In the 21st century, there has been a paradigm shift in the field of private investigations. Savvy investigators have begun to realize the value in utilizing digital technology to assist with investigations. Searching through paper phonebooks, using laminated maps to navigate, and waiting for important documents to arrive via snail mail are all things of the past. We have now molded into a fast-paced society that demands immediate results. In the field of private investigations, the Internet has played a profound role in providing PI’s with the tools they need to access public data instantaneously.
Do you have the investigative tools you need to succeed in a digital world? We’ve compiled our favorite Private Investigation Techniques to Access Public Data Online:
Social Media
Social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Instagram can be especially beneficial in gathering information on an individual. 72% of all Internet users are now active on social media, which presents a valuable opportunity for private investigators. Many users do not set their accounts to private, so status updates and photos sent from those accounts are available for public view. Other personal information, such as e-mail addresses, phone numbers and employment history, can be set to public on these social sites.
Google Image Search
Another useful tool for PI’s is Google Image Search. When seeking to determine the physical identity of an individual, private investigators can search their name and yield immediate results. Lesser known, perhaps, is Google’s Reverse Image Search. This new tool allows investigators to upload an image or paste an image URL to discover all other websites that have featured the photograph. According to Google, the results of this search will also yield images that are similar to the one uploaded and different sizes of the original image.
White Pages
There are certain websites that a private investigator can use to optimize the time spent searching online for an individual’s address or telephone number. One of the quickest and easiest of these sites is White Pages. By simply entering the name and state in which a person resides, a PI can usually find the individual’s age, address and telephone number listed as public information.
Google Alerts
While it may be impossible to monitor the entirety of the Internet, Google has provided a handy tool that certainly comes close. By entering a subject’s name and/or alias ahead of time, a private investigator can be notified every time that name appears online. This is basically equivalent to employing a full-time staff member to monitor all mentions on Google. Setting up a Google Alert is quick, free and easy. Create an alert, designate how you would like to be notified, and then you’re set to go.
In the click of a button, and in the few minutes out of your day it took to read this information, new tools were introduced that can speed up investigations and improve business. What’s your favorite online tool to assist with investigations? Let us know in the comments below or share it with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Our enrollment counselors are here to answer any questions you might have about our state- and board-approved status, pre-licensing training, or professional development programs.
