How do I hire a real and legit private investigator?

1.) Are they licensed? What is the license number and issuing State?

2.) Call and confirm with the state agency that the licensee is in good standing and has not been disciplined.

3.) Do they have an office? Having an office doesn’t make you a good investigator, but it gives the client confidence if things turn hostile. Never meet in a bar or do business with a PI who only takes cash.

4.) What experience do they have in the genre you are inquiring about? Do they list this subject matter on their website?

5.) How long have they been in business and how many Google reviews are on their website?

How do I hire a private investigator online?

1.) Define your needs and goals. Some investigators offer full-service services, while others specialize in one area of investigation. Determine which one is the best fit.

2.) Verify their license and credentials.

3.) Evaluate their online presence.

4.) What is their fee structure?

5.) If investigators are limited in your area, you may need to hire someone in a different state. That is probably wise if you feel more comfortable retaining someone outside your city or county.

6.) What expertise do they have in communicating with you?

7.) Always ask the three golden questions: what is the investigative plan, how long will it take, and what will it cost me?

How can someone with no experience in being a private investigator get hired by one?

The truthful answer from someone who has been in the business for 50 years is that making the Olympic hockey team might be easier. We are not being negative or dissuading you from trying.

The stark reality is that no established agency will spend the time to train you when they have unlimited experienced investigators from all walks of life waiting in the wings. Many FBI, DEA, IRS, ATF, and Secret Service agents are available with 25-plus years of investigative experience and are already licensed.

Someone with nefarious intent may hire you but not put you on their payroll. This scenario doesn’t help you get the minimum documented two years of work in most states to take the PI licensing test. Be careful. You must prove through pay stubs that you have worked for a licensed agency.

The best advice is to determine if you can work as a PI in your state if only ONE attorney hires you. You must work for them and them only. Additionally, a few insurance companies will hire you at minimum wage to work and be trained by them.

Be positive and resolute. Don’t waste your precious time on PI agencies; concentrate on law firms and insurance companies. Good hunting.

What does it mean when a job application says references will be checked?

Don’t be fooled by an application that says your reference will be checked. This will probably not occur if the agency or the assigned private investigator is in the top echelon of their industry.

Here is what happens. Everyone knows the three references you put down on the application will give you glowing reviews. The seasoned investigator will ask each reference for one or two others to speak with. Some investigators will even call those references and ask for two or three additional people. Once you get down to this level of friendship or relationship, a more precise image will result in the candidate applying for the position.

Be wise and tell the references you put down that this technique will probably be applied.

What are the reasons for private investigators refusing service based on the nature of the investigation?

Over the past 43 years, we have declined to represent or perform services for corporations, insurance companies, attorneys and the public. The first one below may surprise you.

1.) The mental health of the client makes it prohibitive to engage or take a retainer. For example, someone calls and states that helicopters are watching them and someone has planted a monitoring device in their body. They have issues clouding their judgment but ours is crystal clear in not taking advantage.

2.) A high risk of personal danger.

3.) Involvement in illegal activities.

4.) Ethical concerns like violating a temporary restraining order.

The bottom line is that you don’t even get close to crossing the line. No case or livelihood is worth it.

How to Locate a Missing Person with Mental Illness

Finding a missing person with a mental illness requires both speed and expertise in dealing with people with mental disability. Speed, because mentally ill individuals require round the clock care and every hour they spend alone could mean they’d put themselves in danger. Expertise, because these complex cases don’t just require witness investigations. Experts must be savvy in dealing with authorities and accessing hospital records, shelters, group homes and abandoned buildings. It’s critical to hire a private investigator with experience in such cases. At Martin PI experts can help find your loved one even if they have gone completely off the grid.

What methods do private investigators use to determine who to investigate?

For the past 43 years, we haven't decided who to investigate, as that is almost always the client's decision. Granted, a PI may accept or decline a case based on several factors, but the initial matter is brought by a client, corporation, insurance company, or attorney.

Most top-echelon investigators have a checklist before they accept a retainer. The checklist includes personal safety, ethical considerations, legal guidelines, and client mental acuteness.

How do private investigators typically acquire clients?

Do they primarily receive clients through law firms or other sources, or do they actively advertise and wait for potential clients to reach out to them?

Before you ask how PIs acquire clients, they need to know the four main pillars of our industry:

1.) Attorneys

2.) Insurance Companies

3.) Corporations

4.) The Public

Private investigators trying to acquire new clients need to market the above four areas by doing the following. #1 is by far the most important, as it has tremendous reach and provides credibility:

1.) Creating a friendly, usable and professional website.

2.) Online marketing through SEO and PPC. Focus on content excellence.

3.) Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. Start with one and proceed slowly.

4.) Contact and approach attorneys at the courthouse involved in civil, criminal and employment law.

5.) After determining who is in charge of their investigative assignment units, contact insurance companies with your agency brochure.

6.) Contact insurance adjusters and corporate security directors. With the directors, let them know you are not there to take their job but to assist with extra workload.

7.) Contact newspapers and magazines about an interview. Offer to do free backgrounds on subjects they may be doing stories on.

8.) Make sure you have a listing on “Google My Business.