1Don’t waiver from your ethical core values. 2Don’t impersonate another human being. 3Don’t do anything that is illegal or something that falls within the “grey area” of legality. 4Your reputation and your word are all you have; use them wisely. 5Don’t take on anything just for the money. 6Situations dictate tactics. 7If you are uncomfortable […]
What to do if Someone is Impersonating you Online?
Yesterday, I was messing around with some online tools to identify social media profiles and came across Followerwonk, a tool created by the folks over at Moz to analyze Twitter followers. They have a tool where you can search Twitter bios by their “real name” or by keywords in the bio. It’s quite a handy […]
Goodbye 2017: Here’s to Kick-A$$ 2018!
2017 is (finally) over. I know that people like to think of a new year as a blank slate for a new set of dreams, goals and possibilities. I’ve never been one to think that way. But this year, I hope those people are right. There were a lot of good things to take out […]
3 Reasons Why Investigators Need to Master Online Research
Investigators often debate the value of online research, and their opinions are varied, ranging from the it’s a “disgusting and unethical practice” to “applause” from a newer generation of investigators who think that any investigation can be solved with a few clicks. The truth lies somewhere in between, but I am here to tell you that […]
How to Be an Expert in Finding People
After 15 years as a private investigator, I have become an expert in finding people. Long-lost relatives, hard-to-find witnesses, biological fathers, ex-boyfriends – you name it, I have found them. I don’t say this lightly either. I think that people who call themselves experts at anything are idiots. So I guess I am breaking my […]
Being the Best Private Investigator You Can Be
Last week, I read Eamon Javers’ article on BuzzFeed about Tom Corbally, “a private investigator whose career crisscrossed continents and spanned decades.” It’s an absolutely fascinating read. It’s literally a story straight out of Hollywood. Corbally was the “original most interesting man in the world.” He rubbed elbows with Hollywood types, flew on corporate jets […]
In-Person Vs. Telephone Investigative Interview
We have recently been working on a case for a California-based firm in which we are conducting a number of in-person interviews. In this particular case, we are interviewing individuals who may have some knowledge of a fraud involving upward of several hundred million dollars. As my colleague and I were driving around the New […]
A “Background Check” vs. a Thorough Background Check
A North Carolina woman called a few weeks ago. She had paid a local investigator $2,500 to do some surveillance on her ex-husband’s new live-in friend. She had also asked the investigator to conduct a background check on the friend to see if he had any criminal history. After meeting the friend on several occasions, […]
Nothing Is More Expensive Than a Cheap Private Investigator
There are several reasons why law firms, businesses and individuals aim to hire the cheapest private investigator possible. It makes perfect sense. Why would you pay $1,000 for a background check when you can do one online for $50 for what appears to be the same thing? Or why would you pay one firm $225 […]
What Nike Shoes Can Teach You About Trust and Private Investigators
In a world where “everyone else bullshits,” “telling it straight” started a multi-billion dollar business. If you want to hire a Private investigator, it may behoove you to look for those qualities as well…