed and have you seen the will?

It could be money that was due to one of his parents from one of their relations.. if they have died then he would be next on the list for the inheritance (I think)

My hubby's parents passed away years ago roughly mum 25 yrs ago dad yrs before. My hubby's brother is away in Tenerife for a month and we don't want to disturb him, but maybe he had the same letter?

If it's a genuine inheritance situation then, yes, he probably will have..have you contacted the company at all? Speak to them and see what they say..

Get onto it Mrs 'O'....you might be pleasantly surprised. However, anyone wanting money up front for services....is a wrong-un. Anyone reputable won't want money up front!

Thanks folks, in view of the positive posts (I was expecting, a few posts saying dont touch em with a barge pole)..lol I think he'll probably get in touch...

Regarding any money up front, on their web site it says they won't be paid untill we have our money. Apparently we get our own solicitor.

Thanks folks, in view of the positive posts (I was expecting, a few posts saying dont touch em with a barge pole)..lol I think he'll probably get in touch...   Regarding any money up front, on their web site it says they won't be paid untill we have our money. Apparently we get our own solicitor.   Well it's worth a look, and I'm a canny half Scot, not a penny will pass untill we see the colour of theirs, also nothing will be signed untill a solicitor has perused it   Wish us luck..

Best get your solicitor on board, if a company have a specific solicitor they want you to use it always ends up taking more time and costing more money than if you use your own.

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Contacted by an heir hunter how to tell if it’s genuine.

If you’re contacted by an heir hunter, you may wonder whether the unexpected inheritance is legitimate. Here’s what you need to know.

Last year, it was estimated two thirds of Brits didn’t have a will – with almost half of over-55s failing to arrange one.

When an individual with no known relatives dies without a will – known as dying intestate – their estate is passed to a division of the government legal department known as the ‘Bona Vacantia division’. Estates can stay on the Bona Vacantia list for up to 30 years if they’re not claimed.

Currently there are over 8,000 names on the Bona Vacantia list, meaning thousands of people across the country could be due a windfall from a relative they possibly didn’t even know existed. Authorities will make little attempt to trace these relatives, making it likely that many people might never find out about the inheritance they’re due.

It’s the job of probate genealogists like Anglia Research to find the beneficiaries of these unclaimed estates by tracing next of kin in order of priority. The closer the relation, the higher the entitlement to the inheritance.

I’ve been contacted by an heir hunter – is the offer genuine?

For many people, being contacted by an heir hunter comes out of the blue, as the estate is likely to belong to a very distant relative. There are often suspicions around our practices, with many in disbelief and thinking it’s too good to be true. With over five million people in the UK affected by financial fraud during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and over a third of Brits targeted by a scammer during lockdown alone, consumers are more wary than ever about contact from unknown businesses.

You should always take steps to ensure that the heir hunting firm you’re dealing with is genuine. Initial contact typically comes via letter, phone, or email – make sure to keep a record of this communication. Check the firm name and details on Companies House , the national registrar for UK companies. The business should also be listed on the Data Protection Register and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority .

Head to the firm’s website and see if there’s a list of team members. Your case manager should be included, and you can cross reference their details with other platforms such as LinkedIn to make sure the credentials match up.

Take your time to check any accreditations that are listed to make sure they are relevant, and can’t just be purchased for a small fee.  Although there’s no mandatory regulatory body for heir hunters, some companies will be registered with industry bodies such as the Association of Probate Researchers (APR) which was the first of its kind in the industry. This organisation works to promote safe and ethical standards across the industry.

How can I find out if this is really my relative?

Understandably, many people are nervous about signing up to an heir hunter’s deal, especially if they’ve never heard of the deceased. There are lots of resources you can use to start tracing your family tree from home, which might give some clues as to whether the connection is genuine.

Ask your case manager for as much information about the individual as possible, including how you’re related to them. Understanding the connection might allow you to trace your relative through more familiar family members. Talking to relatives, especially older ones, is our number one tip for tracing an unclaimed estate. Grandparents and great aunts and uncles might have lived through three or even four generations and could be the missing link in your ancestry journey.

Online records offer a further wealth of information about family trees. If you know the deceased’s home town, check the local parish register for records of baptisms, marriages, and burials. The census is a further useful tool for verifying names and addresses – these have been recorded every 10 years in the UK since 1801 and hold information about occupation, birth date and marital status.

Should I pay a finders’ fee? Am I being ripped off?

Typically, an heir hunting firm will charge a percentage of any inheritance you eventually receive – if you don’t receive a benefit then there is no charge. At Anglia Research, the fee is decided by the value of the assets, the complexity of the case and many other aspects. However, for domestic cases this usually falls between 3-15% of the monies received. If the relative is abroad, this can be more as the research costs are more expensive. Lawyers estate administration fees are paid separately out of the estate before distribution.

