Dispelling the Myths
Professional Investigators do:
- Adhere to a Professional Code of Ethics regarding treatment of their clients and members of the profession.
- Charge reasonable fees for reasonable services.
- Let client know ahead of time before accumulating expenses.
- Report promptly to their client with new information.
- Have a current and valid state Private Investigator’s license.
- Are bonded and/or insured appropriately.
Professional Investigators DO NOT:
- Undertake investigations without appropriate due diligence into their client’s motivations and need for information.
- Reveal confidential client and/or case information unless legally ordered to do so.
- Become involved in “conflict of interest” situation.
- Condone or participate in the illegal use of telephone conversation recording equipment, provide or install illegal wire taps.
- Knowingly break the law to accomplish their investigative objective.
- Violate people’s right to privacy.
- Trespass or break-and-enter to achieve investigative objectives.
- Condone or participate in illegal child snatch back schemes.
- Illegally obtain non-public information about others and/or access credit reports of others without a signed release or permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
- Obtain personal account information of others from financial institutions under pretext.
- Use illegal methods of covert electronic surveillance.
- Obtain business or competitive intelligence by unfair or illegal means.
- Engage in harassing or vengeful behavior and/or intimidate witnesses..
- Fabricate, manipulate and/or alter evidence.
- Lie under oath.
- Impersonate themselves as law enforcement officers or as representatives from government agencies or incorporated business.
- Represent themselves as having access to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) non-public databases and/or represent themselves as having access to all inclusive national criminal records databases.
- Access Department of Motor Vehicle records without permissible reasons and/or release DMV records to the members of the general public.
- Locate children for non-custodial individuals.
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