Security & Fraud

Who's zooming who

Many of you when you think of private investigators, think of what we refer to as a domestic investigation. An investigator following a spouse around to determine if he or she is cheating on their significant other. The most often asked question our clients ask is who do we follow most often, men or women? Are the husbands the big cheaters or are the wives? well, to answer the question honestly, I don't have to say that the men are still the leaders in this field but the women are coming on strong.

There are many misconceptions about domestic surveillance. People have the impression that as investigators we break down motel room doors and snap photo's of people engaged in illicit activities. It doesn't really happen that way. For one thing, the motel owners hate that kind of thing and for another, today's investigators are much too professional in their approach for those kinds of shenanigans.

Many view this type of surveillance as the seedy part of the business. From an investigators point of view, it's interesting. For another, it's a good training ground for investigators just entering the field and it really helps to develop an investigators driving skills. People who are cheating are usually people who are mobile. In addition, the service is often a very beneficial service for our clients. It helps them avoid unnecessary risks to their health and to their wealth. often we have assisted people in getting out of a bad relationship based on the information obtained during our surveillance. Most, if not all of those people are happier today as a result. More and more, both men and women come to us before they enter into a serious relationship and ask our assistance in determining whether their intended is really what he or she purports to be. As far as I'm concerned, if you're going to do it, this is the best time.

After the fact, is often a very difficult situation for many people. By the time they come to us, they have made their own assessment that something is afoot. Usually, they call us to substantiate their suspicions. People can be quite emotional in those circumstances and I suppose that the most difficult part of our job is when we show them that their suspicions were well founded.

If you are looking for an investigation company to provide those services, make sure that they seem to be trustworthy. Anyone who tells you that it will cost only a few hundred dollars is not telling you the whole story. Make sure they are willing to provide you with a written report of their observations and that they will provide video documentation to the extent that they are able to do so. The best way to keep the cost down is to have some idea of the routine of the person who will be under surveillance. When does he or she leave work, where do they hang out, what activities do they participate in, etc. Make sure you are aware of the costs before you proceed. Most investigation companies will ask you for a retainer in advance of the surveillance. This is not unusual.

Basically what happens during the surveillance is that the person is followed. An attempt is made to document and to identify any person that the subject may come in contact with. A good investigator will get an address or a licence plate or at least be able to place the person in the proper relationship context. I.E., a friend, a co-worker, a family member or whatever.

Most investigations take at least three days to provide results. Sometimes you get lucky and know everything you need to know sooner. Sometimes, it may take longer. The best plan is to establish a budget at the outset and ask the investigator to report when they have completed the allotted time. Then, if you wish to continue, you can agree to it at that time.

You should know that there are limited circumstances in which this type of information is useful to you for litigation purposes. If this is the purposes of the investigators, you should consult with a lawyer experienced in family law before engaging an investigator. In this way, the investigation can be directed to support the requirements of the litigation.

Bill Joynt is a well-known private investigator with The Investigator's Group in Toronto. He can be contacted at 416-955-9450 or by e-mail at billj@investigators-group.com.