Child custody cases can be emotionally charged and complex. This is especially true when a child’s safety and well-being are at stake. Hiring a private investigator can help by uncovering crucial information for your case.

The discovery process involves parties sharing documents and other evidence. It is an important step in most legal disputes. Discovery is crucial in family law matters, such as divorce and child custody. Family law attorneys sometimes use private investigators (P.I.s) to gather evidence about the other party.

However, P.I.s must follow specific procedures to ensure the information they gather is accurate and legally admissible. This article discusses private investigators and what you should consider before hiring one.

The Role of a Private Investigator: The Basics

Family law disputes typically involve “they said” arguments that require fact-finding. Attorneys undergo training to identify the most relevant type of information in discovery. But they may turn the fact-finding task over to licensed private investigators. While investigators don’t have policing powers, they play a similar role in gathering evidence.

Child custody investigations are specialized services offered by private investigators. The investigations assist parents involved in custody battles. These investigations aim to gather evidence and information about various aspects of the child’s life. By conducting thorough investigations, private investigators can uncover critical details. These details might reveal key facts related to parental stability and living conditions. The evidence might also disclose potential risks that could influence custody decisions.

The role of a private investigator varies by the type of dispute and the needs of the case, but P.I.s generally perform the following basic tasks:

• Collection of Evidence: The P.I.’s main task is to collect evidence. This might mean looking through documents like civil judgments or criminal records, talking to people, or performing surveillance.
• Surveillance: A P.I. often watches an individual to see where they are going. But they still must operate within the confines of the law. They might watch how the parents interact with their children. The P.I. looks for things that impact the child’s safety and emotional well-being. This could include instances of reckless driving or irresponsible actions like criminal activity.
• Background Checks: Checking a person’s professional history, social contacts, credit, criminal history, and other information online will likely be done by a private investigator in the course of their investigation. It may also involve phone calls and interviews. Investigators can delve into drug abuse or alcohol abuse in these background investigations. The investigator may also discover any history of domestic violence.
• Visitations and Custodial Interactions: Investigators can document interactions between the child and their parents during visitation periods. They can use this to assess the quality of the parent-child relationship.

Investigators can’t enter private property without permission. They also may not access records that otherwise would need a subpoena. They may determine the location of bank accounts or other records. But the owner’s permission or a court order often is required to access specific information.

How Do I Find a Reputable Private Investigator?

Licensing requirements vary by state. For example, those seeking licensure in California require some legal training or a relevant degree. They must also have real-life investigative experience (i.e., as an apprentice to a licensed P.I.) and complete a background check. They might also have to take an exam in some instances.

It’s generally not a good idea to hire an investigator yourself. If the investigator mishandles evidence or is unlicensed, what they produce may not stand in court. Allowing the attorney to hire the P.I. works best. Attorneys forge relationships with trusted private investigators. This helps ensure compliance with licensing requirements and proper techniques for handling evidence.

Using a Private Investigator for Divorce

All states now allow no-fault divorce. However, some states, like Alabama, still allow “fault” grounds for divorce, such as infidelity or spousal abuse. But they must have evidence to prove such grounds, which may provide an advantage for the filing party.

Private investigators are often able to prove infidelity. Or they may uncover activities and expenditures suggesting an affair. They do this through surveillance of the party. P.I.s will monitor social media activity and access records of purchases, such as undisclosed hotel expenditures. A P.I. also may use strategies to “catch” parties in the act. This may force a confession from the offending party.

A private investigator can help find assets (and liabilities, such as debt). This may be relevant when determining property division, child support, and spousal support. It’s not uncommon for parties to attempt to hide assets once they believe divorce is imminent. This may be particularly relevant when one party manages the finances.

A P.I. can often find hidden assets by searching through various databases. For example, they might use the Secretary of State or Securities and Exchange filings. Certain documents may reveal questionable transactions. This discovery may suggest that a party off-loaded property for free or at a discount to reclaim it later. Also, there may be evidence of requesting a delay in payment of a bonus until finalization of the divorce.

Using a Private Investigator for Child Custody and Visitation

Child custody determinations are generally made with the child’s best interests in mind. Child custody cases revolve around the best interests of the child. Engaging a private investigator can help parents gather objective and reliable evidence.

In some cases, using a P.I. for child custody disputes can reveal whether a parent can provide a stable home environment for the child. In other cases, there may be concerns about child abuse or drug use by a parent (which would be relevant for visitation determinations).

Investigators provide detailed reports, photographs, videos, and other evidence for family court. This evidence can strengthen one’s case for sole custody. The evidence can also be used in negotiations for joint legal custody or joint physical custody arrangements.

Investigators have various tools and methods to help with custody cases. This may include gathering witness statements, background checks, and surveillance. After the court awards custody of your child, P.I.s can provide evidence of custody or visitation agreement violations.

By hiring a private child custody investigator, parents gain peace of mind. They know that a trained professional is working to protect their child’s interests. Private investigators can gather information that law enforcement agencies may need more resources to focus on. Their findings can significantly impact custody decisions. They can provide parents with the necessary evidence to ensure the safety and well-being of their children.

Get Legal Assistance With Your Divorce or Custody Dispute

Using a private investigator for child custody, divorce, or other family law-related matters is often a good idea. Going through a legal professional is best if you choose this route. A private investigator can gather evidence to strengthen your case. Remember that the child’s best interests are always at the heart of any child custody case.

In addition to hiring a private detective, it is often beneficial to engage the services of an experienced family law attorney to help with your custody case. They can help you obtain custody of the child. They can advise you on the different types of child custody. They can also discuss visitation rights with you and recommend investigation services. Start your case today by contacting an experienced family law attorney near you.

The Role Of A Criminal Defense Lawyer

A Colorado criminal Defense lawyer is primarily an advocate. They use their legal knowledge and courtroom experience to not only defend your rights and argue on your behalf in and out of the courtroom, but they are also responsible for developing a legal strategy, negotiating plea deals, and counseling their clients at every stage on both large and small decisions along the way.

