Private Investigator Services
How to Hire a Private Investigator

Need private investigator services?

Read our guide on how to hire a private investigator. Learn the difference between bounty hunter, PI & detective services

So, you think you might require some PI help, but you aren't sure just what private investigator services are offered.

It's a common problem. The private investigator is one of those professionals that you can never quite put your finger on.

This is so for a number of reasons.

For one, we're so used to making the acquaintance of fictional private detectives that we get them confused with reality.

Sam Spade and the folks like him were always getting hired by high class dames and finding themselves in climactic shoot-outs in exotic locales with the villains.

This type of PI behavior is so ingrained in us that it becomes difficult trying to articulate what a real private investigator does.

For another thing, the private investigator has more jobs than you can possibly imagine. The sheer number of services offered by PIs and private security firms is astounding. It's hard to say what a private detective does when they do so much!

Well, don't worry. We're here to finally put that finger on the PI, once and for all. We'll discuss what kinds of services the PI offers and what you should be looking for if you have the need to hire one.

Private Investigator Services:
Why Hire Private Investigators?

There are a great many reasons why you might need the help of a private investigator.

The kinds of services they offer include:

Bounty hunter services
Surveillance services
People search services
Background check services
Detective services

These days, private investigators are most often employed to track down debtors who have skipped payments, spy on spouses that are suspected of infidelities, and provide computer forensics services to all kinds of companies that require digital help.

The computer world is a vast and ever-evolving system of global communications.

This provides criminals with great opportunities to break the law in a variety of ways--fraud, theft, and the purchase of illegal goods are among the most common computer-related crimes.

To prevent such things from happening, or stop them once they've started, specialized private investigators with computer forensics skills may be called in.

They can collect digital evidence from a variety of devices--computers, PDAs, cell phones, thumb drives, etc.--and prove certain illegal activities have been planned or are taking place.

You can hire a private investigator for more reasons than you may even be aware of.

Their skills and abilities are oftentimes vast and varied. As a general rule, if you aren't sure that a PI is capable of helping you out, give one a call anyway. You may be surprised.

Before You Hire a Private Investigator

The Internet is a brilliant resource for helping you decide which private investigator to hire. They offer all kinds of information on your potential hires.

Take the time to do the proper research, so that you're sure the PI is worth your time and money.

Here are a few tips and tricks about hiring private detectives:

Be sure he or she has plenty of insurance coverage.
Choose a licensed private investigator, even if a license isn't required in your region.
If the websites you check out offer client testimonials or professional references, be sure to take a look at them.

In general, don't be too hasty to hire a PI. Take the time and make the effort to ensure that he or she is the perfect match for your needs.