Many people are unaware about the role of a private investigator or legal investigator. Those who don’t know casually imagine a Sherlock Holmes like character. This illusion has spread from the cinema and it does not reflect an accurate reflection of the character in question.

There is a huge difference between the reality and the image shown on the television. A detective is not authorized to break the law in order to uncover the truth. He must work within the regulations of the government and cannot produce evidences which are acquired using the prohibited methods.

Investigation agencies usually keep a close check on how such investigators are working. This ensures that they don’t get into trouble while producing evidences in the court. A police officer can easily get a warrant issued just on the basis of doubts while such authority is not given to an investigator.

So, have you ever wondered how a private investigator collects information?

1. Online Data Search 
PI is generally good in searching things online and retrieving data from various Internet sources. Most of the information needs to be produced in the digital form. This is the reason that accelerates the use of computers for the evidence search. For an example, the government provides enough information online about the criminal convictions and other law breakers while social networking sites provide information about individuals.

The task may involve tracing e-mails, recovering data etc. Sometimes, social media sites provide enough information about criminal’s confessions. Some agencies hire investigators specializing in data retrieval.

2. Surveillance 
Close surveillance is an essential part of an investigator’s job. The methods used should be completely within the law and must not involve any illegal activities such as wiretapping. For successful surveillance, investigators wait for the right opportunity to click photographic shots. This operation sometimes takes hours. However, it helps a lot in making an understanding about the suspect. This can be further produced as a solid evidence in front of the authorities.

Insurance agencies usually hire insurance investigators to collect the facts about any fraudulent claims. This is also done for the background check to support a truth finding operation. It becomes a necessity in the cases of false claims. In these cases, the companies hire a PI to check whether the claim is genuine or not.

3. Property Records 
The personal investigators look for the information in the property records office. Records are kept according to the types of the real estates such as residential, commercial or agricultural. These records are of great help to the investigators. It is very useful in getting crucial information about the details of the suspect.

Personal investigators should be properly licensed in order to carry out the investigations. Their role may vary according to the need and sometimes they are hired by the police to investigate the cases.