Trustify

About Trustify

Trustify, which operated under the domain trustify.info, was launched in 2015 by co-founders Daniel “Danny” Boice and Jennifer Mellon. Initially founded as FlimFlam, the Arlington, Virginia-based company was marketed as the “Uber for private investigators.” The business idea reportedly stemmed from Boice's own difficult experience hiring a private investigator during a divorce. The platform was designed to disrupt the traditional private investigation industry by making services more accessible and affordable for a broader client base, including individuals and businesses.

The company operated as an online, app-based marketplace that connected clients with a network of what it claimed were vetted private investigators. The business model focused on providing on-demand services, such as background checks, surveillance, and locating individuals, without the large retainers typically required by traditional agencies. Revenue was generated by charging clients an hourly rate for investigative services and taking a commission, while the subcontracted investigators received a portion of that fee. The company attracted significant investor interest, raising over $18.5 million from more than 250 investors by presenting itself as a rapidly growing and successful tech startup.

Despite its promising start, Trustify’s operations were built on a foundation of deception. Between 2015 and 2018, CEO Danny Boice engaged in a significant fraud scheme, fabricating the company's financial performance and corporate client list to secure funding. While the company claimed growing revenues, it was consistently losing money and, by the fall of 2018, was unable to pay its employees and vendors, leading to its collapse and eventual receivership in 2019. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Boice and Trustify with securities fraud, revealing that Boice had misappropriated millions in investor funds to finance a lavish personal lifestyle for himself and his then-wife, Jennifer Mellon, including a beach house, private jet travel, and luxury goods. In 2021, Boice was sentenced to eight years in prison for the fraud scheme that led to the company's demise.