Small PI Agencies are Going Out of Business, Here's Why...

Hi All,

This will only take 5-10 minutes (max) to read, so please continue. And once you’ve read, please spread the word and remind your fellow PI that he, like you, is worth more than he thinks.

Many of you do not know me, but if you’ll indulge me, I would like to recount a little bit about my background. Before 1980, I helped manage a large multi-purpose agricultural business. Some may call it farming, row cropping, ranching, or refer to those associated with it by such pejorative phrases as "straw chewing hick" or "overall wearing hayseed." I don’t really care what you call it or me, but it was the best business experience I have ever had, bar none! Make no mistake though, “Mother Nature” is a landowner’s boss and don’t let anybody ever tell you differently. No matter what you may think, farming is not for the stereotypical, “backwoods redneck yokel.” Farming takes planning, organization, money, timing, a market, and a whole lot of LUCK! No other vocation falls at the mercy of year- round weather conditions than farming. What does all this have to do with anything? Well, I was hoping you’d ask.

The small farmers of America are a thing of the past. Corporate farming and private land ownership has taken away America’s most precious identity – that of the family farmer. The family farmer has been exploited for years by poorly written laws (and the lawmakers who write them), greedy merchants, and avaricious big businesses – a situation not unlike what the PIs of this nation have been experiencing during the past three decades. Logic and commonsense have given way to political correctness and privacy hysteria. PIs are not completely free from fault. We are just The Last of the Mohicans - small enterprises that are being replaced by “national agencies” in the same way mom and pop farmers were pushed out to pasture.

Have you ever noticed how the ABA and AMA are nationally organized? Although the medical profession is on its ear, all the doctors I know still own nice homes and drive fancy cars. The reason lawyers and doctors are doing well: they recognize the need to form huge coalitions through their national and state run organizations. Farmers tried but, due to fragmentation within their ranks, failed, and look where they are now. Through tremendous solidarity, doctors and lawyers have gained bargaining power, clout, and a war chest to challenge bad legislation. Farmers were too divided, putting self-interest first, and you see what it cost them. Talk about fragmented, divided and emphasis on self-interest -these are all terms that can be applied to today’s licensed PI. It is true what is said about history repeating itself.

The PI vocation is doomed because of apathy, cynicism, and mistrust in our spokespeople, a lack of participation, factions of too many colors, and a serious lack of leadership. There are approximately 60,000 licensees nationally, yet the ranks of most PI organizations cannot even brag about having 30% of the total of each potential state’s licensees. It’s no wonder we have no voice; no unity. Laws are changing more frequently than some of you change your yolk-stained ties, and yet you do nothing or you bitch and moan about the impending doom and gloom. At the rate we are going, we are headed toward extinction. There are no teeth left in the tiger’s mouth to kick out, yet most of you sit on your tired rumps, too lazy to do anything about it. It’s pathetic. Where is your pride, people? Are we all so burned out we do not give a damn anymore?

We do not have enough resources to run a nationwide television ad. That too is deplorable. DO NOT STOP READING… KEEP GOING…I AM ALMOST DONE.

I wish to share an idea I have been mulling over for awhile. Seeing as how a great majority does not want to spend a nickel to support state and/or national organizations, perhaps this revelation will change your thinking:

Lift up your self-worth! I cannot believe what some of you are willing to sell your retail services for! It’s no wonder PIs and small agencies are suffering as they are.

The sole practitioner and the small agencies are being replaced by inexperienced wannabes who are supervised by a bunch of sophisticated business people who saw an opportunity to catch us asleep at the wheel. Try a little surfing on Google or Copernic and you’ll easily discover who the culprit is snatching the food out of your refrigerator. Out-of-state agencies are killing all of us. They are willing to exploit inexperienced (and oft-time bogus) PIs for $10-$15 dollars/hour, all the while misrepresenting themselves to their clients. The supervisors of these “agencies” are getting fat while your cupboard is looking more and more bare. With any luck, something will backfire on these so-called “national PI agencies.” You can only use/exploit “inexperience” for so long.

It is in all of our respective interests to recapture our instate work for our instate licensees. The longer we allow this downhill trend to manifest itself, the sooner we will arrive at the collective loss of our livelihoods before this decade ends. The national companies’ poor work product may be our saving grace. You cannot teach 27 years of on-the-job experience to a person in one year. It is impossible. Yet, companies are shunning experience in favor of cheap labor.

So, you may be asking yourself, how can we charge more if national agencies are charging less? Well, the objective is to come together and form an American PI Association, “APIA,” so we can build the resources to reclaim all that we have lost. No voice, no vote. No money, no change. We need both money and a voice. And, if any of you think a dollar amount that exceeds $99 a year is too much, please don’t bother to apply. We don’t want or need your apathetic attitude and/or shortsightedness. Save those qualities for your analysis of a witness’ statement under oath. I am not giving up. It is not in my nature, but you can rest assured I am not dragging the sorry lot of cynics and naysayers along for the ride. I just as soon start fresh and bring a new breed of educated, optimistic, and motivated people whose goals are to succeed in life and business. Work smart, not hard.

Although the Sherman Anti-Trust Act prohibits collusion in the free-market bidding process, it does not prohibit the offer of sage advice. I am not the only answer, but I’ll stand by my successes and failures over the many years I have been practicing as a PI entrepreneur. When a newbie asks me for advice or ideas about how to start a PI business, the very first thing I tell them is “Don’t sell your self short.” So many of you know what I am talking about, however, you are constantly discounting yourselves, ergo, the malaise we find ourselves in as our businesses dry up. Granted there are several factors that are squeezing the life out of some our markets, and, those for certain are the “national agencies” that are springing up like bad mold all over the U.S. There is no way a home office in Timbuktu will have the same experience and knowledge of the laws in another state than a home state PI will have in his/her own territory. Nevertheless, more and more “national agencies” are taking the food right out of our mouths. The primary reason this is happening is that this profession is so factious that we are biting off our own noses because of our own shortsightedness and cynical disinterest.

After years of bidding on RFPs, I have noticed a consistent trend by a majority of the bidders to come in at such ridiculously low hourly bids, its no wonder PIs and small agencies are dropping like flies into cow pies. The rule of thumb for calculating a proper profit margin for a business is to charge three times per hour [or what ever unit of measure] you would pay an employee to do the job. The math is so easy that I will not bore you with the minutiae, but it is patently apparent that many of you people are selling yourselves too cheaply. If you hold a license to practice Private Investigations, then take pride in the fact that you have something special to offer. When you price your wares ad hoc, you are not only doing a disservice to yourself, but you are royally screwing the rest of us. If you do not feel like you know what or how to operate a PI business so that you are maintaining a fair and reasonable standard, then I suggest you join a professional PI organization. Ask folk that have been in the business 20 plus years, go to the professional seminars, and/or take a few night classes at a reputable business school so you will know what you need to run a real business. I could go on for hours on this topic, but it is not necessary. The bottom-line: We as PIs are entitled to make a decent living for our efforts, thus we all need to take pride in our retail services so we actually can make a living. I have done well for a small agency, but given the current trend of low-ball tactics, unlicensed activity, fraudulent misrepresentation, out-of-state monster “agencies” coming into our various markets, and BAD LEGISLATION, something is going to have to give. I talk to many PIs during the course of a week and it never ceases to amaze me how many share the same sad tales of woe.

