Buzz
While movies often portray private investigators as rebellious figures who achieve results through brute force, the reality is far less dramatic. Licensed PIs rarely resort to physical confrontations. Instead, they focus on uncovering insurance fraud, marital infidelity, and corporate misconduct by meticulously analyzing records and discreetly following individuals. Their expertise often stems from prior careers in law enforcement, loss prevention, or the military.
This doesn’t mean their work lacks excitement. They sometimes operate undercover and must react swiftly if their cover is blown. Discover these 12 little-known insights into the world of private investigation.
1. THEY OFTEN OPERATE IN DISGUISE.
Taking on a new role for investigative purposes isn’t exclusive to law enforcement. Jordan Smith, founder and lead investigator at Hyperion Investigative Consulting in Broomfield, Colorado, explains that his team often handles corporate fraud cases by embedding a private investigator within the company. “If a retail business is experiencing missing deposits, we can infiltrate and observe the situation firsthand,” he states. “Currently, we have an investigator stationed at a hospital to identify potential prescription drug theft. In some cases, we deploy a certified fraud examiner to pose as an accountant.” The added benefit? “We earn both the employee salary and our investigative fees.”
2. IF YOU’RE BEING CATFISHED, THEY CAN ASSIST.
Online dating has opened new opportunities for private investigators. Individuals caught in virtual romances often grow suspicious about their partner’s authenticity. “They question whether the person they’re communicating with is genuine,” explains Brendan Burke, a PI at Gilliam Burke Investigations in Edmonton, Alberta. “It often escalates when requests for money arise. In one instance, a man falsely claimed to own multiple businesses and properties. Typically, the clients are older, divorced women seeking companionship. They want to believe in the relationship, but if something feels off, it likely is.”
3. THEY USE BOTTLES FOR PERSONAL NEEDS.
A crucial aspect of surveillance work—whether tracking infidelity or monitoring suspicious worker's compensation claims—is staying unnoticed. This often means avoiding frequent exits from a parked vehicle and managing personal necessities creatively during long shifts. Regarding bathroom breaks, Smith notes, “You should go beforehand, but we always carry a bottle for emergencies.”
As for more urgent needs? “We simply hold it. I’ve never failed to hold it.”
4. THEY’RE WILLING TO DIG THROUGH TRASH.
Even with the vast amount of data accessible online and in public records, sometimes the most valuable evidence comes from a garbage bin. “Once something is discarded, it’s fair game,” Burke explains. “Local laws vary, but we’ve had success with this method. In a child custody case, we uncovered drug paraphernalia like crack pipes and powders.” And yes, it’s unpleasant. “We use face masks with a bit of Vicks to help with the smell.”
5. THEY’LL USE FAKE FACEBOOK PROFILES TO INVESTIGATE YOU.
For gathering information, nothing beats connecting with a subject on Facebook. Since targets are unlikely to accept a friend request from a private investigator, many PIs create fake profiles. “It’s safe to say most of us maintain several accounts,” says Skyler Crowley, a Florida-based PI. “Some prefer blondes, others redheads—whatever works to gain access. My fake profiles are far more popular than my real one.”
6. THEY CAN DISCOVER YOUR FINANCIAL STATUS.
Depending on jurisdiction, private investigators may legally access details about your bank accounts—not to control your finances, but to determine if you’re concealing assets during legal disputes like divorce. “It’s a trade secret, but we have methods to identify where someone holds accounts and the balances within,” Smith reveals. “While this information usually isn’t court-admissible, we can provide it to attorneys for their use.”
7. THEY RECEIVE REQUESTS TO PROBE THE PARANORMAL.
Occasionally, Burke is mistaken for a paranormal investigator. “The strangest request I’ve received was from someone convinced their television was haunted,” he shares. “That’s… definitely not within our scope of work.”
8. SOCIAL MEDIA SERVES AS A MASSIVE INFORMATION SOURCE.
Maintaining a social media presence can be problematic if you’re trying to avoid detection by a private investigator. “It’s a treasure trove of data,” Smith explains. “People often share every detail of their lives. I’ve encountered individuals claiming workplace injuries while posting photos of themselves working out. I’ve also identified vehicles someone owns through online images.” And keep in mind, deleted content isn’t always gone forever. “Nothing truly disappears,” Smith adds.
9. THEY USE A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE FOR TAILING VEHICLES.
Most people don’t suspect they’re being followed, but PIs have a strategy to stay undetected during surveillance. “When tracking a car, we use two drivers,” Smith notes. “This ensures the target doesn’t notice the same vehicle behind them constantly.”
10. CLIENTS DON’T ALWAYS TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH.
Sometimes, private investigators are hired without receiving the full context. “A man once called me at midnight, asking me to surveil his house immediately because he was out of town and his teenage daughter was alone,” Cowley recalls. “It seemed odd and rushed, but I accepted the job. He called me every 10 minutes until 4 am. Eventually, he asked me to approach the windows to check if another man was with his daughter. That’s when I realized there was more to the story. It turned out he was separated from his wife and was intensely jealous of her new boyfriend. He wanted me to spy on them. I refused.”
11. THEY RELY ON INFORMANTS.
Some private investigators are skilled at persuading individuals close to their targets to share information. For instance, Smith struggled to gather details on a woman who had custody of her children and rarely left her apartment. “I managed to convince her landlord to update me two to three times daily,” Smith explains. “This information ultimately led to the father gaining custody.”
12. NOT ALL EMBRACE THE 'PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR' TITLE.
Some detectives prefer not to identify themselves as private investigators, opting for terms like “legal investigator” to avoid negative stereotypes. “Some colleagues avoid the term because it carries a shady, old-school detective image, like Philip Marlowe,” Burke notes. “But I find most people are intrigued by it. I don’t shy away from it—I operate within the law and uphold ethical standards, and I take pride in my work.”
All images courtesy of iStock.