Although a good defense lawyer will do most of the investigation of the evidence and leads, their primary role is to address issues of criminal law and not a “detective-like” search to locate and uncover possible new evidence and witnesses.

On the other hand, most criminal cases are relatively straightforward …hopefully cases your experienced criminal defense lawyer will have worked many times in their career… and therefore thet will not require, and cannot justify, the additional significant expense of a privately funded investigators.

Understanding the role of a criminal defense lawyer and the role of a private investigator is essential for anyone facing criminal charges and seeking justice in the legal system because there will be cases that DO REQUIRE and do justify the services and the cost of an excellent private investigator.

Why Your Criminal Defense Lawyer Cannot Be Your Investigator – Testifying At Trial

Private investigators specialize in tasks such as uncovering new facts, conducting surveillance, and compiling detailed reports to support or clarify the development of a defense strategy.

In the proper case, the value of expert investigators cannot be overstated. Experienced investigators are equipped with the know-how, the means, and the acumen to painstakingly collect and evaluate information that has the potential to influence significantly a case’s resolution by plea bargain or in trial. Professional investigators are skilled in fact-finding, questioning witnesses, and examining evidence with eyes that are sharpened by years of investigation expertise. This specialized skill set can be critical for building a robust defense strategy, ensuring that all facets of a case are thoroughly explored and accurately presented.

Most importantly, investigators can testify at hearings and trials to the results of their investigation. Criminal defense attorneys cannot.

A Closer Look At Why Criminal Defense Lawyers Cannot Testify

Lawyers have rules (ethic codes) that prohibit criminal defense attorneys from taking the stand at trial and testifying as the results of their interviews with witnesses and the discovery of evidence. In fact, there are tactical dangers if a criminal defense lawyer acquires direct and significant evidence that supports the defense case.

If a lawyer is allowed to testify at trial about what they may have uncovered in a fact-based investigation, the distinctions between the lawyer’s role as advocate and the role of an investigator become blurred. When a criminal defense lawyer serves as an investigator, that role has the potential to compromise a trial’s impartiality. The impartiality of an investigation can become compromised if lawyers intentionally or unintentionally bias their findings to favor their client’s case.

Furthermore, the “dual duty” created in this context can give rise to clear conflicts of interest, whereby the information obtained during an invetigation may impair the criminal defense attorney’s impartial judgment.

The legislative frameworks and professional standards governing the role of lawyers guarantee the separation of these roles to insure the impartial collection and presentation of evidence. This preserves essential and sound ethical boundaries and safeguards intended to not only protect the defendant’s rights but also uphold principles of justice.

An attorney might have to step down from his position as counsel if he or she testifies to a fact in his or her case. While discussions between a lawyer and their client and, to a lesser extent, the clients’ “agents” might be confidential, the lawyer’s interviews with witnesses or other third parties are not.

If a lawyer has direct knowledge of non-privileged factual information, that lawyer may be forced to testify. This problem is expressly addressed in a lawyers code of ethics.

Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct – Rule 3.7. Lawyer as Witness

(a) A lawyer shall not act as an advocate at a trial in which the lawyer is likely to be a necessary witness unless:
(1) the testimony relates to an uncontested issue;
(2) the testimony relates to the nature and value of legal services rendered in the case; or
(3) disqualification of the lawyer would work substantial hardship on the client.

(b) A lawyer may act as advocate in a trial in which another lawyer in the lawyer’s firm is likely to be called as a witness unless precluded from doing so by Rule 1.7 or Rule 1.9.

On the other hand, a criminal defense attorney and their investigator may collaborate to discuss potential avenues for further research into a case to develop a sound defense and to ensure that the evidence gathered is not only relevant and detailed but also admissible in legal proceedings.

The “Umbrella Of Confidentiality” That Covers A Criminal Defense Investigator

Another significant benefit of retaining an investigator is the “umbrella of confidentiality.” The attorney-client privilege, an essential element in maintaining the confidentiality and trust of the accused, is extended to a confidential investigator retained by the defense. This is like an umbrella of trust.

The confidentiality of the attorney-client privilege prevents the lawyer from disclosing any information the client shares without their consent. The same rule of law is applied to the investigator working for the defense. Attorneys or their investigators charged with breaching their secrecy obligations may face potential criminal sanctions, professional disciplinary action, or both.

Preserving Neutrality and Objectivity Of A Private Investigator

Keeping impartiality and objectivity during an investigation is one of the core tenets of a criminal defense investigator. Private investigators (PI’s) are instructed to objectively approach every case to find the truth regardless of their beliefs or preconceptions. This dedication to impartiality not only boosts their credibility if they later testify at trial, it maintains the integrity of their findings. The attorney’s job is to selectively decide what facts and evidence to use at trial in the development of the defense and in attacking the State’s case.

Criminal defense investigators carefully review every facet of a case, closely evaluate the prosecution’s evidence, and attempt to spot any flaws or contradictions in the State’s case. They must remain impartial to further thier commitment to objectivity.

But integrity does not mean limitations. The quest for justice means investigators sometimes operate in the shadows of a criminal case where they can sometimes find, gather, and preserve often ignored and crucial evidence, interview overlooked witnesses, and scrutinize every detail presented by the prosecution.. ensuring that the scales of justice are balanced with untainted facts and unbiased observations.

Sidebar: The Criminal Defense Investigator – The CSI “Effect” And Forensic Evidence In The 21st Century

We live in a “CSI world.” Jurors now seem to expect some form of forensic evidence in every case. One form is the recent introduction of “body cam video” – (please click on the link to read my recent article on this subject). But the public’s expectations do not end there. Finding and analyzing evidence and then applying one or more forensic sciences, sometimes by retaining additional experts, to examine and analyze that evidence is another essential task for private investigators.

Scientific challenges to the prosecution’s case can emerge after thoroughly reviewing the physical evidence in a criminal case. Cutting-edge methods for locating lost or overlooked evidence can eventually lead to breakthroughs in preparing a defense or later at trial. Forensic experts can be retained to refute the prosecution’s case and demonstrate the state’s well-known “confirmation bias.”