Thanks for reading, and like I said, spread the word. Hopefully, we can rally to make pride and integrity the standard for our industry - and not suffer the fate of the family farmer.

Bernard Cane
President & Director of Operations
Bernard George Investigations, Inc.
Santa Monica, CA 90401-1700
Bernard@BernardGeorge.com
BernardGeorge.com

7 Tips for Testifying in Court

Here are a few pointers for private investigators that will make you a professional witness and a hit with your client.

1. Don't volunteer anything! Respond thoughtfully to the question that is asked but keep it brief AND answer only what is asked. That applies to your client as well as to the cross-examination. If your client wants more, he will guide you with his questions.

2. Respect....for the court, the judge, the opposing counsel and for yourself.

3. Have confidence in your testimony. Remember that you are there to talk only about what you know to be the truth to the best of your knowledge...nothing else. You're not going to be asked to give a speech, sing or dance. That will inspire self confidence and goes a long way to help with the "jitters."

4. Do not....let me repeat that....do not... take your investigative file to court. Anything you have in your hand on the stand, and sometimes anything you bring to the courtroom, can be admitted into evidence at the request of opposing counsel. That will not make your client happy, since you will be, in essence, revealing part of his "attorney work product." In short, your client does not want the other side to have your notes. If a bunch of dates are involved or something else that would otherwise require handwritten notes, ask your client about this before trial. My answer on the stand to such questions is, "I would have to look at the file to give you the exact date, (name, time, address, etc.")

5. Talk to your client before trial. Let him guide you with regard to any special circumstances that may come up in advance.

6. Do not be combative. It is the lawyer's job to get you riled and make you look like an unprofessional witness...see rule no. 2.

7. Finally, what may seem the most obvious....Tell the truth. I know you are not going to lie, but there may be the temptation to "touch-up" the truth, just a little to make yourself or your client look better. Don't do it. You may not get caught, but in the end, your client will know you lied to the court and will always wonder, in future dealings, if you are lying to him. A private investigator's ethics, honor and integrity are not for sale.

Good Luck!

Dave Sheldon Investigations
Post Office Box 1559
North Little Rock, AR 72115
(501) 771-1853
.

How Much Should I Charge for Mileage?

Now that the proce of gas is getting out of hand, how do I charge a client for mileage? The actual costs seem to be around fifty to sixty cents per mile but every potential client I have talked to has balked at the rate!
-CMI


My answer is pretty simple- NOTHING!

Figure the cost into the investigation using an hourly rate and then you can take a full deduction on your income taxes at the end of the year.
-SH

Telephone Company and Location from Telephone Number

Try www.fonefinder.net

For those of you not familiar with this search, it's a fast and free way to learn if a phone number is a cell or a landline, the geo-location of the wire exchange, and who the phone company is. Although generally reliable, the results are not perfect due to number porting and occasions where phone companies split up blocks of numbers that have been assigned to them.

Audio Recordings- Analog or Digital Storage?

Hello Group,I am in need of your help. I am looking for advice, suggestions on a new recorder to use for taping Interviews. I tryed this on my own but with all the new stuff out there, I couldn't settle on what would be best. Please, lend me your experience and knowledge.
-PS

Take it from me, when they subpoena duces tecum all your records and recordings, it's sure nice to be able to hand over a simple tape instead of your whole recorder. I say tape. This happened to me and I didn't get my recorder back for 6 weeks.
-GK

Using the best evidence rule, the original source medium - voice or video - is the best piece of evidence. However, in the age of erasable medium; digital hard drive cameras and voice recorders, the "original" is becoming a little ambiguous.

I am not an attorney and you should consult with your own before you make any decisions on what to use or how to handle your company. But here is what I did:

I have spoken to the attorneys I work with about this very issue and the response was that if you have an unedited copy of the original, and if the original is not available, then the copy becomes the "best evidence". This of course must be backed up with testimony the submitted copy is an unedited version. In this new age of erasable mediums, digital copies of source material are acceptable. The courts can easily recognize that when using the new digital medium, no one can be expected to buy new recorders once the first one is filled, and that digital copies are made for long term storage.

This is a very valid issue for the new hard drive cameras (which is why I asked the question) where the "original" is erased once you transfer it to a DVD or desk top. This is applicable to digital voice recordings as well.

The upside is I now have a stack of DVDs where I had a stack of tapes, which takes up a fraction of the space.
-MC

Good day -

-- My opinion is simple - digital.

-- Further - with Sony and Olympus using their own proprietary formats (or the Windows "WMA" format) Both Sony and Olympus are good quality recorders. Attempt to get one that has a card slot for additional memory expansion. Olympus seems to have chosen to drop all models with a card slot in favor of more built-in memory (a less than optimal solution).

-- Using any of these will give you excellent results for a recording - but you will likely have to convert it at some point for use on some other computer system (say, in court). Arizona's legislature uses the Olympus (DSS) format, and you get a software player to distribute with it. Some also permit you to convert to the WAV format during downloads to the computer. WAV files are -very- large by comparison. Then you might also need to convert that WAV file to a more usable format for wide use -likely MP3.

-- My opinion - Try to get a recorder that records directly to the MP3 format. There are a few available.

-- There are some very expensive, physically larger, ones meant for studion quality recordings. There are some that are good for desktop interview use (still a bit larger - say 4" x 6") that cost in the area of $200 or so. Then there are a couple that are smaller, similar to the other brands of handheld digital recorders commonly available.

-- I've bought one for desktop use (connect to a telephone for instance) that you can sit near and record an interview with the recorder in full view. It works very well - and you can set the "sampling rate" for high to lower quality (and smaller files sizes). Then I've bought one that looks very much like an 'older' MP3 player that is quite pocketable.

-- MP3 is considered the 'text' file of the audio world. It is able to be played on any operating system that can play audio (so can WAV) and for 'CD' quality is approximately 9% the size of a comparable WAV file. (think 1 hr on a CD to about 11 or so hours on a CD). Though lowering the sampling rate can give you very good recordings and still make very small file sizes. I have one CD with 29 hrs 45 mins on it. Makes for good use of time for both you and the attorney? adjuster? ... ?

-- Sanyo makes two that I know of. One is typical size for a handheld digital and is similar to the familiar slim microcassette-size recorder. It has 256meg of built-in memory (h o u r s of interviews) a slot for SD cards (preferable to use a card versus the built-in memory), and a built-in USB connector, for as much convenience as you can hope for. I guess that (secure) wireless transmission to the PC (from your remote location) is the next desire. The other Sanyo is the small MP3 player-looking one. Both had list prices of $300 (matching those from Sony and Olympus) when brand new. I've seen it around $200 now (a bit cheaper than Sony and Olympus - due to name recognition?). However I did buy the small MP3 player version for $66 on Overstock.com awhile back. But both record directly to MP3 and I felt that is by far the best thing you can do when moving to digital - IMHO.

-- Many times you would be faced with converting an audio file to another format - in real time. Not a good use of time at all. There are software packages that can help with some conversions, but that idea of doing any conversion in real time is not appealing.

