What Can a Private Investigator Do and Not Do?

A private investigator (PI) or detective is a person you can hire as an individual or group to carry out a variety of surveillance and inquiry tasks. Their specialty in uncovering hidden information and gathering evidence is highly valuable if you need discreet and comprehensive investigations. 

If you are considering enlisting their services, you may be wondering what these licensed professionals can and cannot do. Private detectives must undertake their services according to certain rules and regulations as local or state laws dictate. This article looks at the legal responsibilities and limitations of a private investigator.

Can I Hire an Investigator to Find Evidence of Financial Fraud?

Yes. Today, many private investigators are proficient in finance and forensic accounting. They can help you find evidence of fraud in your business, home, or non-profit organization. When you work with a finance savvy PI, they will look at transactions, receipts and account histories to identify theft and even track where the monies went and to whom they went. Therefore, you need to hire someone good with numbers and technology and someone who understands the law.  Martin PI has the right people you need for this job.

What if I Only Have a Photo – Can a PI Still Find Them?

Yes. Today PIs can use solutions and strategies such as reverse image search and facial recognition software to find missing persons. With the advancement of AI, there are even more powerful tools at their disposal and these help narrow down the search and speed up case resolution. Private investigators may start from a single photo and gradually build case profiles about a person’s name, real identity and place of origin.  They can track and trace crucial information online and offline by perusing public records and crowdsourcing help on social media to find your loved one.

Can You Hire a Private Investigator For Any Reason?

You may hire a private detective for a wide range of professional, legal, or personal reasons. However, you cannot hire these agents for just any ends. Your intentions have to be ethical and legal. 

In fact, investigators will carefully consider your case to determine your motives. This is crucial to avoid infringing on the rights of the subject under investigation and attracting litigation. That being said, below is a comprehensive overview of acceptable reasons to hire a private detective:

• Corporate background checks – Having a clear understanding of the nature of the businesses or individuals you work with is crucial in the corporate world. You can hire a PI to look into the backgrounds of investors, potential partners, and other parties. 

This service can help you uncover critical things like business credibility and reputation, unethical practices, criminal activities, and fraud. This information is highly valuable when making any business decisions.

• Employee History checks – For companies looking to hire, a PI can help you verify the authenticity of applicant documentation and claims. In today’s world of embellished qualifications and false resumes, private detectives can help your company hire qualified employees. 

You can find out everything you need to know about an applicant’s professional certificates, educational background, and employment experience. You can also protect your company by uncovering criminal records and past workplace misconduct. 

• Gathering Evidence and Legal Support – Most civil and criminal cases use the services of private detectives. They help collect evidence, interview witnesses, and source documents necessary to the cases. All this information is court-admissible if obtained legally.
• Infidelity investigations – The emotional turmoil and uncertainty of a potentially unfaithful partner is one of the major reasons people hire private inquirers. These professionals help uncover a disloyal partner. Their services also minimize the chances of a false accusation, which could damage your relationship irreversibly.
• Family law inquiries – Family law cases often involve emotionally charged and sensitive issues. These may include last wills and testaments, trusts, divorce, and alimony matters. Hiring a PI can help you navigate these issues. 

They will conduct surveillance, witness interviews, and other tasks to help you get favorable outcomes in mediation and litigation. For instance, a PI can uncover hidden assets, evidence of abuse, and financial capabilities.  This information can be highly advantageous in court.