You should never pay any money up front to an heir hunting firm – any request to do so is a definite red flag. Fees should only be paid once the inheritance is settled and it is normal for this to be deducted from your share at the point of distribution, and sent directly to the heir hunter. You should also never give your bank card details to an heir hunter: the only document you’ll need to supply is ID, to prove your potential relationship to the deceased. Your case manager and the company should not place any pressure on you to sign a fee agreement.

It’s advisable to check the small print in any contract to ensure that the company won’t try to make any additional charges to the estate in addition to the percentage fee they’ve requested. You may also be contacted by several different firms about the same estate, so take the time to do some research, and don’t be afraid of negotiating.

Beware of firms that might claim they’ve been instructed by a local authority or council to locate relatives of a deceased person. Contrary to government guidelines which advise that potential bona vacantia estates should be referred to the Bona Vacantia division as soon as possible after the death, it’s likely the heir hunter has persuaded the council to give them the details of the estate privately.

The consequence of this practice is that the relatives are only ever contacted by one company. Without any competition from other firms, the percentage fee relatives are asked to pay is much higher.

Transparency and ethical practice are key in the heir hunting industry, both for businesses and customers. Firms must work honestly with their clients to build trusting relationships that help to connect unclaimed estates with the rightful beneficiaries.

Consumers must be aware of their rights when signing a deal with an heir hunting firm – make sure to do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Philip Turvey is executive director of Anglia Research

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How to check our heir hunting researchers are genuine and legitimate

We fully understand that our calls or letters often come as a surprise.

Sometimes the information we provide sounds like it is too good to be true.

In most cases, we are simply trying to prove that a person who we think could be a beneficiary is entitled to claim the estate in question.

There are actions you can take to establish our validity of our work - and put your mind at rest.

Seek legal advice at your own cost

Ask your local Police force to contact us & verify that we are a bona fide business.

Do your own research on the internet, or get a friend to do it.

The best action is to call us to discuss our research and we will always try to assist by answering any questions as much as possible.

Why might you suddenly be contacted by several researchers?

A list of unclaimed estates is released by the government legal department almost on a daily basis – and these can be checked by various professional researchers in England and Wales.

Like us, other researchers are free to look into each case – but we can never be certain about who is researching what and vice versa.

Should you sign an agreement with them?

In our experience, it’s best to get in touch with each one to discuss the services they are proposing.

Don’t just focus on the firm with the lowest ‘success fee’ as that should not be the most important factor you consider.

Remember, the percentage fee that you agree is not the only expense(s) that will be taken out of the estate.

The estate will need to be administered and that will involve the gathering in of all assets and the paying off of any debts. The administration costs will depend on how much work is involved.

These fees need to be considered and, as with all things, these can be higher in some areas than in others.

As research firms are not regulated, they and can charge estate whatever they please, therefore don’t fall into the trap of them offering to administer the estate themselves. This is often a tactic for firms who have a low headline percentage as it allows them to make more money in other areas.

DSResearchers, will not administer estates but refer you to a specialist independent company who offer great value service at reasonable costs to the estate.

We believe this is important because these fees will eventually come out of the final estate settlement, providing you with a larger potential windfall which is also in our interest.

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5 Things to Do If You Are Contacted By An Heir Hunter

When a distant relative dies intestate there is always the chance that you might have a claim to all or part of the estate. In such cases, a company that offers the services of probate researchers might contact you to help you claim your share. However, there are some risks to consider before agreeing to the services of an heir-hunting company. A company that contacts you out of the blue may not be trustworthy, and even those that are genuine may charge exorbitant fees for their services.

Here are five things to consider if you are contacted by an heir hunter.

Are they legitimate?

The first thing to check if you are contacted by heir hunters is to confirm that they are a genuine and well established company. Check sources online such as the UK’s Data Protection Register to find out if the company is legitimate or not. Online reviews, official websites and other sources are useful in determining if you can trust the company and their services.

Our own Joe Lander discusses the potential issues we’re faced with when contacting people out of the blue, especially when we’re bombarded with ‘too go to be true’ offers. But we truly understand why people are wary and we fully respect why people are wary.

How much do they charge?

Even if the company is legitimate, they will charge a fee for their services, usually based on a percentage of the overall amount of your share of the estate. This can range from anywhere between 15% plus VAT to 40%. Depending on the value of the inheritance, you may wish to contact the Treasury Solicitor or the administrator of the estate yourself and cut the middlemen out.

Ask questions

To further gauge whether the company is reputable, be prepared to ask the person who contacted you several questions. For example, ask how much the estate is worth, how many beneficiaries there are in addition to you, and whether the fee is fixed or time-based. The more questions the contact can answer satisfactorily, the more likely it is that you can rely on their services.

Check the unclaimed estates list

All unclaimed estates in England and Wales are made available online to the public and have been since 1997. You can view the unclaimed estates list on the government website. To make sure that the distant relative in question is genuine, look them up yourself and see if their name matches any on the list. With this information, you may be able to do your own research and make a claim yourself.

