Do I Need To Hire A Private Investigator Near Me?

In order to determine if you need to seek out a private investigator in your immediate area, you’ll need to know what specific services your matter will require. Most private investigators provide a variety of service. Some of these services will require a “boots on the ground” approach.

How to Find Out Where Someone Works

For example, if you are trying to learn where someone works, it may require having someone follow the person. The reason for this is, is that there is no real centralized database for employment information (for most folks). That does not mean that the place of employment cannot be determined without hitting the field, but if your online efforts hit a brick wall, surveillance may be what you need. A private investigator near you or the Subject should be able to follow them, say in the morning, to their workplace. A savvy PI can also perform deeper and more intricate searches, using open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques that most of the general public does not understand how to use. Again, if the investigator hits a dead end, then he or she might suggest following the person.

How To Locate A Private Investigator Near Me

The same strategies may be necessary when trying to locate someone or to confirm what may be learned online. Depending on various factors, locating someone may include some surveillance. This is when the client might be best served by asking a search engine:  “best private investigators near me”. This particular query should produce the top reviewed private investigators in your area. Why would you want to ask for the “best”? We believe it’s important that the investigative agency you chose has some online and social proof of their experience and credibility. This does not necessarily mean that the new guy on the block can’t help, but a track record of success is a good indicator that you’ll get your monies worth. Most professionally licensed private investigators have access to databases and other information that the general public does not. These sources are a fantastic starting point, but an experienced investigator knows that even these databases and information could have stale or old data. The professional investigator knows how to go about validating their findings. One way to validate someone’s location is to perform surveillance or sub-contract an investigator in the Subject’s area to perform a drive-by. In this scenario, you may have hired an investigator in the area where you believed the Subject to be, but it turned out that the Subject was outside of this investigator’s service area. Sometimes this cannot be avoided, as people are fairly transient these days. We get into more depth about locating people, skip tracing and what all you should know in another blog.

Background Screening and Background Research

We perform a lot of background research and for many different reasons. Whether we’ve been asked to locate all the criminal records for someone or just everywhere a person has lived, this is regarded as background research. If you think that most of this work is done behind a computer screen, you’d be correct. However, depending on the use of the information and certain circumstances, the requestor may want an investigator to visually verify and document some or all of the information. Again, part of the worked could be performed by one private investigator or several, depending on the number of locations the information, to be verified, resides. With that said, a private investigator nearby will usually suffice for background searches. Background research can be nearly limitless in scope. So many different things can be researched and some private detectives specialize in certain areas. The expertise of the private detective may be important to you when trying to determine if they are near you or not. You may want an in-person consultation, so that you can feel comfortable with whom you’re hiring. Heck, it may be that when you search for a private investigator or detective near me that there simply aren’t any. This is especially possible in rural or less populated areas. But generally speaking and when needing background research performed, most private detectives will be able to assist you.

Would There Ever Be an Instance When I would NOT want to Hire A Private Detective Near Me?

Yes, we can think of a few different reasons to go outside of your immediate area for investigative help. Just as previously mentioned, there may not be a licensed private investigator located in your area. There are usually several, however, located in a nearby larger metropolitan area. This is when you become the investigator because you are trying to locate the best private investigator, not only for your needs, but also for their reputation and experience. Most of these investigators that have their offices, in a larger city near you, will still provide services in the area in which you live. Their office may be in the bigger city, but they may live near you and are very familiar with your neighborhood and town. This is a good thing to know because it will help you feel confident in their abilities.

private investigators near me

What if a conflict of interest is discovered during your search for a private investigator or detective nearby? This, too, could mean that you should seek help outside of your immediate area. A conflict of interest could be that maybe your spouse has spoken with the same investigator about helping them regarding YOU. If you speak with a private investigator and this is the case, they may come right out and say that they have a conflict. They may opt to just brush you off by saying they don’t have the time or manpower to assist, at the moment. They may quote an exorbitant price to drive you away or they may state that they don’t provide the particular service or all the services you need. Regardless of how the conflict is discovered and if the investigator is aware of the potential conflict, they should not disclose it to the other party that they have entered in contract with.

As previously discussed, there may not be a private investigator nearby that provides the service or services you need. Although we have conducted investigations in over 20 different countries, we will often refer a colleague in the country in which you need services. Another reason to search for assistance in a different location would be to hire a specialist. An example of this would be Digital Forensics. Digital Forensics involves the acquisition and examination of data obtained from electronic devices. Cell phones and other mobile devices, such as tablets and laptops are the main targets for this sort of data and it requires someone to be extremely detail oriented and tech savvy. Specialized training is required and sometimes additional licensing, up and above a private investigator license is mandatory. Such is the case in our state of North Carolina. The state required that ANY person conducting Digital Forensic examinations be experienced, licensed and that they have testified as an expert in court regarding their findings. This field is so specialized that there are very few people that provide the service. As a result, you will likely have to look outside of your area for help. Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) and polygraph administrator services are a couple of other services that many people have to look elsewhere for.

Private Investigator Near Me For Service Of Process

Service of Process is where a person of interest, witness, or defendant is either hand-delivered (preferred) or through substitute service provided legal documents regarding a motion, a request to appear, or other demand(s). Private investigators are often asked to provide this service, particularly when previous attempts to effect service have failed. If you have already located the individual or entity that needs to be served, then you will know where you’ll need to hire a private investigator or private process server. However, you may need the person needing to be served to be located first, not only to know where they may be served, but also to be able to list an address on the process documents. Even if you intend on using a private process server, you may need to have the person located by a private investigator or a professional skip tracer. Ultimately, you need either a process server or private investigator near you or the party to be served. If the defendant, witness, entity is in your city, it would be a good idea to ask a search engine which is the best private process server or private investigator near me. The results will be targeted by proximity and popularity, which is important.

Perceptions of a Private Investigator and The Reality

While private investigators are commonly associated with uncovering infidelity or sneaking around corners in a trench coat, their services extend far beyond these perceptions. In reality, they provide a diverse array of offerings that cater to clients’ varied needs.

Whether you require background research, assistance with a legal matter, or seek reassurance through the discreet observation of a spouse, a private investigator is equipped to address your specific needs. Prior to engaging their services, it is crucial to comprehend the range of services offered, understand associated costs, and ensure the selection of a qualified professional suited to your requirements.

Acknowledging the inherent risks associated with private investigations, the benefits often surpass the incurred costs. If contemplating the hiring of a private investigator, consider scheduling a consultation with an experienced professional today to explore the services tailored to your unique situation. In closing, I would reiterate that it really depends on the objective of the case as to what service you will need and where the private investigator you hire is located. It can get quite nuanced, but the search engines and your discernment will guide you to a good decision and strategy. If you live in our area, we would love to help you. If you are not located near Victory Investigations’ private detectives, we can still offer assistance and we are happy to do so. Call us today at 1-888-482-6273 or message us through our website or Facebook. We are very responsive and look forward to hearing from you.

Speak Your Mind

*

Call Now Button