-- When I've been asked to explain this idea of digital recording I simply use a tape analogy for them to understand it a bit more easily.

-- I begin with the idea that any recording I supply them IS 'the original recording' (as it was recorded directly to MP3 format). Compare this to the idea that you remove a tape from the recorder to the 'shelf' (for instance) - well, I remove the recording to the PC. I'd store a tape in some 'shoebox' - I store the recording in a folder on the PC. I make the argument in simple matter-of-fact terms that they are the same - but this is the original recording without the crappy sound or need to record it to the PC (in real time).

-- If not one of these - I am -still- very high on the Sony MiniDisc recorders. 45 hours or more on a single $2 disk (cheap enough to actually store). The newest ones still record to a proprietary format (but can download to WAV file, then can be converted at high speed to MP3) so you still need to explain that you did not edit the interview, just changed the format.

-- Good luck.
-BK

A new Fugitive and Most Wanted resource

I like where this new fugitive website is going... I have been looking for a fugitive and most wanted criminal information resource for some time. It has always been a pain having to look through hundreds of law enforcement websites to pull together reports from Federal, State, County and City agencies to find what I need. Hell, the FBI's Most Wanted site changes location like every other week- just finding it is tougher than locating a hiding criminal.

The layout, which is the only thing which appears to be finished right now, looks solid; any person can find wanted fugitives posters very quickly and the information should be up to date.

Good job- I am looking forward to seeing more soon!

Do Citizens Arrest Fugitives for Rewards?

Are private individuals hired to locate and arrest fugitives?

Yes, they are called fugitive recovery agents. Much more information can be found out about them if you Google "Fugitive Recovery" or "Bail Enforcement Agent" or "Bounty Hunter."

Typically they work for bail bond companies picking up their "skips" for bounties or rewards. Obviously the recovery of fugitives should only be undertaken by trained individuals who are professional skip tracers and are prepared to confront and defeat violent fugitives in a safe and legal manner.

It can be both dangerous and rewarding for the skilled investigator.

Handling Disgruntled Clients

In the investigative business, we cannot satisfy everyone. There is going to be times that clients will not be satisfied with your services. We have not had too many disgruntled clients, in fact, I can only think of one (1) that we had that was not satisfied.

A lawyer phoned us referred from a Florida private investigator and said his client’s husband was flying in to Louisiana and she wanted him watched. This lawyer was referred to us from a new investigator that we just recently hired. Since she referred the case, we allowed her to work the case. To make a long story short, she messed up on the case because the client phoned and said that his client’s husband was at a strip club all night and the investigator did not note that in her report because she lost him. I agreed with him and told him that this case was not worked properly. I comforted the client and told him the truth. What we did not know was that the investigator was an alcoholic and was already in trouble with the board for soliciting clients without an agency license. The client appreciated us for admitting she worked the case in the wrong way and told us we were stand up guys. To this day, this person is still our client and the board pulled the investigators license under the charges of soliciting clients and working cases on her own without an agency license. We did not know this before we hired her so we waived the rest of the client’s fees.

BE OBJECTIVE AND HONEST: Listen to the client and let them talk. If you get angry with them, you will only make them angrier. Ask them and assist them in determining a way to make them satisfied. Ask them for their opinion. If their only gripe is that the investigator the subject, explain that this is part of the business and at times we do lose subjects or if we feel the subject is getting suspicious we back off and try another day. No need to jeopardize a case when we do not have all the evidence yet.

LISTEN TO THE CLIENT: The client will have a lot to say. Listen with an open mind. While they are not investigators, they will feel better talking about their unsatisfaction and it will help in easing the situation. Don’t try to protect the case investigator, even if he/she was right in their judgment, that will only cause a more tense situation. Let the client know that you are listening and you will solve the problem.

OFFER SUGGESTIONS: Let the client know that you want to handle their unsatisfaction quickly and fairly. Offer to replace the investigator with someone else, waive that day’s fee or reduce the rate, offer an extra day at no cost to the client even if you have to work it yourself. Usually, if the client observes that you are trying to make amends then that will calm the situation down and you are performing damage control.

BE APOLOGETIC: Apologize to the client and let the client know that you see it from their point of view. Even if the investigators judgment was correct, apologize and reassure the client that their concerns are being taken seriously. Remember that we work for the client and its their money. Let the client know that you have their best interest at heart and many times, you may have to explain how private investigation work and how mistakes can be made such as losing a subject, subject’s getting suspicious, and let them know that these things happen in the industry.

FOLLOW UP: Follow up with the client and let them know that their concern is being handled/was handled and apologize again but ask if the situation was handled to their satisfaction.

These ideas generally work well. Imagine if you hired an attorney and you were not satisfied with the service, you would also address your concerns with the attorney. It works in the same way. Too many times, we know the problem but don’t come up with the solution. Good luck to all and have a prosperous year!!

Assisting Clients with Legal Questions

There has been alot of questions asked on this forum as well as other forums regarding the legality or illegality of a private investigator giving legal advice to clients that are unrepresented. During any private investigation course, we are informed of the private investigator legal terms and definitions, laws, rules and regulations. The questions were clear, as asked by some...can laypersons or nonlawyers assist those without representation?

I sought the advice of our corporate attorney, I questioned an assistant United States attorney general, I even asked a couple of federal magistrates from the western district and the eastern district regarding the question. From their advice, this is what I was given:

"Litigants can be assisted by unlicensed laymen during judicial proceedings".Brotherhood of Trainmen v. Virginia ex rel. Virginia State Bar, 377 U.S. 1; v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335; Argersinger v. Hamlin, Sheriff 407 U.S. 425

"A next friend is a person who represents someone who is unable to tend to his or her own interest".Federal Rules of Civil Procedures, Rule 17, 28 USCA "Next Friend"

"Members of groups who are competent nonlawyers can assist other members of the group achieve the goals of the group in court without being charged with "unauthorized practice of law."NAACP v. Button, 371 U.S. 415); United Mineworkers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715; and Johnson v. Avery, 89 S. Ct. 747 (1969)

So you be the judge. These citations were given to me by those that were questioned. Merely stating that some act is legal or illegal is not "unauthorized practice of law". According to those questioned, the unauthorized practice of law is actually advocating that he/she is an attorney, attempting to represent someone in a court of law as an attorney and so forth. Just FYI for those that were wondering. It is advisable that you contact your own attorney for legal advice as I did mine.

Obtaining Surveillance Video Through a Mirror?

Here is a memo that I've just sent to my surveillance investigators regarding taking video shots through mirrors. A friend of mine had to testify in a case as an expert witness where an investigator had taken video through a mirror and in some video shots, the cast was on opposite legs. My friend, an investigator also, watched the video over and over again and couldn't figure out what was wrong and why the cast was on opposite legs. However, in a 4 minute span when the cast was on one leg, in the other next video shot it was on the opposite leg. My friend asked his client, the subject's attorney if his client was a quick dresser because within 4 minutes the cast went from one leg to the other. Still unable to figure it out, my friend continued watching the video and at a split second, my friend stopped the video and the investigator shooting the video caught a portion of a stop sign and the "p" was backwards on the stop sign. That's when they figured it out that the video was shot through a mirror.

