Private investigators are widely misunderstood as being on the wrong side of the law thanks to many popular culture cliches, but this usually isn’t the case. Hiring a private investigator can be a wise decision for someone worried about identity theft, or someone who needs a background check done on someone.
Licensed private detectives can generally access databases that search multiple record sources at once, and that are not available to the general public. Many of those who believe they can be a private detective themselves do not realize the complexity that comes with the job. For example, one of the most common tasks for a private investigator service is surveillance, which seems simple on the surface. However, following someone around without losing them or being seen is incredibly difficult to master. You should also keep in mind that when conducting surveillance it’s best to hire a professional, as liability issues can occur if you take on the task yourself.
In addition to surveillance, private investigators also do background checks, skip traces and searches for missing people. Around half of all private investigator services are through reputable financial services, credit collection services or other businesses, and about 25% work for the government. In fact, only a quarter of private investigators are self-employed, and most of them still have licenses.
Hiring a private investigator can be a key step in winning a case in court, which is why many people hire them. Some of the top reasons for hiring a PI are infidelity investigations (in divorce cases), stalker investigations, fraud, and document verification. These can be of immense help when building a case. Attorneys actually employ private investigators and detectives often.
