| successful private investigator has a tool box. On | | | | few minutes later. |
| TV you'll see a PI using a gun, lock picking tools | | | | Not all of these services are the same and not all |
| and disguises. In real life it's a bit less glamorous | | | | have access to the same information. Some will |
| but also a whole lot more legal. | | | | have up to date information and some will have |
| In real life an investigator will handle a telephone | | | | old outdated data. So do your research and |
| handset a million times more than he will ever | | | | homework first and try to establish a long term |
| handle a firearm. So in this series of articles we | | | | working relationship with your information broker. |
| will examine the tools every PI must have in | | | | There are also other ways to obtain reverse |
| order to conduct successful telephone | | | | phone number information. You can call the |
| investigations. Reverse phone number databases, | | | | number and using a pretext, perhaps in |
| telephone trap lines and blind lines or caller ID | | | | conjunction with a caller ID spoof card, and trick |
| spoof cards are all tools every investigator should | | | | the person that answers into revealing their |
| have. | | | | information. Likewise you might email the target |
| Reverse Phone Number Databases: | | | | or snail mail the physical address with a pretext |
| Before you can use the phone you need a phone | | | | and include a trap line number. When the subject |
| number. Or you may already have a number but | | | | calls the trap number their information will be |
| need to know the customer name and address | | | | revealed through automatic number identification |
| of that number. This is where the telephone | | | | even if they have caller ID blocked. |
| number data base comes into effect. | | | | Obviously you can use your imagination and apply |
| Every investigator should have access to | | | | a reverse phone number search to many routine |
| databases that will return a customer name and | | | | investigations such as skip tracing, current |
| address (CNA) from a non published or unlisted | | | | employment locates and infidelity investigations. |
| phone number. These database services will also | | | | Our next article in this series will examine caller ID |
| have information on telephone numbers. They | | | | spoof cards and their use in routine investigations. |
| may be able to provide you with an unlisted | | | | Before hiring a private investigation service be |
| phone number from a just a name or just an | | | | sure to perform your due diligence. Make sure the |
| address. They also may be able to supply you | | | | PI is considered an expert in telephone |
| with a cellular or wireless number from just a | | | | investigations. Check to see if they offer a |
| name or address. | | | | variety of telephone investigative services such |
| Today on the Internet there are literally | | | | as reverse phone searches, trap lines, caller Id |
| thousands of companies that offer this service. | | | | and even cell phone forensics. |
| Some of these companies will only provide the | | | | You want to put your investigation into the hands |
| information to lawyers, licensed private | | | | of an expert in every area of telephone |
| investigators , collection agencies or other licensed | | | | investigations. |
| businesses with a legitimate need for this | | | | Be careful of instant online searches that promise |
| information. Other companies do not, all they | | | | the world for a one time low fee. This is |
| require is a valid credit card. You submit your | | | | impossible. If it seems too good to be true it's |
| order and the information is returned via email a | | | | never going to be real. Its going to be a scam. |