Be aware of anti-competitive practices

The heir hunter industry is not regulated, and some companies use devious tactics to lure people to pay into paying for their services. In some cases, they may even exploit relationships with local authorities to create an air of legitimacy. A number of fairness campaigns are designed to protect the public from being targeted by these unscrupulous companies, and it is a good idea to research these campaigns to protect yourself further.

Anglia Research Services

At Anglia Research, our helpful team prides itself on always delivering a reliable and individualised service to all beneficiaries . So don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today if you need assistance

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Phone 01473 350 350 Freephone 0800 033 4034 Email [email protected]

Headquarters 6-8 Museum Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 1HT

2024 Anglia Research Services All Rights Reserved. Anglia Research and Anglia Research Services are trading names of Anglia Research Services Limited, a company registered in England and Wales: no. 05405509

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Estate Research firm looking for relatives

Post by lizzydripin » May 20th, 2017, 10:12 am

Re: Estate Research firm looking for relatives

Post by Alaric » May 20th, 2017, 11:13 am

lizzydripin wrote: 1. Is this a scam, I have not been asked for any money

Post by chas49 » May 20th, 2017, 11:15 am

You could argue that heir hunter firms contact people who would otherwise remain unaware of their inheritance, and deserve to be rewarded. Or you could conclude they get richly paid for little work. But in any case, it's still worth knowing what you are getting yourself into. Nick Beetham, from Title Research, a genealogical research specialist that finds missing beneficiaries but does not charge percentage fees, told us: "My advice to beneficiaries would be don't sign anything until you have the same information as the heir hunter, so you know what the deal is." He added: "With a commission-based firm, the fee in cash terms is determined only by the value of the estate and could be thousands of pounds. Whereas with a time-based fee-charging company – which would not be asking you to sign anything – the cost to the estate could be a few hundred pounds. Think twice if you're asked to sign an agreement and definitely don't make upfront payments."

Post by orchard101 » May 20th, 2017, 4:08 pm

Post by Slarti » May 20th, 2017, 6:14 pm

Post by Clitheroekid » May 21st, 2017, 12:36 am

Post by lizzydripin » May 21st, 2017, 10:48 am

Post by PinkDalek » May 21st, 2017, 11:07 am

lizzydripin wrote: I have looked on the link provided by Slarti and can not see the name listed so I had decided it must be some sort of [ word deleted by me to avoid potential defamation ]. This is the firm that contacted me: http://www.estateresearch.co.uk/ ...

Post by Slarti » May 21st, 2017, 12:26 pm

lizzydripin wrote: Hi, I have looked on the link provided by Slarti and can not see the name listed so I had decided it must be some sort of scam. This is the firm that contacted me: http://www.estateresearch.co.uk/ I am also not sure, if it does turn out to be genuine, if we all need to sign the agreement, or if it would just be 20% of my share. Many thanks LizzyD

Post by Clitheroekid » May 21st, 2017, 9:32 pm

lizzydripin wrote: This is the firm that contacted me: http://www.estateresearch.co.uk/

Post by rivemma » October 3rd, 2021, 2:04 pm

Post by scrumpyjack » October 3rd, 2021, 3:50 pm

rivemma wrote: Dear Clitheroe Kid, thank you so much for your advice. I am in the same position as the person who posted about Estate Research Ltd. I have received e-mails from them acknowledging me as a possible beneficiary of an Estate left by a deceased relative. I know who the relative was,and I know approx how much the Estate is worth. I also have the name of the Solicitors who commissioned them This company wants to receive 20% plus VAT of the Estate, which I feel is an extortionate amount to ask for,given that the information is in the public domain. So as you suggest, I would like to employ a solicitor to follow up the case, and instruct me how I can benefit from the Estate my deceased relative would want me to have. Do you think I should use the same Solicitor MB Legal who commissioned the Research Estate in the first place. I am not in the UK now,so I don't have personal face to face access to one. Warm regards, Richard Goulborn

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How Do You Know if a Business Is Legitimate?

Last Updated: July 19, 2024 Fact Checked

Reviewing the Company Website

Checking for registration and documentation, using customer reviews, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Hannah Cole and by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy, MA . Hannah Cole is an Enrolled Agent and the Founder of Sunlight Tax. As an Artist and Tax Specialist with over 10 years of experience in freelance taxation, Hannah specializes in doing taxes for self-employed creative people and small businesses, setting up a business as a creative person, and personal finance issues in creative work. She has her Enrolled Agents license, which is a tax expertise and representation credential issued by the IRS. She has been hosted to speak about taxes for artists by institutions including the Harvard Ed Portal, the Boston Foundation, the New York Foundation for the Arts, RISD, and Cornell University. Hannah received her BA in Art History from Yale University, MFA in Painting from Boston University, and studied accounting at Brooklyn College. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 953,557 times.

Thanks to the internet, making a purchase is as simple as clicking a mouse. Unfortunately, the internet has also made it a lot easier to be exploited by fraudulent businesses! It can be tricky identifying whether a company is genuine or not, but thankfully, there are more than a few red flags that can help prevent you from providing sensitive, personal information to undeserving scam artists. Read our article for tips on determining if a company is genuine or fraudulent.

