Here are some links that may be of interest to you or perhaps answer a question or two about your situation. We are often asked, “How do I become a private investigator?” If you click on the North Carolina Attorney General – Private Protective Services link, you will find the requirements defined in NC General Statute 74C.

If you are the victim of a crime, you should report that crime to the appropriate law enforcement agency. If you have an emergency, call 911 immediately. Please do not call 911 unless you have an immediate, emergency need. Generally, if you have a civil problem, and no crime has been committed, law enforcement will be unable to help you.

We did not include the myriad of links to sites on the Internet promising to provide information about an individual for a “small fee.” Generally they are of little or no value. We have had clients complain about spending $29.95 to locate someone only to receive a list of everyone with that name in the US with a listed telephone number. Depending on how common the name is, the list can be enormous. The multiple data bases we use in our investigations are not available to the public and require a legal purpose to access.

Identity theft is an enormous problem today and is growing by leaps and bounds. Be cautious about disclosing your personal information on the Internet. Be sure you know who you are giving information to and why. Verify the validity of the web site. “Phishing” has become common and prolific.

If you have children that have access to the Internet, please make them aware of predators who troll the Internet looking for victims. There are many educational programs available from your local law enforcement or ICAC, Internet Crimes Against Children, in every location. Attend one and learn how to keep your children safe from predators.