Behind the Scenes: What a Private Investigator Actually Does
Forget the trench coat and magnifying glass. Today’s private investigator is more likely to be buried in databases than hiding in the bushes — and that’s a good thing. The real work of an investigator isn’t about drama or danger. It’s about finding truth, following facts, and staying within the law while doing it.
So what does a modern PI actually do? Let’s pull back the curtain.
A Day in the Life (Sort of)
No two cases are alike, but most investigations follow a similar rhythm. Here’s what happens behind the scenes at Maverick’s Detective Agency:
🧠 Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
We start with the basics: public records, social media, and proprietary databases like Delvepoint. We look for things like:
Identity and aliases
Address history
Criminal and civil court records
Business interests or bankruptcies
Online activity and reputation
This phase is quiet, methodical, and loaded with digital trail work. But it’s the backbone of nearly every case we handle.
🕸️ Pattern & Risk Analysis
Once we’ve gathered the data, the real work begins. Anyone can pull a criminal history or Google an address — the value of a good investigator lies in interpreting patterns and spotting inconsistencies that others miss.
We look beyond surface facts to ask:
Do the address histories line up with employment or known activity?
Is someone bouncing between states or using multiple aliases unnecessarily?
Are they connected to others with shady reputations, lawsuits, or revoked business licenses?
Are there repeated patterns of small claims suits, evictions, or failed ventures?
Are their social media profiles consistent with the life they claim to lead?
These aren’t just checkboxes — they’re narratives. We look for signs of instability, concealment, or fraud indicators hiding in plain sight.
Sometimes the risk is in what’s missing — a blank digital footprint, a sudden name change, or a public profile that’s too polished. Other times, the risk comes from overexposure — impulsive behavior online, volatile language, or connections to risky individuals or forums.
We’re not just collecting data — we’re building a risk profile.
This approach is especially useful in high-trust situations: caregiving, partnerships, dating, or financial arrangements. When the stakes are high, you need to know if someone is reliable — not just whether they’ve been arrested.
📄 Turning Data into Clarity
We don’t just hand you a list of facts. We translate the results into a clear, readable report tailored to your concerns. Whether it’s for peace of mind, business decisions, or legal strategy, we deliver insight — not just information.