How can you verify that a company is legitimate?

• Check the company’s website for signs they might be fraudulent, such as stock photos and suspiciously worded policy pages.
• See if the company is registered with any relevant trade organizations, the BBB, or local, state, or federal authorities.
• Look for customer reviews of the company to determine if it’s legitimate, and ask friends and family if they have any experience with the company.

• Remember that both phone numbers and addresses are now super easy to fake, meaning phone numbers are no longer a sign of a real company.
• Before doing business, call the local chamber of commerce associated with the address and see if they are a real brick-and-mortar company. Note that not every company has a physical location, but if yours does, it's a sign it's legit.
• Be wary if you find the same supposedly local business page being used for another location. Usually these copied phony business web pages have broken hyperlinks for images and links, which is a tip-off that this may be a phishing business page.

• Trade and/or specialty businesses must have their relevant permits, licenses, and approved registration documentation clearly on display for customers. If so, check and make sure that these displayed certifications are up to date.
• Restaurants must have relevant documentation required by the local Department of Health and Sanitation clearly displayed on the wall. Typically, this type of documentation provides the business with a grade, and the presence of such documentation indicates the legitimacy of the restaurant.
• Not every company has a brick-and-mortar location, including many small businesses. If you can’t find a physical location for the company, that doesn't automatically mean it’s fraudulent.

• The International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) provides registration authorization for many website domain names and is a great resource for determining who is the actual owner of the business website that you are researching. [6] X Research source

• Review the business's website or promotional materials to see whether they use the phrases “LLC,” “Inc,” or “Corp” in their official business name. If so, you’ll be able to check secretary of state websites to determine whether the company is properly registered, and thus has the right to use the particular business entity type designation in their name. [7] X Research source

• A lack of a listing on BBB does not automatically mean the business is a scam. In fact, some BBB listing pages have become a place where consumers can freely voice complaints about the fraudulent nature of a business, as well as past scams that have occurred.

• For instance, contractors, doctors, lawyers, and many other professionals must be registered with a valid government agency or industry organization.
• Keep in mind that just because a company is registered (or claims to be) doesn't mean it's not fraudulent; rather, not being registered with necessary organizations is a red flag.

• Be wary of fake reviews! If you notice a bunch of positive reviews in a short span of time, multiple reviews from the same IP address or similar reviewer names, generic reviews, or reviews that seem to be written in the same voice, they may be fraudulent. [12] X Research source

• If a company insists on receiving payment via check or wire transfer, it’s likely a scam. Companies that are on the up-and-up are more likely to ask for payment through certified secure systems, like PayPal or other third-party intermediaries where you’ll have a paper trail of the transaction. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Lots of companies, especially small and/or burgeoning ones, don't have a great online presence, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're illegitimate. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• A company's domain owner name may not be public, but this isn't necessarily a red flag. Some web hosts choose to keep this information private, and the decision to do so doesn't necessarily mean that the website and/or business is fraudulent. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-spot-a-fake-fraudulent-or-scam-website-aUBir8j8C3kZ
• ↑ https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/checking_business_bkgrd10
• ↑ http://www.bbb.org/blog/2013/12/before-you-click-make-sure-the-company-is-legit/
• ↑ https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consumer-protection/identifying-a-genuine-business
• ↑ http://www.domainsherpa.com/how-to-determine-who-owns-a-domain-name/
• ↑ http://www.myllc.com/entity-types.aspx
• ↑ https://www.fundera.com/blog/check-credit-score-for-another-business
• ↑ https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/protecting-yourself/checking-a-business-is-genuine

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Faked video targeting France and UAE likely Russian despite Moscow’s links to Gulf Arab states

FILE - United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron pose for photographers ahead of their working dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, May 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A fake video that ricocheted across the internet claiming tensions between France and the United Arab Emirates after Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s detention in Paris likely came from Russia, an analysis by The Associated Press shows, despite Moscow’s efforts to maintain crucial ties to the UAE.

It remains unclear why Russian operatives would choose to publish such a video falsely claiming the Emirates halted a French arms sale, which appears to be the first noticeable effort by Moscow to target the UAE with a disinformation campaign. The Emirates remains one of the few locations to still have direct flights to Moscow, while Russian money has flooded into Dubai’s booming real estate market since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

France, however, remains one of the key backers of Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the war grinds on. Meanwhile, Russia likely remains highly interested in what happens to Telegram, an app believed to be used widely by its military in the war and one that’s also been used by activists in the past. And the move comes amid concerns in the United States over Russia, Iran and China interfering in the upcoming U.S. presidential election .

Russia’s Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

The fake video began circulating online Aug. 27, bearing the logos of the Qatar-based satellite news network Al Jazeera and attempting to copy the channel’s style. It falsely claimed the Emirati government had halted a previously announced purchase of 80 Rafale fighter jets from France worth 16 billion euros ($18 billion) at the time, the largest-ever French weapons contract for export. It also sought to link Dubai’s ruler and his crown prince son to the decision, as Durov holds an Emirati passport and has lived in Dubai.

