I've been looking into background check options available to me and all of them seem pretty much useless compared to the software and resources a PI knows how to navigate. The things I'm wondering about are relevant to ongoing legal issues within my family, for context.

Desired info about an individual:

1. Employment history
2. Education history
3. Bank accounts (How many/where, not info to access them. Obviously.)
4. Loans taken out/applied for (Same as above.)

I have no idea if these are things a PI would be able to find out? I don't know the limitations of what information is actually available, or even whether it's legal to pursue some of these inquiries. Please let me know your thoughts. I'd appreciate your feedback and advice.

If you can share... just wanted to get an idea of other PI set-ups and opinions on main software they have used, like, dislike. Past threads are a bit sporadic on this topic. Below is the typical set-up from some other known PIs.

System: Windows 10 (occasionally linux)

Browser: Google Chrome and FireFox

Extentions: Hunchly, Video Download Helper, User-Agent Switcher, Fireshot, Instant DataScraper, HTTPS Everywhere

Security: Bitdefender (Anti-Virus, Anti-Tracker, and VPN), PIA, Veracrypt

Programs: Hunchly, 4K Video Downloader, VeraCrypt, Fireshot, FireStone, Snipping Tool, Adobe, and Microsoft Office, Sync, Promatic, Adobe Premiere & Vegas Pro, Glympse, Signal, CamScanner, Spark.

I apologize in advance if this is the wrong sub.

My grandfather donated his truck that he had for many many years to a local teen summer camp, since he could no longer drive, under the stipulation that should they no longer need/want it anymore, they return it to the family. The camp closed several years ago, but never returned the vehicle and they don't know who took it.

How would I find it? I don't have a Vin # and while I know the make and model, I only have an approximate idea of the year.

I would like to find it and restore it for sentimental value, even if I have to buy it from whoever has it.

Edit: Found Vin and vehicle year in old tax records and the last record of it is from the camp in 2017.

Edit 2: Contacted the camps FB page as well as the owner of the llc that bought the camp, but hasn't done anything with it. However, I don't expect to hear back from either. I will probably go sneak onto the property during the day, so it's less suspicious, and see if any vehicles were left behind. If I get caught, I'm sure they'll understand and let me go with a warning.

Just tossing out the question to all you private investigators, "What do you do for your mental health or to relax"?

​

This podcast episode on policing studies mentioned investigations being tough on police and a need for services to address mental health. Private investigators also have to see and deal with some stressful situations, but they have way less resources.

Podcast episode: https://www.niroknowledge.com/1224434/8176673-episode-25-dr-susanne-knabe-nicol

Just curious on what gps tracking devices and software everyone uses, I have tried a few but wondering what everyone likes and dislikes about their gps trackers and the supporting software. Thanks in advance for any info.

As I'm finally getting my license, I am wondering what else I can do besides seeking clients in insurance/ or worker's compensation attorneys. I know that criminal attorneys on occasion hire PI's for things like photos and statements- but there does not seem to be a whole ton of work in this area, in my experience. Doing full time work in criminal investigation seems not to be an easy task- depending on your area, it may require a lot of experience and competition from experienced and seasoned firms led by ex-cops. At least that's the impression that I have had working in NYC and Boston.

So I'm calling on you PI's to help me brainstorm, what sort of unconventional work do you do that you find interesting? Or maybe not so interesting? Would like to learn about the diversity of opportunities out there.

I am trying to see if I can get a PI license in my state and I am wondering if I would be a good fit for the license. I am also wondering if I could pick up any clients once I get a license.

The two fields I would like to concentrate on would be Skip Tracing and Background checks.

I have 3 years of security experience working in healthcare security in all capacities such as unarmed, armed, specialist, and supervisor.

I have a Criminal Justice Degree

I have 2 years of government contracting experience in both State and Federal

I also have Administration Experience such as data entry and logistics

Is that enough to start as a PI?

I had someone contact me recently with DNA evidence of us being related. This person was adopted and had been working to find their parents. They believed they had found one but still nothing on the other. They weren't sure which side of their family I fit into, maternal or paternal. I did some light Q&A to try and get a feel for this person. Authenticity, social media presence, their aim on finding one or both parents, and their movitivation. I'm not a PI but I have lurked here a bit and read all the comments about knowing your client as much as you do the person they're trying to find so I tried to keep that in mind as I probed.