Investigative techniques can include the location of DNA, DNA analysis, toxicology, ballistics, and other forms of digital forensics. Forensic evidence, such as body cam, frequently can serve as the only impartial witness in a criminal case, “testifying” and supporting or contradicting other witness statements made during the trial.

The emergence of technology has fundamentally changed the way that defense evidence is obtained, examined, and presented in court and has significantly altering the field of criminal defense investigations.

Side Bar: Social Media

Social networking sites and online databases are also essential tools for creating timelines and tracing digital footprints. However, with all of these technical advancements, there are also difficulties, such as maintaining data integrity and understanding privacy regulations. Even though technology greatly enhances investigation skills, it also necessitates a greater degree of skill and ethical thought from experienced and sometimes very expensive criminal defense investigators and forensic experts.

Finally: The Cost Of A Private Investigator – Factors Affecting the Price of Hiring a Private Investigator for Criminal Activity in Colorado

Numerous variables affect the cost of hiring a criminal private investigator in Colorado, and each has a significant impact on the overall cost. The intricacy of the current situation is one crucial factor. Due to the extra time and resources required, investigations involving complex legal concerns or needing surveillance over large areas are typically more expensive.

The reputation and experience of the investigator can have a big influence on how much they charge; successful investigators with years of experience typically charge more.

The length of the inquiry is another consideration; lengthier investigations require more hours of effort, which raises expenses. Particular costs like travel miles, equipment usage, and any required permissions might also increase the money needed to hire an investigator in Colorado.

Colorado Criminal Private Investigators’ Average Hourly Rates

The complexity of the case, the private investigator’s experience, and their specific talents are just a few of the variables that affect how much it costs to hire a criminal private investigator in Colorado. Clients should anticipate paying an hourly cost that varies widely on average.

In Colorado, the majority of criminal private investigators bill between $70 and $120 per hour. However, for more complex situations requiring sophisticated surveillance methods or thorough background investigations, rates may move slightly above or toward the higher end of this range.

The reader is alerted to the fact that Colorado criminal law, like criminal law in every state and at the Federal level, changes constantly. The article appearing above was accurate when it was drafted, but it cannot account for changes occurring after it was uploaded.Summary and Conclusion – Colorado Criminal Law: Do I Need A Private Investigator?

A private investigator can strengthen a defendant’s case by carefully examining the State’s case and finding any holes or contradictions in the evidence. Then, he or she can collaborate with and discuss the investigation prospects of the case with a criminal defense trial attorney.

The task may be to confirm the evidence and information provided by the prosecutor and to expand on that investigation to acquire more specifics. It may be to conduct witness re-interviews and view, document, and further investigate the crime scene. The bottom line is that a private investigator offers a second look and a more thorough examination of the evidence and witnesses “discovered” by the defendant, strengthening the defendant’s case, and the defense attorney can concentrate on in and out of court strategies and procedures.

Colorado Criminal Law: Do I Need A Private Investigator?

The reader is alerted to the fact that Colorado criminal law, like criminal law in every state and at the Federal level, changes constantly. The article appearing above was accurate when it was drafted, but it cannot account for changes occurring after it was uploaded.

Because of a 2023 law that protects the privacy of juveniles, the Colorado Judicial Department plans to limit attorneys’ access to criminal court records and clerks may take longer to process document requests from journalists and the public.

Senate Bill 23-075 requires the deletion of names and identifying information of child victims and witnesses from criminal justice records before they are released, but the courts “do not have any way of identifying affected records without word-for-word review of each document to flag and redact the newly protected information,” says a recent judicial branch memo.

“The Department must therefore secure all pertinent criminal records in” the Colorado courts e-filing system, starting Jan. 1, 2024, it adds.

Colorado Supreme Court

The new policy restricts access to felony, misdemeanor and DUI traffic files only to the attorneys of record in those cases. Those not representing parties will be required to submit requests to a court clerk, who will review and redact, if necessary, the requested documents before releasing “a public copy.” They may be charged for the clerk’s time, as allowed under Chief Justice Directive 05-01.

That’s pretty much how it currently works for the news media and public, who from now on may experience delays when requesting criminal court records because of the new law and policy, according to Jon Sarché, deputy public information officer for the judicial branch.

“The biggest change will be that obtaining copies of court records in felony, misdemeanor and DUI cases could take longer,” Sarché told the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. Because he and Public Information Officer Rob McCallum will no longer have access to “most or all” filings in criminal cases, the court clerks’ offices around the state will be the only source for those documents.

“And those offices will have to review every document that’s requested to make sure that any child victims’ or witnesses’ names are redacted,” Sarché wrote in an email to CFOIC.

Both courthouse and remote public access terminals no longer will provide links to trial-court records in criminal cases on appeal, he added. Appellate briefs in criminal cases shouldn’t be affected because the Colorado Supreme Court and Colorado Court of Appeals already have rules requiring that briefs contain only the initials of minors. The registers of actions available on CoCourts.com also should not be affected.

While the new policy could impact timely news reporting, Boulder lawyer Janene McCabe called it “a massive sledgehammer approach” that will impede the ability of defense attorneys to adequately represent their clients. McCabe, who is president of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, told CFOIC defense attorneys rely on quick and easy access to criminal records for multiple reasons such as reviewing their clients’ past cases and the cases of any co-defendants.

“It’s really important for me to see what’s happening in the co-defendant’s case,” she said. “How do I effectively represent my client when there is a filing that potentially impacts my client and I can’t access it?”

McCabe said lawyers must check for possible conflicts of interest before they agree to take on a client. But if a lawyer wasn’t the attorney of record in a client’s past case or in another case where the client was a juvenile victim or witness, “now we can’t get access. That makes no sense.”

She predicted the new policy will “flood” the judicial system with records requests, also lengthening delays in processing requests for the news media and public. “What does that delay look like? In the meantime, does the client go unrepresented because no one can get access to the files?”

McCabe questions why the Colorado judiciary doesn’t institute an electronic records filing system like PACER, the federal system that requires attorneys to redact confidential information from documents before they are uploaded.