Such a decision, however, was never made. The UAE and France maintain close relations, with the French military operating a naval base in the country. French warplanes and personnel also are stationed in a major facility outside the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi.

Reached for comment, Al Jazeera told the AP that the footage was “fake and we refute this attribution to the media network.” The network never aired any such claim when reporting on Durov’s detention as well, according to an AP check. On the social platform X, a note later appended by the company to some posts with the video identified it as “manipulated media.”

The video also appeared to seek to exploit the low-level suspicion still gripping the Gulf Arab states following the yearslong Qatar diplomatic crisis by falsely attributing it to the news network. State-funded Al Jazeera has drawn criticism in the past from Gulf nations over its coverage of the 2011 Arab Spring , from the United States for airing videos from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and most recently in Israel , where authorities closed its operation over its coverage of the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The social media account that first spread the video did not respond to questions from the AP and later deleted its post. That account linked to another on the Telegram message app that repeatedly shared graphic images of dead Ukrainian soldiers and pro-Russian messages.

Such accounts have proliferated since the war began and bear the hallmark of past Russian disinformation campaigns.

In Ukraine, the Center for Countering Disinformation in Kyiv, a government project there focused on countering such Russian campaigns, told the AP that the account engaged in “systematic cross-quoting and reposting of content” associated with Russian state media and its government.

That indicates the account “is aimed at an international audience for the purpose of informational influence,” the center said. It “probably belongs to the Russian network of subversive information activities abroad.”

Other experts assessed the video to be likely Russian disinformation.

The Emirati government declined to comment. The French Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not respond to AP’s request to comment.

Durov is now free on 5 million euros bail after being questioned by French authorities and preliminarily charged for allegedly allowing Telegram to be used for criminal activity. He has disputed the charges and promised to step up efforts to fight criminality on the messaging app.

Despite the video being flagged as fake online, captions and versions of the video continue to circulate, showing the challenge of trying to refute such messages. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov just attended a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Saudi Arabia attended by the UAE. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have mediated prisoner exchanges amid the war.

Given those close ties, the UAE likely will or has reached out quietly to Moscow over the video, said Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a research fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute who has long studied the region.

“It may be that this is a part of the Russian playbook which is to seek to create wedges between political and security partners, in a bid to create divisions and sow uncertainty,” Ulrichsen said.

“The importance of the UAE to Russia post-2022 does make it unusual, but it may be that the campaign is aimed primarily at France and that any impact on the UAE’s image and reputation is a secondary issue as far as those behind the video are concerned.”

Associated Press writer Volodymr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.

The New York Times

Politics | mueller report: who and what the special counsel investigated.

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Mueller Report: Who and What the Special Counsel Investigated

By LARRY BUCHANAN and KAREN YOURISH UPDATED APRIL 17, 2019

After more than two years of criminal indictments and steady revelations about contacts between associates of Donald J. Trump and Russia, we already know a lot about the work done by Robert S. Mueller III , the special counsel who investigated Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. This is everything we knew before the release of the special counsel’s report.

The investigation revealed a range of events related to Russian interference and the 2016 election.

Russian Hacking and WikiLeaks As part of a complex effort to sabotage the campaign of Hillary Clinton, Donald J. Trump’s 2016 rival, Russia’s top military intelligence service hacked the computer networks of Democratic organizations and the private email account of the chairman of the Clinton campaign and released tens of thousands of stolen emails through WikiLeaks to the public, according to an indictment filed by Mr. Mueller . Only the Russians have been charged.

Russian Social Media Manipulation The Russian government also directed a network of Internet trolls who used fake accounts on social media to manipulate potential voters and influence the election, according to the special counsel.

Trump Tower Moscow Mr. Trump and other Trump Organization executives were involved in discussions throughout the 2016 campaign to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. During the campaign, Mr. Trump repeatedly denied having any business interests in Russia, but has since admitted that discussions took place.

Trump Tower Russia Meeting Donald Trump Jr. arranged a meeting with a Kremlin-connected lawyer after being told that the Russian government wanted to share damaging information about Mrs. Clinton. After the meeting was uncovered by The New York Times , the Trump team pushed a false narrative about the reason for holding it.

Russian Contacts All told, Mr. Trump and more than a dozen of his associates had more than 100 contacts with Russian nationals and WikiLeaks, or their intermediaries, during the campaign and transition. These included multiple offers of dirt on Mrs. Clinton, attempts to arrange “back-channel” meetings between Mr. Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, and private messages with WikiLeaks and other Russian fronts . At least 10 other advisers were told about these interactions but did not have any themselves.

Russian Sanctions Several people close to Mr. Trump engaged in discussions about deals to give Russia relief from economic sanctions. Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s onetime campaign chairman, had repeated conversations with a Russian business associate about a plan to end a guerrilla war between Russia and Ukraine that might have led to sanctions relief. Michael D. Cohen, the president’s longtime personal lawyer, delivered a sealed proposal to the office of Michael T. Flynn, the president’s first national adviser, for the same purpose. Mr. Flynn also spoke with the Russian ambassador about sanctions (court documents show that Mr. Trump’s presidential transition team knew about these calls and coached Mr. Flynn on how to respond).