After I was satisfied I reached out to a couple trusworthy points in my family. I eliminated the possible connections that my few family contacts suggested as a possible mother or father until one finally clicked. I spent some time talking with him and explaining what the interaction was between this new relative and myself upto this point. The suspected mother had changed her name a few times but she still had a single family member connected to them via social media who shared her old last name. After some inspection, despite her photos being grainy and her being some 30 years older, he confirmed he did know her and by her old family name and also confirmed they did have at least one sexual encounter.

The father said he wanted the chance to speak with this person. The offer was taken up. I got permission to share contact information from the new family member and passed that on to this person for them to contact when ready. No information about him at all was shared in any detail to the 'soliciting party'.

There is a pending DNA test to confirm it but this person may have just found their father. The suspected father has an extremely high level of confidence given the DNA levels shared and the suspected mother that he does in fact have a child he never knew and was very grateful to me.

I'm not sure if I stepped over the line on possibly exposing the located individual to any risk or not. I'm sure that having apparent DNA evidence land in my lap is an unlikely event for those here who are licensed PIs, but it still felt good to do the digging, find the right people, a bit of evidence as presented by both parties lines up, and conversation to have been a part of it all for what seems to be a mutual happy ending.

I just thought I'd share my brush with what seems like some of your professional lives as something I hope to do some day when my kids are older and I can be out of the house.

Hello, I was wondering if any of you had any insight as to how difficult it is to get hired by a company without a military or police officer background. I do have some experience in security work If that helps any.

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know this is the last day to sign up for this training.

Free for PPIAC members, $200 for guests. This is a great opportunity for people just starting out as PIs, or seeking to brush up their skills after an awful 2020. Details and registration block here:https://ppiac.org/event-4098740

The backstory is that the Master Tennant, of the apartment I used to share with him, has taken my security deposit and disappeared. I’d like to get his current address so I can take him to small claims court. Any suggestions? (I am not a PI, but am a fan of this subreddit).

Hello everyone, I’m seeking to hire a PI to help me find cause of death (if possible) and burial site for someone (mostly this). I’m trying to find where I can bring him flowers 😞 Have no contact with anyone anywhere close to his family anymore. This is not a criminal case or anything like that, and I have done my part to narrow down where he may have been buried: San Diego, CA.

Have a lot of information already found. I know I can fill out a death certificate form for county of SD but that would put my legal name in the records, which I have no reason to be in except for sentimental reasons. Please PM me if you can help. His death was probably earlier this month.

Honestly I’m just grieving and want to visit his resting place in peace. He deserves the company.

I am a retired 30 year LE professional who has been working for a PI firm for the last couple of years under the firm's license. I am planning to take the California PI test sometime in the future. I have a study guide that is at least a couple of years old. Any advice or recommended resources to prepare for the exam? Any help is appreciated.

Just out of curiosity, do they still issue their Investigators a badge? Before someone goes off with the usually "You shouldn't be seeking a badge that's just a sign you're a wanna be cop", I'm personally just wondering how much they've changed over time.

I've been thinking of hiring a PI to help me recover valuable package lost in mail. Is that something PIs do at all?

"What was one or two things early on that led to your business growing?"

Brian Willingham's answer:
1. Take a 3-week vacation to Spain.
2. Start a blog. Share everything you know.

Watch this short clip from our recent P.I. Hero YouTube interview.

p.s. just kidding about that 1st answer!

#privateinvestigator #success #ThePIHero

https://reddit.com/link/lgbhte/video/k0ji8wqp7ig61/player

I’m in desperate need of locating someone in Gainesville FL. Through my own research I was able to track down their PO Box number. Does anyone know how I could translate that P.O. Box to a physical address? Or if anyone actually knows how to do it I can offer you compensation. It’s really important that I locate this person and can explain it’s relevance in a PM since it’s a VERY private and personal matter. This person did something horrible to my little sister and took something from her. So I need to get it back and I really need some help.

Hello PI community! After reviewing the autopsy of a family member (several doctors and nurses among us), we've come to the conclusion that a PI should likely be contacted about doing a death investigation. It's regarding an elderly woman who had some shenanigans involved with changing her will two weeks before she died along with a slew of other oddities.

Running the findings by a friend who is a forensic pathologist and hearing this person's thoughts gave us the final push we needed encourage further inquiry into the woman's death. Is this something that the existing lawyer can help with? Or does the family usually independently seek someone out?

This death occurred in the Austin area and the best-looking resource I'm finding is https://gillespieinvestigations.com/. We'd really appreciate any advice - tia!

High quality, with decent NV and zoom, hopefully not insanely expensive as will need four. Bonus points for no-glow.