“It’s not a bad idea to think about putting the onus on those who are uploading the records,” she said.

The judicial department memo says “[t]he expansive mandate of SB23-075, coupled with the Department’s operational constraints, requires these broad changes across criminal cases. The current system cannot auto-detect documents concerning child victims or witnesses.”

A planned system upgrade “will enable court staff to flag such cases,” it adds, “but its effectiveness hinges on when staff receive notice about a child’s involvement. This mechanism thus lacks the precision needed to guarantee that every applicable case is flagged. Moreover, the large volume of existing documents makes a retroactive search for every record concerning a child victim or witness impractical.”

Before SB 23-075, the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA) required the redaction of names and identifying information of children who were victims of certain sexual offenses.

Lawmakers passed the additional restrictions after hearing testimony about cases in which the names of minor victims and witnesses were not redacted from records — even though they could have been under CCJRA’s “contrary to the public interest” provision. One case was the June 11, 2022, murder of a 17-year-old at the Colorado Springs Walgreens where she worked. Another was a Nov. 19, 2021, shooting in the parking lot of Hinkley High School in Aurora.

The new law permits a news organization or anyone else to argue in court for the disclosure of the name of a child victim or witness — but only if they can show “that the public interest in accessing the name and identifying information … substantially outweighs the harm to the privacy interest of the child victim, child witness” or their legal guardians.

SB 23-075 is expected to increase judicial department expenditures by $480,000 in FY 2023-24 and $572,241 in FY 2024-25, according to the bill’s fiscal note, which estimates the courts will potentially need to review and possibly redact 850,000 documents per year.

DALLAS – It’s been a year since a North Texas teenager was lured from a Mavs game by sex traffickers. The girl’s parents say when police would not help, they turned to a private investigator who found their daughter being sold in another state.

The I-Team joined that PI as he hit the streets in northwest Dallas to search for more victims. It was a Friday night, and JB Hunt was driving along the track, an area known for prostitution. “I think there’s a high probability that two of our victims may be out here tonight,” he said.

Rice traced the girls, ages 15 and 16, to Dallas after spending hours conducting a different kind of search online. We watched as he combed through an endless supply of ads for escorts in Dallas. Rice compares the photos in the ads to pictures posted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, or NCMEC.

“There’s a high probability that they’re going to pop up on the radar of a pimp or a predator, so runaways often turn into trafficking victims.” This is Hunt’s full-time job at the Texas Counter-Trafficking Initiative, a nonprofit based in Houston.

He says doing the online research is the best way to make sure police will respond when he finds a juvenile. “I could easily have called law enforcement in Dallas and said ‘hey, I think these girls are up here because xyz,'” said Hunt. “Well, that’s not going to mean a whole lot. But if I have eyes on them, or I can prove out that yes, this child is currently at this location… now that’s actionable intelligence.”

Dennis Ozment follows a similar theory. He runs 4TheOne Foundation, a nonprofit search firm that focuses on missing and exploited teenagers. “We know that the longer they are on the street, the more vulnerable they are to being hurt or trafficked,” said Ozment.

He and his fellow private investigators do their own surveillance, setting up for hours at a time when they find a missing teenager. But he says in the last few years, some police departments have become less willing to step in when asked. He described a recent case where a PI called officers after watching a girl enter an apartment with a man.

“Their response was, ‘Well, if you know she’s in there then tell the family where she is and they can come get her.’ And of course we’re not going to do that,” said Ozment. “Because if that’s a trafficker in there, you don’t want mom or dad knocking on the door because somebody is going to get hurt.”

The CBS News Texas I-Team dug into the numbers, comparing law enforcement officers to the number of missing juvenile reports filed with the DPS Missing Persons Clearinghouse in 2021. Across Dallas County, there is one officer for roughly every 80 juveniles reported missing each year. In Tarrant, there is one for every 51 missing juveniles. Law enforcement agencies in Denton County have one officer for every 31 cases, and in Collin County that ratio is one to 20. That does not include each investigator’s entire caseload.

Jimmy Perdue, the police chief at North Richland Hills PD, says his department prioritizes every case that comes in. Perdue, who is also the president of the Texas Police Chiefs Association, says every missing juvenile case is typically reviewed for risk factors. Those factors include social media history, drug use, and any previous incidents of running away. Even if a teen leaves on their own, Perdue says, detectives don’t stop searching.

“It’s always going to naturally be a lower priority than a case where the child is in danger,” said Perdue. “I would say it’s a balancing act across that specific detective’s workload, their schedule, and everything that goes on.”

Perdue says when it comes to finding a runaway, there is no “one size fits all” approach. Each case is different. “We understand the grief from the family standpoint. A lot of times, there’s just very little we can do.”

That’s where advocates like Rice and Ozment come in; over their years their organizations have helped recover more than 500 teenagers. You can find out more about their nonprofits here and here.

Matt Sowash inside one of his tiny homes. | Holy Ground Tiny Homes Youtube channel

A woman resorted to hiring a private investigator to find out why her tiny home had not been delivered months after paying almost $50,000, NBC News reported.

Matt Sowash, the founder of Colorado-based nonprofit Holy Ground Tiny Houses, is facing multiple lawsuits after being accused of failing to deliver homes. Lori Birckhead, who runs the By Faith Farm in Tennessee with her husband, transferred $46,504 to Sowash in April 2022 for an 8-foot-by-28-foot home to put on their property and was told to expect delivery in July. She told NBC that after multiple attempts at getting in touch with Sowash, an assistant said the home could take more than two years to be delivered.

“That was when I hired a private investigator who did some digging and discovered that he didn’t have any assets in his name,” she told the outlet.

Court records show Sowash filed for bankruptcy on October 7, despite telling NBC in September that he wouldn’t do so “because I can’t sit back and watch all those people lose homes.” He also told NBC he was not sure if he could construct the 250 homes that had already been paid for. In an update to customers on October 14, he wrote: “This has really been a week of change. I first want to apologize for this situation. Unfortunately, filing for Chapter 11 is the only way I can make sure the business is safe and that we can live up to our obligation of making sure everyone gets their money back.”