Other Foreign Contacts Other foreign officials also reached out or offered assistance to the Trump campaign. An emissary for the leaders of two Arab nations told Mr. Trump Jr. that the princes were eager to help his father win election . An Israeli company was asked to provide a proposal for using social media manipulation to help defeat Mrs. Clinton. And an informal adviser to Mr. Trump’s team during the presidential transition attended a meeting in the Seychelles that was convened by the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates.

Obstruction Inquiry Mr. Trump’s public and private attacks on investigations have exposed him to accusations of obstruction of justice . These include efforts to pressure the director of the F.B.I., James B. Comey, to end the bureau’s investigation into Mr. Flynn, firing Mr. Comey and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and attempting to fire Mr. Mueller.

Other Charges Mr. Manafort and his longtime business associate, Rick Gates, were convicted of fraud and other crimes related to their work for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians before joining the Trump campaign. Mr. Manafort and a Russian associate were also charged with witness tampering. Several others, not shown here, have been charged in spin-off investigations.

Six people connected to Trump were charged. Five were convicted or pleaded guilty.

Michael T. Flynn Mr. Trump’s former national security adviser pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I. about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition.

related events Russian Contacts Russian Sanctions

Michael D. Cohen Mr. Trump’s former lawyer pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about negotiations to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow during the campaign. He has also been sentenced to prison in a different investigation related to hush-money payments he made on behalf of Mr. Trump.

related events Trump Tower Moscow Russian Contacts Russian Sanctions

Roger J. Stone Jr. A longtime friend and adviser to Mr. Trump, Mr. Stone was indicted on charges of lying to Congress about his efforts to contact WikiLeaks.

related events Russian Hacking and WikiLeaks Russian Contacts

Paul Manafort A longtime Republican consultant and lobbyist, Mr. Manafort served on the Trump campaign from March until August 2016, including three months as chairman. He was convicted of financial fraud and conspiracy stemming from consulting work he did in earlier years in Ukraine on behalf of pro-Russian political figures. He also had multiple contacts during the campaign with a Russian associate believed to have ties to Russian intelligence and shared private Trump campaign polling data with him. Mr. Manafort lied to the special counsel’s office after pledging to cooperate with its inquiry, a judge found.

related events Trump Tower Russia Meeting Russian Contacts Russian Sanctions Other Charges

Rick Gates Mr. Gates, a deputy campaign chairman, was Paul Manafort’s longtime right-hand man in Ukraine. He agreed to cooperate with the special counsel inquiry after pleading guilty to financial fraud and lying to investigators.

related events Russian Contacts Other Foreign Contacts Other Charges

George Papadopoulos A former Trump campaign adviser who had multiple contacts with Russians and repeatedly told campaign officials about them. He pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I. about his contacts.

related events Russian Contacts

Twenty-eight others — including 26 Russians — were also charged .

Alex van der Zwaan A lawyer who worked with Mr. Manafort and Mr. Gates and who pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about conversations he had with Mr. Gates over work they did together for a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party.

related events Other Charges

Konstantin V. Kilimnik A longtime Russian business associate of Paul Manafort who had multiple contacts with Mr. Manafort while he was the Trump campaign chairman and who received private Trump campaign polling data. He was charged with conspiring with Mr. Manafort to obstruct justice by trying to shape the accounts of prospective witnesses in Mr. Manafort’s case.

related events Russian Contacts Russian Sanctions Other Charges

Richard Pinedo A California man who sold fake bank accounts and was an unwitting participant in Russia’s scheme to influence the election.

related events Russian Social Media Manipulation

Twelve Russian intelligence officers Charged with hacking the computer networks of Democratic organizations and the private email account of the chairman of the Clinton campaign and then releasing tens of thousands of stolen emails through WikiLeaks to the public.

related events Russian Hacking and WikiLeaks

Thirteen Russian nationals Charged with manipulating social media to subvert the 2016 election and help the Trump campaign.

Dozens of others were swept up in the investigation, including campaign and administration officials, family members, Trump Organization executives and members of Mr. Trump’s legal team .