• Child custody cases – Child custody cases are often complex and daunting. An inquiry agent can help you gather crucial information and evidence to help your case. This may include criminal background checks, domestic violence history, and substance abuse. A PI can also help all parties involved come to a just and fair resolution that works for the benefit of the child. 
• Missing person cases – You can leverage the expertise, skills, and resources of private detectives to trace a missing person. In some cases, these professionals are usually successful where law enforcement authorities have failed or given up.
• Fraud investigations – Companies also hire PIs to look into fraud and embezzlement including payroll and billing fraud and asset mismanagement. These financial crimes negatively affect many businesses and lead to significant losses. As such, investigatory services can help protect your business interests. Such private detectives usually have a good grasp of financial systems and laws.
• Insurance fraud protection – Insurance firms hire private detectives to investigate insurance fraud cases. This helps the companies mitigate the economic effects of such crimes, which are on the rise. A PI can also examine your claims to ensure insurance firms pay out if your case is legitimate.
• Harassment Probes – You can also employ a private detective to probe the invasive and malicious activities of stalkers and predators. Their expertise in discreet surveillance can help build solid cases against these perpetrators. 

These services can ensure the safety and welfare of harassment victims.  The PIs collaborate with law enforcement agencies and provide crucial intelligence to bring these criminals to justice.

• Investment protection – If you are an investor, an inquiry agent can protect you from scams. You can hire one to conduct thorough checks on potential ventures you want to invest in. They can investigate the financial health, track record, and credibility of such firms. An investigator can also help you determine the legitimacy of investment prospects. 
• Identity theft protection – In the digital world, identity theft is a real concern. A detective can help you discover identity theft risks and provide a layer of protection. They can analyze and determine vulnerable points in your online and offline undertakings. This way, you can take steps to safeguard your personal and financial information for peace of mind.
• Serving documents – A relatively unknown service private investigators offer is process serving. This involves delivering subpoenas, summons, and other legal documentation in a case. Credit agencies can also hire these professionals to trace absconding debtors.
• Counter surveillance measures– Interestingly, you can hire an investigative agent to find and deal with unwanted surveillance. Firms investigating industrial espionage are the typical clients for this niche service. For example, they can inspect a boardroom for bugs and other surveillance devices.
• Dating background checks – The advent of dating platforms brought with it inherent risks. A private investigator can help you determine whether someone you intend to start a relationship with is trustworthy and genuine. 

An inquiry can confirm the accuracy of the details a suitor shares. Information regarding previous relationships, criminal history, and financial history is important for security purposes and personal well-being.

Investigative Work and Stalking Concerns

A large part of private inquiry services involves following and surveillance of the subject under investigation. As such, there is an important question to consider: can private investigators be charged with stalking? In detective work, something known as permissible purpose defines the difference between investigating and stalking. 

The PI license grants a detective a legal right to shadow a subject and record them from the confines of a vehicle. In normal contexts, such actions would be considered stalking. However, if an investigator conducts them with a permissible purpose, they cannot be charged with stalking. 

A permissible purpose is a legal justification or reason to carry out an inquiry on someone. It is an important safeguard to prevent the abuse of tracking and surveillance approaches. Private detectives can observe and record a subject only in public places. They should also adhere to privacy laws within their practice jurisdiction as well as industry ethical standards and guidelines.

Only an individual with a PI license has this lawful authority. These professionals must have a deep understanding of legal and ethical standards to be entrusted to shadow an individual. Note that, a detective must consider any protection orders or court restrictions when doing their work. 

Within the permissible purpose context, they are tasked with conducting checks to ensure no legal restrictions are present. Failure to do so can cause a subject to bring stalking charges on the investigator. Overall, a detective cannot infringe on a subject’s privacy or constitutional rights to obtain information. Any information obtained this way can amount to stalking.

What Can Private Investigators Do Legally?

The primary legal responsibilities of a private detective involve collecting relevant information about an individual, business, corporation, or location on behalf of a client or law enforcement agencies. The detective has to follow certain rules, regulations, and guidelines to conduct sound ethical research. 

Depending on the individual case, private detectives can perform background checks and interview people. Investigating agents can access public and private databases, public directories, and criminal record databases. They can also examine legal records, financial records, and social media profiles to source this information.

They can also conduct surveillance. Investigators can use various surveillance methods and equipment to gather information. However, they can only use these methods like video recording and photography in public places and in accordance with local and state laws. 