Lender Kinetic Direct Funding filed a lawsuit against him in state court in Brooklyn, New York on September 2. Sowash told NBC he borrowed $400,000 loan from Kinetic to build the homes, but wasn’t able to make the payments.

Charles Dowling, 39, a disabled Army veteran who lives near Colorado Springs, told NBC he was sleeping on friends’ couches because the 30-foot house he ordered with a $22,000 down payment, failed to arrive in July as well. “He’s nothing but a shyster, and no one should ever do business with this man,” Dowling said of Sowash.

Englewood Police Department in Colorado said it was investigating the allegations against Sowash and his nonprofit, NBC reported. The police department did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

Sowash was sentenced in 2009 to five years in prison for defrauding investors of more than $470,000 and was also convicted of stealing $140,000 from three people who thought he was looking for investment opportunities for them. He discovered an interest in tiny homes while in jail, and previously told NBC he built his first home in his garage in 2019, selling it for $12,000.

Sowash did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

Technology accompanies us everywhere these days, and that includes traveling for work. Cybersecurity remains paramount even when you are thousands of miles away from the office.
Here are a few tips for staying safe online and keeping your information secure when traveling for business.

PREPARING FOR YOUR JOURNEY
Understand the risks
When you’re gearing up for your business trip, know the risks. Reading this article is a great place to start. Understand that public wi-fi poses a threat to your data and devices. You want to ensure you’re securing your devices, both personal and business ones. If you embark without any precautions, you put your personal and employer’s data at risk. These risks can range from identity theft to data breaches.

Travel security checklist
You can take proactive measures to secure your digital assets and devices. Back up your data and make sure your software is updated. Use complex, unique, and long passwords for every account, along with multi-factor authentication (MFA). Use a password manager to generate, maintain, and store your strong passwords! Secure every device with a password and MFA. Check the privacy settings for every online account, and you can activate features like “find my phone” to help you manage your devices even if they are stolen. Minimize the amount of devices you travel with to reduce your vulnerability.

ON THE GO: STAYING SAFE DURING YOUR TRAVEL
Using public computers and wi-fi
Avoid doing any business on public computers. If absolutely necessary, use stringent security measures and ensure you don’t save any passwords on these machines. Log out of any account after using the device. Also, clear browsing history and cache. You be extremely mindful of how you surf when using public wi-fi, too. It is better to use either cellular data or a mobile hotspot.

Manage location services
Pay attention to how you are using location services, like if you allow apps to track your phone when you aren’t using them. Sometimes you need to allow for location sharing when traveling, like if you’re using a map app. Manage these settings to avoid unintentional data exposure.

Wireless connectivity
Prevent your devices from automatically connecting to unsecured wi-fi networks. Again, avoid public wi-fi use when for business. Additionally, go through your Bluetooth security settings to make sure you aren’t connecting to random devices. By doing this, you can better avoid potential breaches. Better yet, turn off Bluetooth and wi-fi when you aren’t using them.

Be social media savvy
Exercise caution when you’re sharing travel updates on social media. You might want to delay posts because you might not want to broadcast your absence. Always adjust your social platforms’ privacy settings to control who can view your content. Never post a photo of your boarding pass, ID, passport, or other travel documents.

Pack your mobile hotspot and VPN
A mobile hotspot (like through your smartphone) is one of the most secure networks you can use while traveling, and is a big improvement over public wi-fi. Use a virtual private network (VPN) to get an additional layer of protection, especially when accessing sensitive information.

Don’t sleep on physical security
Watch out for “shoulder surfers” who peek at your screens in public spaces. Safeguard your physical devices, explore hotel safety measures, and use personal chargers to reduce the risk of compromised charging stations. Use the hotel safe! Keep your phone in sight and locked. Check your pockets before you get up from a seat in public to ensure that you didn’t forget anything

GOING THE EXTRA MILE
Traveling internationally
Different countries present different levels of risk for the business traveler. Depending on the nation, you might need to worry about corporate espionage. Talk to your employer about precautions and check out resources from the State Department, which has information on every country on earth.

Don’t take the phishing bait
Watch out for common travel-related scams to avoid falling victim to phishing attempts, such as suspicious messages claiming you’ve been hacked or spoofed airline emails. Be extremely skeptical of unsolicited communications. Verify the source before sharing any information.

Protect sensitive documents
Handle sensitive physical documents, like passports and boarding passes, with care. There might be digital options, like a boarding pass on an airline’s smartphone app, that reduce the risk of loss or theft.

Travel insurance and cybersecurity coverage
Travel insurance can provide excellent financial protection, and there are options that include cybersecurity coverage. These policies provide an added layer of protection in case of unforeseen digital incidents during your travels. Travel insurance policies also commonly offer support for travelers while they are on their journeys. Travel agents are an excellent resource of advice for insurance.

BON VOYAGE! GOOD WORK!
You can stay safe online even when you’re traveling for work. By following these guidelines, you reduce the risks associated with doing business on the go. The peace of mind for you (and your employer) is well worth the effort. Put that tray table up, sit back, relax, and leave the bad guys on the tarmac!

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law Tuesday afternoon that creates new criminal offenses surrounding the theft of catalytic converters.

State Senator Carol Alvarado, D- Houston, filed Senate Bill 224 – known as the Deputy Darren Almendarez Act – which was designed to address the spike in catalytic converter thefts across the state. Thefts of this kind have increased by 1,200% from 2019 to 2021, per the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

“These catalytic converter thefts have increased substantially in the past few years,” Abbott said. “Catalytic converter thefts have become an organized and often violent crime. So what I’m going to sign today is going to increase criminal penalties for offenses involving catalytic converter thefts as well as to create a new criminal offense for unlawful possession.”

The law honors Harris County Deputy Sheriff Darren Almendarez. He was shot and killed while off-duty on March 31, 2022, when he tried to stop three men from stealing the device from his vehicle. Almendarez’s wife, Flo, was with him when he was shot and stood behind Abbott as the governor signed the bill Tuesday.

