HIRING A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

What You Should Know!

What does a private investigator do? How do I know when to hire one? Will he be able to help me?  What are the risks of hiring a private investigator? These questions don’t come up often, but when they do, they must get answered correctly.

Some people hire private investigators so routinely that it would be difficult for them to imagine completing a project-whether it’s, personal or professional-without one. Other people think a PI is just like an FBI agent-they’re needed only when a catastrophe arises, such as a kidnapping or something equally tragic.

The need for a PI usually falls somewhere between never and always. Although most of the time, you can handle matters on your own, there are times when you can genuinely benefit from a private investigator or investigative agency. To make the most legitimate decision, ensure they are a licensed private investigator.

“Most of the time, you can ehandle matters on your own. However, there are times when you can truly benefit from a private investigator or investigative agency.” Such as the Pinkerton national detective agency, which has specialized in business safety for over 150 years. Pinkerton Crime Index reports for the U.S., U.K., and Mexico allow them to analyze crime and predict risk with 93% accuracy. This will help you make the right decision before divulging into a project.

How To Find A Private Investigator

At Martin Investigative Services, we provide a wide range of investigative services, including bug sweeps, finding missing persons, catching cheating spouses, and more. We have a comprehensive checklist to ensure all necessary steps are taken during investigations.

HOW MUCH DOES A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR COST

The cost of private investigative services can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the expertise needed. For general services, hourly rates may range from $100 to $300. However, for more specialized cases requiring advanced expertise, rates can exceed $300 per hour. It’s best to consult with a private investigator to determine the pricing for your specific case.

WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO HIRE A PI?

Licensed private investigators or private detectives may be the best choice if you’re searching for evidence that requires extensive research.

Many people hire private investigators to help them find their lost loved ones, learn if a relative was adopted, and even find out if their spouse was not faithful. A licensed private investigator can find the information you are looking for.

Below we have listed the top thirteen cases in which many private investigators work. It is of the uppermost importance to know what private investigators do and what they can do for you. Continue Reading.

How Do Private Investigators Do Background Checks

Private investigators can perform background checks on potential employees by utilizing various databases and public records to verify their personal, financial, and criminal history. Companies can trust investigators to conduct a thorough investigation that adheres to legal and ethical standards.

How Investigators Get Information

Private investigators provide a wide range of services beyond covert surveillance, including using tech skills and information know-how to access online public records and private databases. They can conduct pre-employment background checks, tenant screening, and skip tracing to locate someone’s current whereabouts.

Are You Looking To Search For Hidden Assets

An asset search is a thorough investigation performed by searching public and private records to confirm important information, such as asset ownership, history, business due diligence, and location. Private investigators have access to specialized databases and resources, and can help individuals and businesses identify hidden assets or verify information provided by a potential partner or employee.

How To Do An Asset Search On Someone

To do an asset search on someone, gather information such as their full name, date of birth, and social security number. Then use online databases to search for assets like real estate and corporations. A private investigator can conduct a more thorough search by accessing non-public records, their own in-house computer systems or conducting surveillance.

Thirteen Reasons for Hiring a Private Investigator.

• Obtain information on the whereabouts, identity, conduct or credibility of a person or company
• Conduct background checks or searches for potential lovers, business partners or companies
• Have someone followed to see if he or she is being deceitful
• Pre-screen an applicant or business partner for financial records
• Check the legitimacy of a potential investment
• Help research a crime, wrongdoing or a person’s prior arrests
• Find the cause of fires, property damage or accidents and / or the persons responsible for them
• Safeguard your business’ premises, property, assets, people or even information
• Locate and recover lost or stolen property
• Verify employees’ claims, such as workers’ compensation claims
• Investigate a scene or interrogate a witness
• Access up-to-date computer databases of public records
• “Debug” your office or home

PERSONAL HELP

Background Searches

Private investigators often perform background checks verifying people’s backgrounds of criminal felonies. Private investigators also perform background checks for law firms, corporations, and citizens. PIs search public records, conduct interviews and verify reference checks with facts to provide a detailed profile of someone.

Here’s an example: Patricia has survived two divorces and a handful of bad relationships. She broke up with most of the men because they lied to her. She’s very trusting, and the revelations always come too late. Her current boyfriend, Stephen, has recently proposed. A third divorce would be financially and emotionally devastating to Patricia. She consults a private investigator to get an objective report on Stephen, a divorced man with no children. She’d like to see the information in his divorce file.

With instant access to public records, a private investigator can search court filings for details of a divorce and any criminal or civil charges filed over the years. The investigator can also check a financial background for state or federal tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies, notices of default, or hidden assets.

After receiving a copy of the background search, Patricia feels confident to accept Stephen’s proposal.

Conducting Surveillance

Suppose you’re requesting surveillance from a private investigator. In that case, you’re usually ninety-nine percent certain that your partner is being deceitful. Still, you need proof to confront your partner or to support your claims in court in filing for divorce or child custody (unless you live in a state with no-fault divorce). If handled properly and professionally, an investigative service will gather evidence confirming or eliminating your suspicions.

Stacey knew Brandon was a womanizer. He didn’t break up with his last girlfriend until two months after he began a hot relationship with Stacey. Disturbing, but Stacey loved him and hoped Brandon would be different.

