How to Find a Private Investigator on Social Media?

Over the past 15 years, social media platforms have come to dominate a large part of society. The landscape of communication has been permanently altered by tech giants like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. According to global data, there are an estimated 4.48 billion social media accounts on the internet right now. The social media boom shows no sign of dying down any time soon, with 16.5 new users joining social media sites every second.

With social media a real fixture in the daily lives of over half the global population, it’s becoming increasingly common for businesses to make first contact with their customers through their online platforms. While this is an exciting revolution in consumer relations to witness, it comes with a whole new set of logistical challenges. It can be challenging to tell which online services are truly reliable, and private investigators are no exception.

The Advent of the Online Investigator

Social media investigation is increasingly being viewed as a life skill. You don’t have to be a private investigator to snoop through someone’s online accounts. The success that amateurs have found with playing social media detective, coupled with the relative ease of starting a business in the 21st century, has led to a sharp increase in the prevalence of online-only investigations.
 
We admire the entrepreneurial spirit of many of these new digital snoops, and we’re certainly moving with the times ourselves. We’ve recently added an enhanced digital package to our background checking services, and social media posts often act as a source of fertile leads in our analogue investigations. That being said, we do have a few concerns about finding an investigator online.
 
Let us take you through the steps you should take to find a good private investigator on social media.

1. Search

All modern journeys begin with a single search. Check Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for private investigation services near you. Remember that many UK PI agencies offer nationwide service, so don’t immediately rule out companies based a bit further away.

2. Check They’ve Got a Real-Life Presence

There are plenty of reputable online-only investigators, but there are equally as many who are less interested in helping you meet your goals. You’re much more likely to find reliable, experienced investigators working on the ground as well as online.
Not only should the presence of a company website and testimonials instil a bit of confidence, but also, a real-life investigator can find information that an online detective can’t. If your investigation takes an unexpected turn, you should have an investigator who is prepared to diversify. Real-life investigators are also more likely to be aware of the standards of evidence required for court cases, GDPR laws, and privacy standards.
 
See our privacy policy for more about how we take care of your personal information.

3. Reach Out

A thoroughly modern PI agency will have set up alerts to keep track of potential clients reaching out via social media. It’s crucial that you know whether a company is right for you, so try to get a feel for their style by chatting with them through Instagram or Facebook DMs.

4. Request Free Consultations

If you’ve found an investigator you seem to get along with, request a free consultation. Good PI agencies offer a free consultation of up to 30-minutes to prospective clients. It’s a good time to brief your investigator on the details and an opportunity to ask any questions that you have. After our consultations, we send a quote to the client detailing the likely price and any up-front costs.

5. Use Your Gut

After flicking through their posts, having a chat, and getting your quote, begin to sift out the companies you don’t quite vibe with. By this, we mean: decide whether the company’s professional style will meet your needs as a client.

You need to be reasonably confident that your investigator will be dedicated to your experience. You should also have reason to believe that there’s a solid chance of developing a working rapport. It’s OK to choose not to work with an investigator because you don’t like them. A good relationship with your PI will actually improve your chances of success.

6. Make a Holistic Judgement

By now, you should have a shortlist of some investigators that you think you could get along with. Make a side-by-side list of each company and information relevant to what they can offer you—helpful things to note include quoted price, contact options, and any additional services you might need. Look at everything on balance and choose the one that you think best meets your needs.

At Private Investigations UK we think hiring a private investigator is about more than status updates. We work hard to make sure you feel comfortable working with us. To chat about child custody cases, cheating partner surveillance, or anything else investigation-related, reach out on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. If you prefer to keep it old-school, give us a call on 0800 002 0898 for free, friendly advice.

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