The law bumps up the punishment for stealing a catalytic converter to a felony offense and increases the penalty if the actor uses a firearm when stealing a device.

Further, the bill text states that if someone is in possession of two or more catalytic converters, law enforcement will presume they were acquired unlawfully unless that person works in a profession where having these devices around is typical — for example, a dealership or an automotive repair shop.

Catalytic converters contain valuable, precious metals — such as rhodium, palladium and platinum — which can be worth thousands of dollars. People saw catalytic converters off of vehicles and sell them to metal recycling entities.

Similar bills were filed this legislative session — including SB 432 by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston and SB 465 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston — hoping to target the rise in catalytic converter thefts. Those two bills were combined to make SB 224 in a bipartisan effort to ensure the bill would pass, per a press release sent in March.

“No pride of authorship, let’s just get the job done,” said Senator John Whitmire, D-Houston, in the release.

DENVER — Several new state laws went into effect Saturday, including measures to punish car thieves with greater penalties. Proponents hope the new laws will also prevent or reduce car thefts in Colorado. The new laws will make all auto thefts in Colorado felonies, regardless of a vehicle’s value. It’s a change many people, including a bipartisan group of lawmakers, said was necessary to combat rising car thefts. According to state crime statistics, a record 41,073 vehicles were stolen in Colorado last year. The National Insurance Crime Bureau currently ranks Colorado first for vehicles stolen per capita.

When Terisa Jones walked out the door Saturday morning in Thornton to go to work, she got quite a surprise. “I usually leave for work around 5:20 a.m.,” said Jones. “I went outside, and my car was not where I had parked it last night. And I couldn’t find it anywhere. I walked our entire complex.”

At first, Jones thought maybe someone had taken her red 2020 Kia Rio for a joyride. Then she thought of other reasons her car would be gone. “I felt the panic,” said Jones. “I was hoping that maybe my apartment complex had towed it, but they stopped towing vehicles a couple of months ago.” Jones soon realized someone had stolen her car.

Jones’s discovery came on the same day new state laws aimed at preventing car theft took effect. The new laws make all car thefts in Colorado felonies, regardless of a vehicle’s value. In addition, there’s a new misdemeanor charge for joyriding or unauthorized use of a vehicle. The car must not be used in a crime. It must not be damaged. And it must be returned to the owner within 24 hours after it’s reported stolen. Someone can only be charged with joyriding once. Subsequent offenses become felonies.

Denver Police are cracking down on auto thefts. “Last year, Denver was the single worst metro area in terms of auto theft,” said Commander Jacob Herrera with the Denver Police Department. “Last year, we had 39 cars stolen per day. And that’s unacceptable.”

The department says a new pilot program to investigate auto thefts resulted in 104 arrests and 80 recovered stolen vehicles from March to June. “The idea is to create a team that has more resources to investigate auto thefts, that leads to more arrests, but also better arrests with more evidence and hopefully stronger cases for the [district attorneys],” said Herrera.

Denver Police also encourages car owners to sign up for the DenverTrack program, which preauthorizes the police to track stolen cars in real-time using a vehicle’s GPS. “We can put them on top of where your car is, in an undercover capacity, safely follow your vehicle, and make the arrest where it doesn’t lead to a crash or a police pursuit,” said Herrera. “You get your car back faster, and it’s not crashed in a million pieces.”

Colorado State Patrol says auto thefts were down 22% in the first four months of this year compared to last year.

As for Jones, she contacted the police to report her car stolen and is waiting. “I’ve never been in this particular situation,” said Jones. “Not being able to go to work and kind of being in a tight spot as far as getting anywhere is a very desperate feeling because rent is extremely expensive. Groceries are expensive right now. I’m just trying not to panic, but this is definitely going to have a major impact on my life moving forward if we don’t recover the car.

Jones says her 2020 KIA Rio has a temporary license plate number of 5059334. She says the temporary tag incorrectly lists the car as white, even though it is red. It was last seen near 104th Avenue and Fox Run Parkway. Anyone who spots the vehicle should call their local law enforcement agency.

Whether it is cyber hackers, corrupt staff, kidnappers or vengeful former spouses, there’s plenty for HNW individuals and their advisors to worry about. It all requires expertise forged over decades. We talk to Conflict International, an organisation operating in the space. It works with partners around the world, including in the US.

Sanctions against rogue states, threats from kidnappers, embarrassing social media posts, and crooked staff and fraudsters create a lot of challenges for private banks and high net worth clients. Firms which are able to solve these problems are in demand.

It’s certainly a busy time for Conflict International, a UK-based organization that was set up in 2008 by Mike LaCorte (pictured) and Jon Fawcett. CI has a core team of 25 agents in the UK, US, Spain and Cyprus. It draws on a network of over 100 specialist agents, who operate across various jurisdictions.

And this is a firm unafraid to make a public noise about the moves it thinks have to be made, such as making the job of a private investigator a licensed UK profession.

“The financial, wealth and private banking industry is one of our core client streams, and demand is rising as digital fraud grows more pervasive and sophisticated,” LaCorte told this publication. “We are involved in conducting comprehensive background checks, verifying identities, and performing thorough investigations into individuals and entities involved in financial transactions. Additionally, we play a significant role in the resolution process, such as locating lost or stolen digital and physical assets.”

The rise of this sector also shows how wealth management, and the rising compliance burdens and pressures it comes under, must often tap into third-party expertise. Dealing with staff background checks is one example – hiring a rogue or someone with a spotty reputation can be extremely expensive. Even small lies or unexplained gaps on a CV can spell disaster. Financial fraud and problems more broadly are a big cost threat. A report in late June by Kroll said that 69 per cent of global executives and risk professionals it surveyed expect financial crime risks to increase over the next 12 months with cybersecurity and data breaches as the primary causes.

Licences and labour
Doing all this work is labour-intensive: it requires a willingness to respect confidential information, persistence, a keen grasp of psychology, and a lot of common sense. The role of the private investigator is self-regulated in the UK. Some bodies, such as the Association of British Investigators (ABI) offer training and accreditations.