The investigator that had taken the video documented in his report that the subject was wearing the cast on the opposite leg hoping to gain an advantage to his client that the injury was fabricated. That is nothing but dishonesty and against ethics for private investigators. While we all, at times, shoot video through mirrors, I've made it our policy to document in the report that the video is shot through the mirrors and that the angle may be reversed. Any report is a good report as long as its based on actual facts and events. Here is the memo that I sent out to all of our employees:

To All Employees and Sub-Contractors: When videotaping through the any mirror on your vehicle, we must document it in our report that the video was shot through the mirror. When shooting through a mirror, the image is reversed and while it would be more prevalent in a worker's compensation or injury case, it is now our policy to document obtaining video through a mirror in our reports all video that is taken through mirrors on all cases. If you have any questions or comments regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to contact me. -KM


It is my company's policy that when shooting through a mirror to not only document it in the report, but to also back the zoom off periodically to show on the video that the scene is being shot through a mirror. Remember: OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR -JD

More on Marketing for Private Investigators

A couple comments on the Private Investigator Marketing topic: "Brochures: are they worth it" issue.

The correct answer is a good brochure is worth it, and a bad one is worthless.

A brochure is more than "Who we are." If that is all it is, then it is not worth it.

If you print a brochure that says "Jones Investigations" on the front and gives a laundry list of services inside, and then wonder why no one comes banging on your door, you are fooling yourself and wasting time and money.

If you produce a brochure that answers the question, "Why should someone hire me over all the other investigators out there?" then your brochure helps distinguish you from your competition.

If you produce a brochure that helps identify a problem your target audience has, and then you explain how you can address that problem, then you are actually helping someone out in a way that can lead business to you.

In some cases you do not need "A" brochure. You need several brochures.
Your business card is not enough. A brochure gives you a chance to tell your story...but then you have to use it to tell your story, not just repeat your name and the fact you have been in business 20 years. People don't care that you have been in business for 20 years. They care what you can do to help them out.

And it's not an either/or situation: do I have a brochure, or do I have a website? You need both. They are both only tools used to promote your business. If your brochure is so ineffective that it doesn't help persuade someone to contact you, why would you think your website would have a vastly different effect? And what are you doing to get people to your website?

L. Scott Harrell has the right idea. He produced a quality brochure, invested some money in it, and had realistic expectations. He didn't send out 2,000 brochures expecting an instant 2,000 clients. (Well, maybe he hoped would.) He got one response that immediately more than paid for his efforts. A one percent return rate on a direct mail effort is great. Let's say he only gets a total of 4 responses: Look at the lifetime value of each of those clients. How much money is he going to make from them over the course of a few years? How many referrals will each of these new customers generate? Was it worth it?

The question should not be do you need a brochure. You need to develop a marketing plan. You need to use various tools. Referrals and word of mouth are great, but they don't just happen. You need to take action and also get private investigator continuing education.

-BM

States Not Requiring a Private Investigator's License

A number of people have asked me about what states do not require licensing for private detectives. Here is an updated list of private investigator license requirements by state.

Here is a breakdown of what I found:

Alabama (AL), No state license required, but some cities require one.
Alaska (AK), ditto
Colorado (CO), ditto
Idaho (ID), ditto
Mississippi (MS), ditto
South Dakota (SD), ditto
Wyoming (WY), ditto
Pennsylvania (PA), PI licenses issued by counties, honored statewide
Rhode Island (RI), licenses issued by towns and cities

Even in states where a PI license isn't required, it's wise (and necessary in some states) to get a business license.

How to Make it as a Real World Private Investigator

1. Repeat after me, "I am not a cop, it is not my job to save the world, or see that truth and justice prevails; I am a private citizen, privately employed by a private party to further their best interests within the limits of the law (and common sense)."

2. If you allow yourself to get shot, or hit in the head, it will hurt just as bad whether you are in the right, or in the wrong, and either way, you are neither more, nor less, likely to recover.

3. Life can be JUST LIKE television and the movies - if you get yourself dead or debilitated, there will be an incredible outpouring of sympathy and sorrow for an equally incredibly short period of time, and then none of those wonderfully sorrowful/sympathetic people will ever think of you, or mention you again.

4. You are in this for the money - do not feel bad about that, or apologetic. When my car quits, or my plumbing bursts, nobody comes racing to the rescue in the spirit of altruistic intent, and nobody with the sense God gave dirt should expect you to either. Get paid, get paid up front, and charge what the market will bear -- Warner Brothers is not paying your bills.

5. DO NOT get emotionally involved in your cases. Most of your Clients will be sad, sorry, stupid sons-of-bitches who are in the mess they are in because they deserve to be. If you expect to meet the whore with a heart of gold, the thief with honest intentions, or a murderer with deep intellectual nsights, you best be standing in line at the Cineplex.

6. NEVER expect things NOT to make sense. The way things first look, is usually the way they are . . . unless you see Steven Spielberg hiding behind a curtain, do NOT look for complex twists and convoluted plots.

7. NEVER expect things TO make sense. Human beings are only at the top of the evolutionary scale because they are the only animals who can say they are - few other animals kill for the fun of it, deliberately end their own lives, or molest their own young. The way things first look, is usually the way they are . . . whether or not it makes any sense at all.

8. Accept NOBODY at face value - people believe in lifelong love, friends to the end, and the nobility of humanity because the concepts appeal to them, and they go thru life reading from the script until the script doesn't suit them anymore. Look for the truth, and believe what you see; if you have no great expectations of humanity, you will rarely be disappointed.

9. Accept EVERYONE at face value within the circle of people that are your life. If you become very good at this job, you will see ugly truths where you need to see good things, you will recognize lies told by people you need to believe in, and you will sense evil when you need to have faith. Leave yourself the latitude to allow yourself some illusions.

10. This is it, this is all there is, it's once around the track and there is no "do over." Do it all the best you can, expect nothing more of yourself than the best you can do, and when you disappoint yourself today, try to do a little better tomorrow. If you do not enjoy your life, change it!!!!.

Respectfully!!!

Fernando J Rodriguez
PIGlobal Investigative Research Bureau
Po Box 17044,
Plantation, Fl 33318
Office: (954) 624-6258
Agency License A-2600169

Skip Tracing- Obtaining Forwarding Addresses

I have three "skips". Two are a couple who owned ahouse together and the third owned a house by herself. I've done my thing, but can't find these people despite the fact that all parties continue to own their residential homesteaded properties and maintain driver's licenses at their last known addresses. And yet, they are not there.

All skips are involved in mortgage forclosures, if that helps explains things abit. I would like to know where their mail is going, if anywhere. This is not for a civil court proceding, so filling out the form at the post office requesting aforwarding address is not an option. Have any of you used the, "Do Not Forward, ForwardingAddress Correction Requested" routine where you send something to them in the mail and secretly hope thatthe letter comes back with a good address?