Donald Trump Jr. Mr. Trump’s eldest son arranged the now-famous Russia meeting at Trump Tower. He also exchanged private messages with WikiLeaks and was aware of negotiations to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow.

related events Trump Tower Moscow Trump Tower Russia Meeting Russian Contacts Obstruction Inquiry Other Foreign Contacts

Ivanka Trump Michael D. Cohen said he briefed Ms. Trump and Donald Trump Jr. on the Moscow Trump Tower project during the campaign. She was also contacted by a Russian woman whose husband offered to help her father develop a separate real estate project in Moscow.

related events Trump Tower Moscow Russian Contacts

Jared Kushner As a senior campaign official, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law attended the Trump Tower Russia meeting. He was also told that a campaign aide had been approached about setting up a back-channel meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin, and that Donald Trump Jr. received a private message from WikiLeaks . As a senior transition adviser, Mr. Kushner met at Trump Tower with the Russian ambassador and discussed setting up a way to communicate with Moscow during the transition. He also met with a Russian banker close to Mr. Putin in an attempt to establish a direct line of communication to the Russian president.

related events Trump Tower Russia Meeting Russian Contacts Russian Sanctions

Hope Hicks A fixture of Mr. Trump’s inner circle throughout the campaign and in the White House, Ms. Hicks was involved in the drafting of a false statement in response to questions about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting arranged by Donald Trump Jr.

related events Trump Tower Russia Meeting Obstruction Inquiry

James B. Comey Former F.B.I. director who alleged that Mr. Trump pressured him to drop the investigation into Michael T. Flynn.

related events Obstruction Inquiry

Rod J. Rosenstein Deputy attorney general who appointed the special counsel to investigate Russia’s election interference.

Robert S. Mueller III The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and the possible involvement of Mr. Trump’s campaign.

Alan Garten The Trump Organization’s general counsel was involved in the drafting of the misleading statement about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting arranged by Donald Trump Jr.

related events Trump Tower Russia Meeting

Stephen K. Bannon Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman and chief White House strategist emailed Roger J. Stone Jr. in October 2016 for insight into WikiLeaks’s plans to publish documents that could damage the Clinton campaign.

related events Russian Sanctions

Rick Dearborn A campaign adviser who was approached by a Russian intermediary about arranging a back-channel meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin.

Donald F. McGahn II The former White House counsel threatened to quit after Mr. Trump asked him to fire Mr. Mueller.

Jeff Sessions Weeks after he was confirmed as attorney general, the former senator recused himself from any investigation into charges that Russia meddled in the election after revelations that he had failed to report encounters with the Russian ambassador during the campaign.

related events Russian Contacts Obstruction Inquiry

Carter Page Russian intelligence operatives tried to recruit Mr. Page , a foreign policy adviser to the 2016 Trump campaign, in 2013. During the campaign, Mr. Page gave a speech in Russia and met with at least one Russian government official in Moscow. He told at least four members of the campaign about his trip.

Stephen Miller As a top adviser to the president, Mr. Miller helped draft a letter, which was never sent, that explained why the president wanted to fire James B. Comey. During the campaign, Mr. Miller was among top campaign officials whom George Papadopoulos told about his Russian contacts .

Sam Clovis Mr. Clovis was among the Trump campaign officials whom George Papadopoulos told about his contacts with Russians .

related events

J. D. Gordon Mr. Gordon met briefly with the Russian ambassador during the Republican National Convention. He also had contacts with Maria Butina and was among the Trump campaign officials who knew that Carter Page would be traveling to Russia in July 2016.

Thomas P. Bossert Mr. Trump's former chief homeland security adviser was aware of conversations about sanctions that occurred during the presidential transition between Michael T. Flynn and the Russian ambassador.

Corey Lewandowski Mr. Trump’s first campaign manager was among the Trump campaign officials who knew that Carter Page would be traveling to Russia in July 2016. He was also told about George Papadopoulos’s contacts with Russians. In 2017, Mr. Trump asked Mr. Lewandowski to pressure Mr. Sessions to resign, but Mr. Lewandowski did not act on the request.

K. T. McFarland A senior transition official and former deputy national security adviser who was aware of conversations about sanctions that occurred during the transition between Michael T. Flynn and the Russian ambassador.

Reince Priebus A senior transition official and former White House chief of staff, Mr. Priebus was forwarded an email exchange during the transition that said Michael T. Flynn was discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador. In a December 2017 meeting in the West Wing, Mr. Trump asked Mr. Priebus how his interview had gone with the special counsel’s investigators and whether they had been “nice.”

Sean Spicer Former White House press secretary who was forwarded an email exchange during the transition that said Michael T. Flynn was discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

Avi Berkowitz A White House aide who works for Jared Kushner, Mr. Berkowitz met with the Russian ambassador at Mr. Kushner’s request during the presidential transition.

Mark Corallo A former spokesman for Mr. Trump’s legal team who told Mr. Mueller about a conference call with Mr. Trump and Hope Hicks in which, he said, Ms. Hicks said that emails written by Donald Trump Jr. before the Trump Tower meeting "will never get out."

Donald J. Trump The president has repeatedly sought to dismiss the special counsel’s investigation as a “witch hunt.”

related events Trump Tower Moscow Trump Tower Russia Meeting Russian Contacts Obstruction Inquiry

Sarah Huckabee Sanders Ms. Sanders, the White House press secretary, initially said the president “certainly didn’t dictate” the false statement issued by Donald Trump Jr. about the Trump Tower Russia meeting.