LaCorte, an investigator with more than 25 years’ experience under his belt, said the sector needs to be officially recognised as a state-licensed profession. He has been chairman of the World Association of Detectives.

A decade ago, the UK government introduced the Private Investigators Bill to weed out unscrupulous PIs and put the business on a more professional footing. The industry is still waiting as the bill did not go through. It’s frustrating, LaCorte said.

“As a business, we are in favour of further regulation and hope that the Private Investigators Bill receives the credence that it deserves. Regulated industries and technical standards help utilise faster economies of scale, strengthens competition, protects clients, and are easier to export internationally,” he said.

“Whilst we are taking steps to self-regulate, such as the recently-proposed Code of Conduct from the ABI [Association of British Insurers], which has been put forward to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and will impose a set of guidelines on all PIs operating in the UK, internal regulation can only go so far,” he said.

It is easy to see why firms want to have a licensed status, given the financial size of the PI market globally – worth $18.2 billion in 2022, and forecast to reach $28.2 billion at the end of 2023 (source: Fact.MR). The US makes up about 35 per cent of that figure. Europe (exact figures aren’t given) is in approximately second place, with East Asia in third.

The range and variety of firms in this space, straddling risk-assessment, private investigation, and the like, is large. The aforementioned Fact.MR report noted that the private investigation services market is “unorganized” and there are “no rules that define the framework to carry out day-to-day business activities.”

There’s no doubt that much is at stake. Fact.MR said financial fraud in the US, for example, stands between $60 billion and $70 billion in false insurance claims alone. Businesses come in all sizes and types. At one level there are firms that provide a lot of high-level risk assessment and consultancy. Examples include Kroll, which covers fields from cybersecurity risk to investigations, compliance and ESG issues (yes, ESG is now part of the pattern). Another is Control Risks. With the PI field, an example from the US is IBM Investigations LLP, serving clients in Arkansas and Louisiana. Another is Apple Investigations, a licensed firm based in New Jersey.

In the UK, there’s Private Detective London which provides consultancy, covert surveillance, counter surveillance, corporate investigations, international surveillance, along with asset and vehicle tracking, matrimonial investigation, background checks, and more. An internet search unearths dozens of firms like this. In the US, PIs are typically state-licensed – more than 40 states, and the District of Columbia, do so.

Driving forces
Recent events, including the pandemic, played a part in driving demand. An example is the working from home shift accelerated by COVID-19.

“With the hybrid transition spurred by the pandemic, we have seen a huge spike in digital fraud, specifically APP [authorisied push payment] fraud,” LaCorte said. “The multifaceted nature of fraud, means we are often called in to offer both proactive and reactive services, such as surveillance, asset recovery, risk management services, and information security training. The spike of fraud that we’ve witnessed over the past few years has led to a significant increase in demand for all of these services.”

“Regulation is on the rise with the Payment Systems Regulator [in the UK] proposing to give individuals better protection against APP scams. However, we are also slightly concerned that this could encourage further fraud and we somewhat expect that we will need to provide additional support in this space in the future,” LaCorte said.

LaCorte said the structure of CI is designed to give wide coverage of expertise where it’s needed.

“Through service-level agreements we can tap into a wide web of expertise when needed, ranging from specialist forensics, data analysts to accounting and auditing specialists. As such, we very much have boots on the ground in nearly every jurisdiction,” he said.

CI has an advisory board that oversees the operations of its team and network of SLAs.

Digital origins
LaCorte said that when the firm was founded in 2008 – the year of the global financial crisis – he had noticed a “huge spike in demand for more in-depth pre-employment screening and background investigations.”

“We developed the first-of-its-kind tool to be harnessed by individuals concerned by their social media history or employers looking to improve their due diligence,” LaCorte said. “Interestingly, teachers were added to the list of professions being asked to provide social media handles when applying for jobs at schools earlier this year. Given most people who have social media accounts are likely to forget what they wrote five or 10 years ago, we believe the tool can be used collaboratively by employers and individuals to work together to identify any red flags that can have a direct and damaging bearing on an individual or company’s image.”

Talent
“Training is dependent on the position, but we typically look to hire people with backgrounds in the PI sector or those with legal experience as this aids understanding of the court system, litigation and data management and data protection. Individuals can also work towards various accreditations throughout their time with us,” LaCorte said.

AI has a role but human talent is essential.

“Digital PI services such as social media background checks, fraud investigations, mobile forensics and penetration testing are in demand and most firms offer these services. But given AI is rapidly evolving, there is a shortage of talent when hiring in this space and we have our work cut out to keep up with it,” LaCorte said.

“As AI and the digital landscape evolves, the skill divergence between experienced on-the-ground investigators and younger investigators who have strong digital skills is widening. We pride ourselves on traditional gumshoe investigations services, getting out and speaking to people, taking statements and making enquiries in the field. It is easy to uncover someone’s digital footprint through a laptop, but we believe human interaction and other traditional techniques can be equally, if not more effective.”

With regard to other threats, LaCorte talked about problems in growth companies and those with “new money.”

“If a business is experiencing a rapid expansion in a short period of time, we often find that their infrastructure and compliance standards are lagging, creating significant gaps in their information security and recruitment policies,” he said.

“By skipping risk management and failing to develop robust compliance policies, these companies are often exposing themselves to a host of issues such as data fraud and theft. In a lot of cases, we have even seen them hire undercover staff from competitors, due to poorly thought-out rapid recruitment drives,” LaCorte added.

What associations do you have with the words “private detective”? Probably big guns, fast cars, dashing chases with some crazy gunfights, brilliant brainstorming — in general, everything shown in TV shows and detective films. In real life, as often happens, everything is much less intense.

In fact, the greater part of the cases that private investigators have to deal with is insurance fraud and allegations of adultery. Yes, and their work for the most part consists of the usual surveillance and sitting in the archives. And yet, sometimes things worthy of the pen of Agatha Christie or Rex Stout slip through this routine.

There is a popular thread in the AskReddit community whose starter asked just one simple question: “Redditors who have hired a private investigator… what did you find out?” Usually, as we have said, the answers are related to marital or insurance investigations – but even here, there are incredibly thrilling plots.

