ElDochart

A typical Investigation starts with a background check. We receive an automated database check for each case which provides us with all recent addresses, phone numbers, relatives, criminal history, vehicles, professional licenses, etc. After reviewing this, I delve deeper, looking for social networking profiles and other webpages that mention you. Even if you don't have a facebook, there is a good chance that one of your relatives or roommates do, and a good chance that they have pictures of you or information about you online. The very best situation is one where I find an e-mail address. A google search of someones e-mail pulls up an incredible amount of information, basically every site you ever used it to register to.

After all that, a typical case requires 2-3 days of surveillance. I park inconspicuously in the neighborhood, either within view of the residence (best case) or watching the most likely route that the person would take to leave. From there, I'd follow the person every where they go, usually in 8 hour shifts, and document their every activity.

For equipment, I have a 70x zoom digital video camera, an awesome little twisty tripod that can attach to just about anything, and a covert camera that looks like a button to use if I follow people inside a building.

Claim something that is hard to prove medically, the best would be a back injury or a head injury. In these cases the doctor will take your word for it and just sign off.

Both these tend to be red flags, so as soon as you claim, keep an eye out for suspicious vehicles in your neighborhood. These will usually be small dark colored cars with tinted windows. Most investigators wont leave their cars, so this makes them pretty easy to spot. If someone is following you you have two basic options. Either simply wave at them, at which time they will break off, or attempt to trick them by playing the part. If you burn them (what it's called when a claimant acknowledges that they are being followed), the companies can always just send out different investigators, who will be more cautious.

Know your insurance restrictions, and follow them rigidly whenever you are outside your house, whether you think your being followed or not, you never know who might see you.

Get a lawyer! Represented claimants are a lot more difficult to investigate.

If you see you are being followed, and want to act the part, make sure you talk to your neighbors a lot, wave at them when you drive by, ect. This could discourage the investigator from canvassing the neighborhood to find out more information.

I followed a guy who turned out to be in a death metal band. Started early, and right before I was getting off my shift, followed him to a bar, where him and his band were playing. ended up being a 17 hour work day, didn't get home till 3 AM, and had to sit through a bunch of death metal bands. Not really my thing.

Trees. Through some digging online I found one of my claimants purchased 500 apple trees. They lived in a condominium. I never found out what that was about.

Usually I tell them that I'm doing a vehicle repossession. If they inquire further I just tell them that I could lose my license for disclosing any further information, and they typically accept it. The trick is sound extremely professional when they first approach you, and then to bitch about your job/boss giving you pointless dead end files. If you complain about your pretend job, people automatically believe you.