Jay Sekulow Mr. Trump’s private lawyer initially said the president was not involved in a false statement about the Trump Tower Russia meeting. Separately, Mr. Cohen has alleged that Mr. Trump's lawyers, including Mr. Sekulow, helped with Mr. Cohen's false testimony to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Moscow.

These Russians or Russian intermediaries were also of interest.

Aras Agalarov A Russian real estate developer who co-hosted the 2013 Miss Universe pageant with Mr. Trump in Moscow. He set the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting in motion after being told by a Russian government official that Russia wanted to share damaging information about Mrs. Clinton with the Trump campaign.

related events Trump Tower Russia Meeting Russian Contacts

Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov’s son and a Russian pop star who helped Donald Trump Jr. arrange the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting.

Rob Goldstone A British-born publicist who served as an intermediary between the Trump campaign and the Agalarovs.

Sergey N. Gorkov The head of a Russian bank who is close to Mr. Putin, Mr. Gorkov met with Jared Kushner during the transition. The bank, Vnesheconombank, is under American sanctions.

Sergey I. Kislyak The former Russian ambassador to the United States who met with multiple members of the Trump campaign and transition.

Felix H. Sater A Russian émigré and Trump business associate who was involved in negotiations during the campaign about developing a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Maria Butina A Russian who admitted to being involved in an organized effort to open up unofficial lines of communication between Russians and Americans in the N.R.A. and the Republican Party. She posed for a photo with Donald Trump Jr. at a 2016 dinner hosted by the N.R.A. in Louisville, Ky.

Andrii V. Artemenko A pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmaker who pushed a plan to end a guerrilla war between Russia and Ukraine that might have led to sanctions relief. Mr. Cohen and Mr. Sater were also involved.

Alexander Torshin A former Russian government official close to Mr. Putin who made contact with the Trump campaign and appears to have been behind efforts to use an N.R.A. meeting to arrange back-channel communications between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin.

Ivan Timofeev A Russian who said he had connections to Russia’s foreign ministry and who had repeated contacts with George Papadopoulos about setting up a meeting between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Viktor F. Vekselberg A Russian oligarch who met with Mr. Cohen at Trump Tower .

Irakly Kaveladze An executive at Aras Agalarov’s real estate development company who represented Mr. Agalarov at the 2016 Trump Tower meeting.

Paul Erickson A Republican operative who reached out to the Trump campaign about arranging a back-channel meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin.

Rick Clay An advocate for conservative Christian causes who reached out to the Trump campaign about arranging a back-channel meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin.

Rinat Akhmetshin A Russian-American lobbyist who attended the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting.

Arkady V. Dvorkovich A Russian deputy prime minister who met with Carter Page in Moscow and expressed strong support for Mr. Trump.

Kirill Dmitriev A Russian investor who is close to Mr. Putin and attended a secret meeting in the Seychelles that was convened by the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates.

Olga Polonskaya A Russian woman originally introduced to George Papadopoulos as the niece of Mr. Putin (she was not).

Dmitry Klokov A former Russian Olympic weight lifter who offered to help the Trump Organization develop a real estate project in Moscow.

Elena Klokov A Russian woman who reached out to Ivanka Trump on behalf of her husband, Dmitry Klokov, about helping Mr. Trump develop a real estate project in Moscow.

Natalia Veselnitskaya A Kremlin-connected lawyer who attended the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting.

Joseph Mifsud A London-based professor with connections in Moscow who told George Papadopoulos that Russia had “dirt” on Mrs. Clinton in the form of “thousands of emails.”

Dmitri Peskov Mr. Putin’s spokesperson who Michael D. Cohen contacted about Trump Tower Moscow.

The head of WikiLeaks and people who are connected to Mr. Stone .

Julian Assange The founder of WikiLeaks, which released tens of thousands of Democratic emails stolen by the Russians during the 2016 election.

Jerome Corsi A conspiracy theorist and political commentator who was asked by Roger J. Stone Jr. to be an intermediary between Mr. Stone and WikiLeaks .

Randy Credico A New York comedian and former radio host who may have acted as an intermediary between Mr. Stone and WikiLeaks in 2016.

Other foreign officials or intermediaries.

Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan The crown prince of Abu Dhabi and de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates who convened a January 2017 meeting in the Seychelles that brought together a Russian investor close to Mr. Putin and Erik D. Prince.

related events Other Foreign Contacts

Erik D. Prince The founder of Blackwater and an informal Trump adviser who arranged a meeting in August 2016 between Donald Trump Jr., George Nader and Joel Zamel. He also attended a meeting in the Seychelles that was convened by the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates. He is the brother of Betsy DeVos, Mr. Trump’s education secretary.

related events Russian Contacts Other Foreign Contacts

George Nader A Lebanese-American businessman who told Donald Trump Jr. that the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. wanted to help his father win the election. He is cooperating with the special counsel.

Joel Zamel The owner of an Israeli firm that put together a proposal for the Trump campaign to manipulate social media.

Mohammed bin Salman Crown prince of Saudi Arabia who was among the Arab leaders George Nader said wanted to help the Trump campaign.

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