Fast-forward one year. Now, she suspects Brandon’s up to his old tricks, maybe even dating his ex. He claims he’s faithful, but Stacey still believes he’s lying. She needs definitive proof, for example, conducting surveillance of his infidelity with another woman.

Every week, Martin Investigative Services field hundreds of calls asking about surveillance services. Eighty-eight percent of the time, the callers are female. We invite them for a free consultation, take down information on the individuals involved, explain the surveillance process and equipment, discuss fees and payment, and select the best time to conduct the surveillance.

We find it’s faster and less costly to conduct surveillance when we assign a two-person team to the case. With only one investigator, losing someone in traffic may add hours or days to the process and increase hourly mileage-rate totals. The team has two-way radio communications along with video and digital cameras.

Locating People

Private investigators locate people for various reasons: Adoptees, birth parents, relatives, former friends, lovers, spouses, co-workers, and missing persons (see Chapter Two).

Private investigators access databases, interview acquaintances, and gather evidence to track down people you’ve lost contact with. They can use public records to fill in missing information and uncover a new name, address, telephone number, and Social Security number.

For example, a private investigator is the best approach if you require a missing person to search. Here is why. Although law enforcement police officers conduct physical searches of the area, they are often short on the workforce. Private investigators are not only equipped with the necessary equipment, but they have the people and resources. Private investigators can physically search the land, sea, or air for missing persons.

 

BUSINESS HELP

Pre-employment Screening

When companies need an employment background check on applicants, a private Investigation gives the security you need when hiring. An airport shuttle company may need to check applicants’ driving histories with the Department of Motor Vehicles if hiring a driver to transport passengers in the company’s vehicle.

Perhaps a Fortune 500 Corporation is filling a top management position and wants to evaluate an extensive profile of a candidate that goes far beyond what’s on the resume. Professional Private investigators will check through Government agencies’ databases for insurance fraud, financial history, and criminal history.

Or if parents decide to hire an in-home nanny. A PI can check the prospective caregiver’s personal, financial and criminal history and her references.

Prospective Business Partner

Gary wants to start a small pizza restaurant in his neighborhood. His brother, William, introduced him to Joseph. Now, Gary and Joseph are considering a partnership. Everything looks good, but Gary will be investing his life’s savings, and he doesn’t know Joseph. Gary may decide that a background Investigation by a respected PI could make the difference between success and disaster. In this case scenario, an experienced investigator will begin gathering evidence, such as performing background checks to see prior criminal history, insurance claims, or fraud.

Investments

Before you invest your money or time in a new company or other financial deal, you’d better research it. A company may appear legitimate, with a fancy office, a pleasant receptionist, and a readily available list of previous client referrals. But it could be a sophisticated scam. A private investigator can perform background checks to check public records for licensing, small claim judgments, bankruptcies, state and federal tax liens, and other judgments or defaults.

Security Consultations

Some private investigators perform corporate security consulting. A business may need to secure premises, property, assets, people, or information. Some companies may need only a nighttime security guard or an alarm system. But others need electronic surveillance, a loss-prevention staff, and strict computer security. Experienced private investigators can recommend security services and techniques to prevent inventory theft or provide for employee safety.

Workers’ Compensation Claims

Insurance companies estimate that twenty percent of claims are fraudulent. Even a single fraudulent claim can cost a business tens of thousands of dollars unnecessarily.

A PI can look into employee claims to verify their legitimacy. For example, we conducted surveillance for a workers comp case and successfully photographed one claimant happily playing golf while he supposedly couldn’t work because of a bad back. Sometimes, we wait until trash day to learn the truth about the claimant. If a claimant can haul thirty pounds of trash to the curb, maybe his back condition isn’t so bleak.

The company also benefits in another way: This deters future fraud by warning other employees that the company pursues every claim.

Law Enforcement

Top-echelon private investigators are an integral part of your community’s law enforcement. They work closely with police and the local, state, and federal court systems. When securing evidence for use in the judicial process, they assist police, the district attorney’s staff, and lawyers. They conduct searches and surveillance, serve subpoenas, take statements and testify in court. They can help with missing persons, unsolved crimes, and cold cases.

A bonus: Because of the role private investigators play in the legal arena, they’re an excellent source for attorney referrals.

Electronic Surveillance Detection

Planting electronic listening devices is illegal and can result in a felony conviction. Still, we receive at least ten monthly calls requesting such a service.

If it’s illegal, who’s doing it? In small and large companies alike, the competition can be relentless, and the pressure to beat the competition can be ruthless. This can lead to one company bugging the boardroom of another, maybe by bribing an employee to place the hidden monitoring device.

While no legitimate private investigator will wiretap an office, many will offer “bug sweep” services to remove the problem.

These are just a handful of the many services a reputable private Investigation firm can provide.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. “Calvin Coolidge

Final Thoughts:

If you need a private investigator, call now. You’ll be glad you did. Our background Investigations are extensive awaking to work early mornings for yopur case. We are connected with local authorities and the media and we will be making phone calls non stop until we have solved your case. We are offering a free consultation to review your situation and maintain your privacy. Hire a PI and get the peace you’ve been looking for.