If so, did it work? Is there a specific way or manner to write the above? Any downside that I should be aware of? -TG

Gulf Shores Alabama Private Investigator


I've used it a couple of million times and almost, but not always, get either the forwarding address or a note on the returned envelope saying "forwarding order expired."I also always put a letter inside addressed to the skip urging them to call me or giving them some incentive to contact me, just in case the post office forwards the letter instead of returning it, or delivers it to the address because they are still recieving mail at that address. -SB

This has worked for me in a few fugitive investigations

Private Investigator Advertising and Marketing Help

Other than the standard 'yellow pages' advertisements, what sort of marketing do you find brings you the best results in terms of quality andquantity of paying clients? Where do you get your best draws from? Thank you. -M


From Community support. Such as sponsoring Girls Softball teams, Boys baseball, giving scholarships to school kids. I sponsor 2 or 3 ball teams a year. Much less than a good newspaper ad. No one reads the newspaper ads anyway. But the whole town and visiting teams and other towns when your team goes out of town to play. Will see your T shirts with your name and phone number. Give it a try. -WR


Hello, I find that the first most important place to advertise for PI's is the yellow pages and small ads in out of state markets and out of city markets. Then, the next layer of advertising is sponsering sports teams like hockey, baseball and soccor teams etc. That gives you local reconigition with the community. I dont think the chamber helps much but like sports teams lets people see your name in another place. Now joining groups like ours and ASIS and other PI groups is very valuable but we all forgot the telephone elect web sites also is great because most people look into the computer first to establish who or what companies are around. Hope i helped. -BR


Where you advertise really depends on what type of services you aremarketing, and you many want to advertise in different places for different types of services. For instance. We do a fair amount of Pre-employment background checks for local companies. Last fall we had a nice heavyweight multi-color flyer printed. Our local Chamber of Commerce sends out about 2000 newsletters every month to local members. For the cost of the flyers,and $150 to the chamber, they insert the flyers in their newsletter. I have received a ton of new background check clients over the past few months fromthat. Another thing WE do, but may not work in your market is the following: We have two local college sports play by play announcers that have a 6-9am morning talk show. They basically just sit around and BS, but they have a huge following of business owners and middle aged men. I go on there live twice a week. We BS, talk about local events, and then talk about my business. It is pretty cheap, and I have built quite a following locally to where I run into people I know on the street, and they talk to me about what they heard on the radio that week. The other thing is, I get a lot of calls from business owners, and some from the public calling to hire us because they heard me on the radio and "felt like the know me". It makes them much more comfortable calling someone with their problems when the feel like they have a connection.

We also advertise on the radio in certain markets and situations, State Bar newsletters and magazines, just a name mention in the yellow pages, and several other areas. Other areas you might look into, depending on what you provide, is that Every year they have a statewide Para-legal convention, and we always sponsor that and they hand out our brochures and business cards. I also keep good connections with some of the newspaper reporters here and whenever we do something that is of interested to the news, AND is ok to talk about publicly, we get together and they write a story. You can't beat the free advertising you get in those stories of reuniting siblings separated 20 years ago, or the interview on how to protect yourself from identity theft, or why do background checks, etc. there are a ton of ideas to get you good FREE press, but be careful with that. I have been doing this for 16 years, and it has taken a long time to cultivate relationships with reporters to where you know when and what you can talk about and when to keep your mouth shut. Also in 100% of my marketing I make sure and refer them to our website for more information. If you have any questions, feel free to email me privately. Hope I may have given you at least one idea to help out. -RH


You shot gunned the group on that question, so maybe if you narrow it down you'll get the answer you are looking for.

1. What area (if any ) do you specialize in?
2. Some investigators don't even have a number in the phone book.
3. Others place a huge quarter page ad in the book and does nothing but government contracts, ( go figure)
4. If you are a jack of all trades you will have to resort to outside marketing. Mass advertising, i.e. phone book, newpapers, flyers, business cards (and a lot of them to everyone you see, give one!)
5. If you narrow your list of work to one or two areas you really like, for example looking for people, push skip tracing. People are always wondering "what would of happened if......" then are curious as to where they are.
6. Homocide investigations. (go after criminal defense attorneys)
7. Insurance: go after insurance adjustors
8. an on and on.

Think about this, I have a feeling you haven't been a PI long and are taking anything that comes in. This is very normal and don't think otherwise. Find your own niche and work it till your nuckles are white. You'll make it if you have the creativity, ambition, drive and desire to eat. Be cautious in your quest to take files on. You take too many of different types and you are bound to make errors. Keep in mind this is a long term thing. Eventually word of mouth will be your best advertising. -BB

Ballistics Information and Data

Group we are working an attempted homicide / suicide pro bono. Is anyone aware of where we could gather ballistic data for a 25 calRaven Arms pistol? Specifically how close the weapon can be to thetarget and not leave tattooing and the average distance the casingis ejected from the weapon after firing. -MW


You may try contacting a company called HP White located in Street, Maryland. HP White conducts a variety of ballistic testing for numerous agencies and may have information available for you, if not at least they could probably send you in the right direction,

Hope this helps. -MD


Your question about Tattooing would relate more so to the specific ammunition that was used less to the weapon. The distance that the casing traveled would relate to both the weapon and the ammo. BUT not all of the casings (from the same ammo lot) fired from the same weapon will land in the same area. -WL

Conducting Surveillance in a Hotel

Going in cold on a surveillance at a hotel with interior room entrances -need to watch a particular room's door. Wont know which till I get thereand check the layout. Anyone got a tried'n'true excuse for requesting acertain room from the desk clerk on arrival (assuming the one i'll want isunoccupied)? Or at the very least, a good excuse for wanting a certainfloor and certain side of the hotel?Its a major chain - I assume their records would show I've never stayed, sosome "sentimental reasons" bit won't work.Any ideas would be appreciated... -BG


When you're booking a room, just ask the clerk "Is room xxx available?" Itdoesn't matter if you stayed there before, there's no way they're going tocheck anyway, and they won't care what your reasons are (because you're notgoing to give them a reason), nor will they ask you for one. They're alsonot going to notify the person in the room next to you (your subject) that BG specifically requested that room.If it's not available, just ask for a room on the floor you want.No need to make it complicated or try to be sneaky. Sometimes the simplestway to get what you want is just to ask for it. -JP


I agree with JP that the less said the better. However, if you areuncomfortable with that and feel compelled to give a reason for requesting roomnumber (- - -) just say it is your lucky number. -SC

How about using the pretext that it was the room where you spent your_____________ (Just fill in the blank,....honeymoon, anniversary, specialbirthday, where you stayed while on a business trip and found out you weregoing to be a Dad/Granddad for the first time, etc.) If the hotel has acasino, I like the idea of "Its your lucky number." -DR


I found that $50.00 and saying it's my lucky number, has worked everytime I have used it. -TA


I fail to see why there is any need whatsoever for a pretext here.

B: Hi, I'd like to book a room please; is room 256 available?
Clerk: Let me check... Yes, that room's available, sir.
B: Ok, I'll take that.

End of conversation.

Slipping $50 to the clerk is not only a waste of 50 bucks, but no one tips adesk clerk $50. All that does is make the clerk wonder why you're sodesperate to have that room. Next thing you know, the whole hotel staffknows you're an awesome tipper and everybody's talking about you. They'llbe cleaning your room 12 times a day and you won't be able to get into yourbed for all the mints on your pillow. -JP


One thing that I want to emphasize here is that the people in the room thatyou are surveilling have the right to the expectation of privacy. Youcannot legally use a snake cam, nor can you use anything that recordsvoices. what you can do is log their comings and goings (no pun intended)and you can take notes about what you hear with the naked ear (again no pun) through the walls.

