Private Investigators like www.surelock.org are contacted on a regular basis by Law Firms, Businesses and Individuals asking if they can trace someone.
Why Do People Use Tracing Services?
There are many reasons, some legitimate and some not, a law firm wanting to trace a debtor, recipient of a will or witness in a case, a member of a family wanting to trace a lost relative or someone wanting to trace an old friend, yes, they are all OK.
We are sometimes contacted and asked if we can identify the owner of a mobile phone number or car registration plate, that is not ethical, also people wanting to trace someone they met in a bar, well that’s not OK.
Ensuring Tracing Requests Are Legitimate
The most important thing we do when contacted is to establish the identity of the potential client and get the full story of why they want to trace this person, is it legitimate request?
Belonging to a professional association like The ABI - https://www.theabi.org.uk helps with guidance on how to conduct these investigations.
Private investigators legitimately trace people using a combination of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), social media, specialised legal databases, and field work. It is important that we adhere to the Data Protection Act (GDPR), meaning they exclusively rely on publicly accessible records and lawful non-invasive techniques.
The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), setting strict standards for processing personal data to protect privacy. It mandates lawful, fair, and transparent handling of information, granting individuals rights over their data, and holds organisations accountable for security breaches - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents
How Private Investigators Trace People
So, we must be careful, the first thing we would probably do is a general search of social media, it is worrying what some people put on their Facebook page for instance and this usually gives us a starting point, showing the area where they live.
We would then utilise specialist databases that would identify exactly where the subject lives, date of birth etc, from a historic address we can usually trace a current one.
What is Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)?
What is Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) – it is an essential tool for conducting investigations and gathering information in the digital age. Many years ago, private investigators would spend hours in a library searching public records and newspapers, or visit companies house to view the records, times have change!
OSINT refers to the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information from publicly available sources online. These sources can include social media, news articles, government reports, academic research, and other publicly accessible data.
The value of OSINT lies in its ability to provide investigators with a broad range of information that may not be available through other means.
By searching publicly available data, investigators can gather information quickly and at a relatively low cost, our average costs for a basic trace are £180 plus vat, but this can increase depending on the amount of work involved, we offer a ‘No Trace No Fee’ service.
OSINT can be particularly useful in cases where traditional investigative methods, such as interviews and surveillance, may not be practical or possible. OSINT can be used in a variety of investigative contexts, such as criminal investigations, due diligence, and competitive intelligence.
To effectively use OSINT in an investigation, investigators must have a solid understanding of the sources available to them and the tools and techniques for accessing and analysing that information. This may involve using specialised search engines, social media monitoring tools, and data analysis software.
One of the key challenges in using OSINT is ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information gathered. Because the information is publicly available, there is a risk that it may be inaccurate, biased, or incomplete. Investigators must take steps to verify the information they gather and consider the potential biases and limitations of the sources they are using.
Another challenge in using OSINT is ensuring that the gathering and use of the information is legal and ethical. Investigators must comply with relevant laws and regulations, such as data protection and privacy laws, and ensure that they are not violating the rights of individuals or organisations.
Surveillance & Address Verification
Some clients request we visit the address and carry out an observation or surveillance to identify the person that is there, or even ask that we speak to them first informing them that our client is trying to trace them.
How Much Does It Cost to Trace Someone?
By searching publicly available data, investigators can gather information quickly and at a relatively low cost, our average costs for a basic trace are £180 plus vat, but this can increase depending on the amount of work involved, we offer a ‘No Trace No Fee’ service.
Contact Surelock
So, that is how we go about finding someone, and the over ridding principal is that it must be legal. If you need help, please do not hesitate to contact us https://www.surelock.org/contact-us or just give us a call to have a chat 0333 6000 300.