Some jurisdictions allow private detectives to record conversations based on consent. There are two types –one-party and two-party consent depending on the state. One-party consent means the investigator can record conversations without the knowledge of the subject if they are part of that conversation. 

Two-party consent is a stricter standard some states employ. It requires all parties in a conversation to provide consent for the investigator to record. In these states, the detective cannot covertly record conversations. Inquiry agents can also track down personal, legal, and financial information.

Private detectives can create a thorough report on the results of their investigation. All the information contained therein is admissible in court. 

These professionals can also collaborate with law enforcement agencies to provide intelligence and evidence that leads to the arrest and prosecution of criminals. In addition, PIs can perform counter surveillance activities like sweeping for bugs, tracking devices, and other equipment.

What Information Can a Private Investigator Obtain? 

Private investigators have access to numerous resources, networks, and contacts. These assets, coupled with surveillance technology, help them to obtain a wide range of information to assist clients. A private detective can obtain any of the following types of information:

• Surveillance information – Video recordings, photographs, visual evidence, and recorded conversations(with consent).
• Background information – Employment history, educational records, reference checks, criminal records, and civil case histories.
• Personal information – Names, phone numbers, and marriage information.
• Online data– Social media posts, history, etc.
• Financial records – Public transaction records, tax and bank records, financial holdings, and asset declarations.
• Witness interviews

Note that a private detective has to adhere to relevant local and state laws related to accessing the information above. Any unlawful investigations can have serious legal repercussions.

Can an Investigator Find Out What Someone Owns Legally?

Yes. Sufficiently in-depth information about what a person owns can be found in public records such as real estate records, vehicle registration records, and court records for probate, and liability judgments.  A private investigator can help you find out what a person owns by accessing and analyzing these records, but sometimes this investigation requires interviewing witnesses such as friends, family members, and business associates.  And if assets are hidden in trusts and offshore accounts or registered under aliases, a skilled PI would know how to uncover them.

Can a PI Check for Tracking Devices Planted in My Car? 

Yes. The best private investigators can help find bugs in your car and identify the type of bugs and the possible sources. Threat actors commonly hide bugs inside bumpers, behind tail lights, and under wheel wells. PIs use RF sweepers, GPS detectors, and magnetometers to identify and remove bugs. In the US, only the owner of the vehicle can plant a tracker in it. Therefore, if your employer or ex installed a bug in your car and you are the registered owner, you can file a lawsuit. PIs will get you the evidence you need. 

Things a Private Investigator Cannot Do

There are various limitations to a private investigator’s work. These safeguards ensure they do not overstep the constitutional rights of the subjects under examination. 

Most importantly, PIs are not allowed to conduct surveillance in private locations. This includes things like planting bugs and other surveillance devices in a subject’s home, wiretapping phone lines, and recording/photographing through windows. 

Under no circumstances can a detective hack or gain illegal access to a private device or account(email, social media, etc.). In addition, an investigating agent cannot break into or trespass on private property without proper permission as popular media tends to depict. This also includes seizing or stealing notebooks and electronic devices to obtain information.

Private detectives are not law enforcement personnel. As such, they lack the legal authority to make arrests even when they witness a crime. They can contact law enforcement authorities or collect information that will help investigators. 

Private investigators are also not allowed to wear a uniform or carry a badge. This amounts to impersonating law enforcement personnel. Some states allow investigators to carry a badge.

However, they have to be careful not to give the impression that they are a law enforcement agent. Finally, many states have enacted privacy laws forbidding inquiry agents from accessing certain information like addresses for example.

Conclusion

The services private investigators offer can be invaluable for legal, business, or personal situations. These licensed professionals play a critical role in collection and examining information and court-admissible evidence within legal boundaries. Various rules and regulations mandated by state and local laws determine the nature of licensed investigative work. 

As such, a competent and reputable private detective stays aware of their legal responsibilities and limitations. Regardless, inquiry agents bring a unique set of expertise and resources that can provide results and peace of mind where other solutions fall sho