Having been down this road of renting the room next to such and such I havefound that it works well if you keep it in perspective. One thing I ialsorecommend is to get by however means you can copies of the room serviceorders and bills. At some point your going to want a copy of theregistration. Not possible without subpoena unless you make a deal withsecurity which is increasingly difficult. Be prepared with considerableamounts of cash to talk to maids, bartenders and other service people. -EH


I haven't used it yet (haven't had the need), but according to a friend ofmine in Las Vegas, who gets a fair amount of domestic cases there, he asks"has my friend (subject) checked in yet I would like the closet room tohim/them.please." At least if the adjacent/opposite rooms are taken you havechance of getting on the same floor, which could be important if the roomkey is necessary to access that floor. Plus it solves the problem of tryingto determine their room number, which can be difficult. The clerk couldn'tcare less and is very unlikely to say anything to the subject. -BT

What is Service of Process?

Legal process service refers to the rules of law prescribing the manner, and upon whom, a summons and complaint giving a defendant notice of a lawsuit, must be served. The person giving notice (process server) must be someone other than a party to the lawsuit, who is eighteen (18) years or older, and competent to be a witness. It is important to note that many jurisdictions and states also require registration or licensing in addition to licensure or obtaining a bond.

The delivery of copies of legal documents such as summons, complaint, subpoena, order to show cause (order to appear and argue against a proposed order), writs, notice to quit the premises and certain other documents, usually by personal delivery to the defendant or other person to whom the documents are directed. ...

The act by which a party is given notice, by delivery of a summons, of a legal proceeding in which a person is concerned, and an action which a person is commanded to take or not to take.
service: the act of delivering a writ or summons upon someone; "he accepted service of the subpoena"

Service of process in Pensacola is the term given to legal notice of a court or administrative body's exercise of its jurisdiction over individuals who are the subject of proceedings or actions brought before such court, body or other tribunal.

Global Field Services, LLC

Editor's note: As of July 7, 2009 we will not be approving any additional comments regarding this post.

Beware doing ANY business with Global Field Services, LLC! Several lawsuits are being filed against this company for non-payment for services rendered by field agents.

If you have been contacted by them or are considering doing field chases and contacting debtors on their behalf understand that others out there, including private investigators, that are claiming that this company owes them thousands of dollars for work completed on their behalf.

You have been warned.

If you are a independent contractor of Global Field Services and you have not been paid, I'd like to hear about it here- post a comment to this blog post. Then file a lawsuit against them and make a complaint to your state trade commissioner.

Private Investigation Agency Websites and Complying with Regulatory Requirements

Most state's statutes require private investigative agencies to include its agency license number in any advertisement, in any print medium or directory, and must include its agency license number in any written bid or offer to provide services.

A quick perusal of the Yellow Pages confirms that compliance with this provision seems to be, with rare exception, universal. Agency owners and managers all seem to be aware of this requirement. However, agencies are now advertising in another medium, and it may not be clear to everyone that the requirement cited above applies to this medium as well.

Licensed agencies both large and small are now publishing web pages to market their services in an increasingly technology savvy marketplace.

Agency web sites allow owners and managers to disseminate information about their services in innovative and creative ways that far exceed the limitations of the printed page.
What is being overlooked, however, is that just like a classified ad or a telephone book listing an agency web site constitutes a form of advertisement. ALL advertising must include agency license numbers, regardless of the content or format of the advertisement, or the MEDIUM in which it is published.

Just a reminder: if your agency has a web page and you have not included your agency number on that site, a quick telephone call to your webmaster would be a good idea.

Private Investigator Continuing Education

PIEducation.com is about the best I have found for private investigator continuing education. It's online so I can take care of my CEU requirements anywhere I have a little "down time." The prices are FAR BETTER than any other continuing ed. provider I have come across. The online courses are absolutely packed with information so even someone like me with 10+ years in the business can still learn a lot, which is what I suppose the idea behind CE is anyways.

I took a course from the Learning Shop last year and was pretty disappointed- the information was pretty basic and I ended up spending near $200 and had to take 5 different courses to complete my requirements. PIEducation.com was only $89.95 and I only had to take 1 course to be done for the year.

Taking care of this from home and at the hours of my choosing is really convenient. I printed out my course material and read it while I was on surveillance a couple of nights ago and then again yesterday while waiting to take the stand in a court case I am testifying in. I took the test today and received confirmation I passed the exam a couple of hours later- OUTSTANDING customer service!

The following links are geared for information on specific state education requirements. I hope that this will have some value for you.

Private Investigator Continuing Education Texas

Private Investigator Continuing Education Louisiana

Private Investigator Continuing Education Tennessee

Private Investigator Continuing Education Iowa

Private Investigator Continuing Education Kansas

Private Investigator Continuing Education South Carolina

Private Investigator Continuing Education Oregon

Private Investigator Continuing Education Georgia

Hope this helps any of you out there that need continuing education!

How can i tell if someone is investigating me?

Top 6 clues that you are being investigated by a private investigator:

1. You've filed an insurance claim, are a fugitive or are involved in litigation.

2. Friends, family, co-workers and neighbors indicate that they had a call or visitor asking about you.

3. Your credit report shows an unfamiliar query.

4. You see unfamiliar cars in the neighborhood. They often appear before you leave for work. Someone is sitting in the car or it is parked in an unusual location (i.e. a vehicle may be parked curbside even though there is plenty of driveway parking space at adjacent residences). The vehicle has unusually dark tinted windows and, while it may appear that no one is in the car, you can see or hear that the engine is running. You observe a car following you.

5. You get frequent calls indicating the caller has the wrong number or the caller hangs up after you answer- especially in the morning if you are a "late riser."

6. You find an unusual black box attached to the underside of your car, in the fender wells or hidden in the bumpers.

Now, if you are a private investigator who is extremely upset that I have just posted this article- you shouldn't be asking me why I would write this, you should be asking yourself how you can do a better job at not getting caught.

Blog Directory Reciprocal Link

GPS Tracking and Installation Advice for Private Investigators

A few tidbits about GPS Tracking...

We tested Nextel's gps tracking feature. hopefully this will save someone the $113 it cost us for R&D....

It would work to a point if the user had the phone on their hip, or in a position with a clear view of the sky, with absolutely no obstructions. It is useless in vehicles. The only good thing is that Nextel allows a user to see the closest cell tower that the phone hit while in use via polling. This can be useful to verify the vicinity of an individual, but not the precise location, only the location of the tower. The unit we tested would show it being close to a tower almost a mile away from our office. This would not be too bad for highway tracking but is pretty much useless in an urban environment. Having a unit show up intermittently on a screen may be better than nothing, I'd rather have nothing knowing there are devices that work better.

The biggest hurdle most covert gps installers/user's face is proper gps antenna placement. The antenna must be placed so it will be able to receive the gps signals. This is where the installer must get creative as antenna placement is important for any gps tracking device.

The second hurdle is power. With a temp install, a battery pack will typically last for 2 weeks. Longer monitoring periods may require hardwiring, (which is illegal on a unwilling subjects vehicle), which also requires preliminary research to run a fast install.