Bored Panda compiled a selection of the most popular, unexpected and interesting answers and stories from those who responded to this thread. So feel free to scroll to the very end, read all the tales, and be sure to comment — after all, it’s elementary!

#1
PI Helps To Find Person’s Homeless Mom
Hadn’t heard from my mom since I was about 15 (very unstable due to drugs n alcohol etc) … When I was 29 I decided it was time to find out what happened to her. I figured if she was a Jane Doe somewhere then I could put her to rest, and if she was alive then I wanted to let her know that I forgave her. Hired a PI to help… I guess she was moved by my story and so she also ran info for the man my mother was apparently married to (on the house) … And with one clue from his report I was able to track them down. I wouldn’t have found my mom (alive and was just starting out on recovery after being homeless and addicted for many many years) if it wasn’t for the PI who kindly ran an extra report for free. (Mom has remained sober now for about 7 years and is probably the healthiest she’s ever been, physically and emotionally).

#2
Owners Hired Pet Detective To Find A Lost Cat
I know someone that hired a pet detective to find their cat and he f****n found him.

#3
It Turned Out That The Allegedly Unfaithful Husband Was Actually Secretly Renovating A New House For His Wife
Not me, but a friend hired one because he was suspicious his stepdad was being unfaithful to his mom. So, he asked me, and I put him in contact with a guy I knew.

Bit of a backstory, the stepdad is 5’10”, 160ish pounds. My friend is 6’2” 235 pounds, ripped. At 15, when my friend’s mom and stepdad started dating, my friend gave the the typical “you hurt her, you’re dead” speech. Also his bio dad walked out on him and his sister when my friend was like 4. It took a while, but my friend warmed up to the guy and he’s a good guy (took my friend and I to an 49ers game once which was pretty cool).

Anyways, the PI said he wasn’t cheating. Apparently there was a house on the market that my friend’s mom wanted, and he bought it. He had been remodeling it for some time and he kept it a secret. As a 5-year anniversary gift to her, he bought it. Anyways, they live in a five-bed house now.

#4
Woman’s Dad Leaves Family And Dies In Jail
My mother’s dad walked out on mom, my aunt, and my grandmother when mom was just 5. A few years later, my grandmother died of a grand mal seizure. Mom was taken in by her grandparents, but she always wondered why her dad left and what became of him. In her 40’s, she saved up a bit and hired a PI to track him down. Turns out he moved over time from Pittsburg to California where he wound up in prison for armed robbery and so e other violent crimes. He died in San Quentin penitentiary.

I think mom got a lot of closure out of that. She was able to see that life would have most likely been even worse had he stayed. At least living with her grandparents, she was loved and raised to fulfill her potential.

#5
Detective Took Pictures Of The Suspect’s Brother Instead Of Himself
I have a story about private investigators doing a hilariously s**t job.

So, years ago, my brother injured his back at work because of his employer’s unsafe work practices. During the ensuing suit, my brother’s lawyer was given a folder full of documents from the employer’s team. Turns out, they had hired a PI to investigate my brother to prove that his injury was faked. Well, unfortunately, the PI had been taking pictures of ME, operating an ATV mounted leaf hopper. My brother walked into the court hearing and watched the color drain from the opposing lawyers’ faces when he introduced himself, looking nothing like me.

#6
BF Wrongly Accused His Fiancee Of Cheating
I was the recipient of a PI. I came home from work one day and my bf asked to have my engagement ring as he wanted to take it to be professionally cleaned. The second he handed it over he accused me of cheating on him. The conversation went back and forth for ages. I was beside myself, I couldn’t believe what he was saying and he would not believe I was innocent.
He then told me he’d had me followed for six weeks by a PI who had seen me get into a red mini. It was a girl I knew giving me a lift to work but he would not believe me. I knew then it was over and packed my things and left. I told him to get in touch with the PI and have another look at this so called evidence that I was cheating. An hour later he turns up at where I was staying begging to have me back. He’d realised his mistake. There was no way I was going to get back with someone who would behave that way though so we parted ways.

#7
Woman’s “Boyfriend” Turns Out To Be A Crook
My grandmothers first “boyfriend” after my grandfather died said he was a retired cop and a veteran. They enjoyed dancing to country music together, and bought a new car, in her name though, even though she can’t drive anymore.

My uncles hired a PI. Turns out, that old bastard had a habit of shacking up with widows and bleeding them dry. (The boyfriend not the PI).

#8
Parents Hire PI To Find Out Who’s Their Daughter’s Online BF
My parents hired a private investigator to find out who my online bf was when I was 13.

The PI came back and told us he was just a fat a*s 13 yo… lmfao

#9
Man Hires PI To Find The Guy Who Used To Bully Him At School
In his twenties, my SO hired a PI to find out what had become of the childhood bully who had made his life hell, and who had vowed to kill him. Actually, he *did* try by bringing a loaded gun to school, but some other kid ratted him out & the bully got expelled—but still lived in the neighborhood for a few more years & beat up my SO every chance he got.

The PI found the bully living in a town more than an hour outside the big city, in a dead-end job. He’d been arrested for assault and public drunkenness a couple times.

That info helped my SO get past his fear that the guy would find him some day & make good on his threat.

#10
The Woman’s Newfound Sibling Was Actually Herself
My sister (mid 30s) is adopted and hired one to find her estranged biological father.

They came back saying that not only was he still alive and nearby, but he had a daughter. Meaning she also had a biological sibling!

Further digging from the PI uncovered that they weren’t just similar ages either, they were exactly the same age. The evidence suggested that my sister had a twin and her birth father had taken the twin and vanished.

Huge, life-changing news.

Eventually, through more incredible detective work, the PI realised that the daughter was actually just my sister. There was no other sibling and they had just been investigating my sister the whole time accidentally. Needless to say, we asked for the money back.

TL;DR: Sister hired a private investigator, private investigator accidentally investigated sister.

Read an additional 20 stories about unexpected things people discovered when they hired a private investigator at BoredPanda.com.