We tested several other manufacturers' devices while conducting corporate investigations. The "tracking products" line worked well, and seemed to deliver good bang for the buck. Some of the least expensive devices did not fair well, as the antennas were integral and required more installation trickery to obtain an unobstructed view of the sky to collect gps data. There are a handful of high ends units that do work extremely well, (non government models) but again you get what you pay for and some of these units cost well over $2k plus monthly fees.

Something else one may consider is looking closely at a vehicle similar, or identical to the target vehicle before attempting installation. This will help allow one to avoid any potential installation problems when arriving on site. Internet car sites and car dealers are an excellent resource to help make this happen.

This site offers some photos that may instill creativity with regard to antenna placement http://gps-applications.com/gps%20placement.htm

Basically they say that its challenging to conceal a tracking system on a truck.. Cars on the other hand are simpler since they typically have a rubber or fiberglass bumper cover. The systems can be placed under the bumper skin which is transparent to a GPS antenna. Metal that blocks the sky view will block the GPS signals.

Its best to place the antenna at the rear of the vehicle since most shopping mall parking spaces are nose to nose or nose to the building side of angled parking. The rear of the vehicle offers better satellite views.

It is your responsibility to obey the laws governing placement of a tracking system on any vehicle.

The primary purpose of a GPS tracking system is for theft recovery, navigation, tracking and recording travel information for personal records, Taxes. etc.

Finding an Email Address from an IP Address?

Is it possible to get an e-mail address by researching a known IP address? -JJ

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Generally, no.

In some circumstances, the IP address may be assigned to a company, in which case you will be able to trace it back to the company it's assigned to. Other IP addresses may lead you to the mailserver of a specific web site.

Failing that, if you have an IP address, exact date and time a message was sent, and your case warrants a subpoena, you will usually be able to get the actual person who was assigned that IP address at that particular time from the ISP.

But as for reversing an IP address to an email address, except in rare circumstances, it can't be done. -SA

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Let me add a comment to the last informative post.

IP addresses are not assigned to an individuals or businesses on a permanent basis, unless you purchase a static (does not change) IP address. Generally speaking an IP address say from an ISP like Comcast or Bellsouth, rotates occasionally, so you never maintain the same IP address.
This is why when you have a complaint about an address, you need the exact date and time of the incident, to lock down who or what company was using a particular address at that date and time. -PD

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If the origin of the email was from a company which operates a network, the IP address for that network will either (a) have been registered with NIC - in the case of the company having an Internet website, or (b) will have been provided by the company's ISP (Internet Service Provider). If it's a company which operates an intranet which has web & email access, it will probably also be a static IP address. Some individuals, or small businesses, also pay extra for static IP addresses if their work warrants it - but they're not cheap. Other than that, the IP address would be 'dynamic' - would change every time the subject logged onto the Internet. But their ISP's router would have a log showing who logged on and when, and what IP address was assigned to that particular session. It is also possible that the session would not only show the username, etc. for that session but also the MAC (hardware address) for the particular computer from which the session originated. But, depending on how cooperative the ISP is, as has been said, a subpeona would be needed.

Now, what I'm not certain about is this. If a user has a broadband connection, and leaves the computer turned on and connected to the Web 24/7 it's possible that the IP address with which their session began could remain static for the length of the session - until the computer is powered off, or until the broadband network connection is broken. I don't know that an ISP would 'refresh' the connection with a new IP address in the middle of the session - even if the session lasted for days. But even so, for most private, non-registered corporate users, the closest one could trace the IP address is to the node, or hop of the ISP - since it's through that ISP that the Internet, email, etc., connection is established. The ISP's router would then direct network traffic to the individual computer via "subnet masks." So, an examination of the ISP's logs would still robably be required.

I hope that helps, for what it's worth. -KG

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I need more information than you've provided to be able to give you an answer for your specific situation.

However, please understand that a person's IP address is not necessarily the same all the time. For example, dial-up users share a pool of IP addresses. Say a user has a dial-up account with AT&T. Each time he logs in, he will be assigned an IP address from that pool - it will vary each time. Now, AT&T does keep logs to know which user is associated with an IP address on a specific date and time. These logs can be subpoenaed if there is a lawsuit, for example. There are laws like the ECPA that govern what information may be obtained from ISPs about someone.

Also, please remember that it is entirely possible to use methods to falsify e-mail routing information. I have demonstrated on some of these mailing lists how easy it is to make it appear that an e-mail came from Peru, Chile or Uganda, merely by using a proxy. These types of e-mail messages are much more difficult to trace when you have jurisdictional issues to contend with, and you simply cannot just go ringing up foreign ISPs and demanding assistance. There are rules that must be observed. My book will also cover this.

Sometimes, it is just not possible to easily trace an e-mail using the routing information. In these cases, you must rely on what computer forensics expert Eoghan Casey refers to as "rough edges." For example, in once case an e-mail sender was caught because even though he didn't sign his name on his posts, he always used a particular signature at the bottom of his e-mail. A Usenet post was found with this same signature which also had an affiliate id in it. This man was then tracked using his affiliate id. (Now, bear in mind that it is also possible for people to masquerade as someone else by imitating signatures and such.) All of this will be discussed in my upcoming book.

Be very cautious about hiring someone to trace an e-mail. There are people offering this service who have no more idea what they are doing than the man in the moon. They may quote some huge figure without even looking at the e-mail in question. Be careful - ask for references from lawyers. -MA

Setting Up Surveillance- Is the Claimant Home?

I am doing a surveillance job for a workers' compensation case. (I'm fairly new to the business)

The objective is to observe/record the subject's activity level. I have a few small problems, though. First of all, after a day and a half of watching the residence, I have yet to see him come or go. When I had someone call the home tosee if he was there, they said he wasn't there "right now." The subject is not supposed to be working.

Is there a shortcut I might be missing? Is there a better pretext I could use?

I just don't want to go back to my client with an invoice for three days of surveillance without even knowing if the subject was even there. Any direction would be welcome and appreciated. -PB

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Brother, I know how it is, but if you have been faithfully out there, then there is not much more you can do. Some ideas are:

1.Put a "disabled" vehicle out there with a time lapse recorder.2. If don't have time lapse recorder, go at different times during the day and evening to document that you have attempted at all costs to locate him at home.3. Tell the Client you need more time. Surveillance is a touch and go business and he should understand.4. Try to retrieve his trash to establish this as a "residence".

Hope these help, if I can be of any further help, just holler. -ST

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First let me say that we do not do many WC investigations and in many cases were prohibited from pretexting. However, if you have some idea of who all lives in that residence, that will help you get a handle on if he is there. Example: if he lives alone or is not married and the phone is answered by a male he is home, if it is answered by a female chances are he is home.

What time you are setting up on him is also important. We at one point hade some surveillance and found that very early and very late didnt work. A check of the neighbors said that they lived there. We then found that mid-day was the time of activity and finally caught the subject going to work at 3.... she simply was working a 3-11 shift.

The pretext used is important and there are some on the list here who are phenomenal at pretexts.

Since this is a WC you are probably prohibited from doing a neighborhood survey and door knocking but I would put my mind to traps that can be used. Is there a car setting out. Go buy a cheap watch etc.

Just some thoughts. I am sure that some of the list members will have much better solutions. Best of luck. -BG

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We have done a lot of worker's compensation surveillance work. I've found one of the most effective ways to catch a SUBJECT is to get there early in the morning so you're sure he/she doesn't leave before you arrive4.. If he does, you can follow and find out if he's working somewhere else. A pretext I've often found to be very effective is the "oops, wrong number" pretext. just to find out if there is someone at the house. Of course you might not find out if your SUBJECT is there, but at least you won't be sitting on and "empty hole" from which the rabbit has already fled. -GG

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Never fun not knowing if they are home. If doing a worker's comp, Call the adjuster and find out when the next Doctor's appointment is; and do surveillance there to catch him. ALso, if doing a pretext call, make it someone they would want to talk to. My personal favorite is as a document courier with a package that must be signed by your claimant. Surprisingly it works. If all else fails, and this is a one time shot W/ NO CAMERA. go buy some candy cheap, gift, restaurant certificate and put on a pullover shirt with docker' and a clipboard with fictitious signatures and knock on the door and have a delivery to the claimant. Do not allow anyone else to sign for it. tell them you are new and the boss said the person listed has to sign. Greed ia a wonderful thing in our business, they will probably make him appear or tell you exactly when he will be there. If it is against the rules of your client....what they don't know won't hurt 'em, if no documented evidence occurs. -VC

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Everyone has really great ideas, but alas, I find fault with all of them, not completely but my two cents are as follows.Use an untraceable phone, call and ask for the person, IF he does answer, you know he's home. If you call and ask for him and anyone else answers that does not necessarily mean he is home (or even lives there) Hey, he might be on vacation or took a trip. If he answers the phone himself and you ask for him,her/ say something like "This is Mary White?" When your subjects name is Mary Trujillo. Oops, got the wrong Mary. Excuse the ring!

I found going out early does not always work.

I found that packages don't always work (but second choice though.)

The phone is elusive in that you can simply hang up.

Trash doesn't help, he shreds everything.

Time lapse takes to much time.

He gets his check at the address you believe he lives, BUT actually lives elsewhere........

Don't waste you time going back and forth several times during the day to document he was there or not. Like I said, he may not even live there. -BG

Questions About Video Cameras for Private Investigators

Ok, I promise, last video camera question for all of the private investigators out there (but not individuals...LOL).

Are most PI's using the Amatuer type camcorders or the Prosumer videocameras for surveillance investigation?

Is it worth sticking a couple thousand in the top of the line or is a simple camcorder what other private detectives use with success? I won't mind paying the money (will find it somehow ) but since I make my living with surveillance videos of claimants I am wondering how far to go with this purchase.

So much studying....so much confusion!!! -ST

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I use the OTC (amateur) TRV-340 NTSC. I have had no complaints on video quality yet. If you want to spend a couple of thousand on a private investigation video camera that will be thrown into a bag hooked to a pager cam, or held while climbing a 12 foot cinder block wall, or sitting under wet bushes while taking video w/ a camera that costs what the professional grades do knock yourself out. I just want a picture of the expression on your face the first time that expensive camera rolls onto your floor board going around a corner fast to keep up with your subject or insurance claimant. :) -TP

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I been using a Panasonic VHSC made for consumer use and bought on the internet for the past several months, replacing an earlier Panasonic VHSC before that.

I can zoom in on anything from anywhere, timestamp and date with a clock that does not drift and buy battery packs over the counter and hold it all in one hand.

Sure, if I were to compare my VHSC and an RCA Professional recorded on 1/2" tape, I would see a difference. Would it be enough to convince a jury the difference in winning a case that
Joe's wife is the person coming out of the hotel room with Fred? Not any better than the consumer Panasonic for getting cheating spouse video evidence.

Just my humble opinion,try a less costly system and if it doesn't do the job, then purchase a bigger system. I have seen many aspiring PI's go broke purchasing equipment that they never used and then starved while their equipment gathered dust because they couldn't find out basic information to wrap up cases.

(I'm not referring to your situation, just putting my vision of equipment into perspective.) -DR

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Can you hook up a pager-cam to a trv-340? -ST

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Absolutely. -TP

Workers Compensation Claims Question

"Bill" submits this question:

I am doing a sub contract job for a Private Investigator who has a client who is a business owner and has hired this P.I. to investigate some of his employee's workers compensation claims that the insurance company will not do. The goal is to get enough evidence for a criminal filing for insurance fraud if enough evidence can be found. The Private eye has been asked to act as a safety consultant" in order to have a pretext to talk to these employees about their cases. This PI has asked me for advice.

Although I told him I didn't feel this sounded either legal or ethical I've been in the business only a couple of years and there may be some information out there I'm not aware of. I'm not asking for legal advice but was hoping someone out there may have had a similar situation and could pass on some information.

Any advice or past experiences would be appreciated.

Here are some answers which were provided:

I don't know the legalities of it; but ethically it is the employer that gets the hit on his disability premium when the employees go out. It seems to me he has the right to get them checked out himself. If all else fails as "Safety Consultant", if your friend finds some blatant safety problems for the owner of the business and it helps him reduce the hazards all the better. -D.H.

You may want to have your friend read what the California Labor Code says about this. Insurance companies have an obligation to investigate fraudulent claims. The problem is that when an examiner has 800 open cases (that's not an exaggeration) sitting on his desk, the only way he learns of the fraud many times is when he gets a tip from the employer. Each insurance company is different. Some may take the information obtained from the employer and run with it. Others will not touch it because the chain of custody may be tainted. The insurance company is supposed to be looking out for the employer but everyone knows that in the end,....they're looking out for themselves and their exposure. Evidence obtained by the employer (or employer's PI) and given to a good worker's comp defense attorney will go a long way in getting the insurance carrier to step up to the plate and do the right thing. When looking at a large exposure, this may be well worth the effort. A few years ago a study was conducted that found for every $1.00 spent on investigations, $38.00 was saved on fraudulent/exaggerated workers' compensation insurance benefits. -B. V.

There wouldn't be a problem, unless the Claimants are represented by legal counsel. Your friend would also have to follow the insurance laws in your state; I would suggest he talk to a couple of local adjustors and risk managers. -S.H.

I'm gonna get into some trouble here...

I am quite sure that when this blog starts making the rounds, I am going to get into some trouble. With that said, I have to tell you- I really don't care. I have long detested the secrecy of the private investigation business and its various specializations and subindustries; information should be shared and not horded.

How else are we to improve or update that information?

Information and technology are changing so quickly that to remain stagnant and stale in our own thinking will ultimately be our own demise. So I plan to lay bare here many of the secrets of PIs that I think are silly or upon which can be improved by those who are new to the private investigation business.

Am I going to damage the profession? Most certainly not but I will piss off the old guard along the way. I hope you enjoy what there is to offer here.

PS... A word about the links on the right side of this blog; they are reperesentative examples of what I am talking about- a ton of information and great training products. Scott Harrell was my mentor and has given much to the investigation and bail enforcement communities despite the fact that he often "upset the apple cart" along the way. It was he who inspired me to also give information to those who are seeking a new career path as I once was and not worry too much about what those who were control of the paradigm at that time may have thought. The links to his sites are out of my respect for him. Thanks, Scott.