I know that there are many online search tools out there to be used. In this course we will cover two basic search tools. What will be covered is the effectiveness of many search tools on the internet. I will go into the details of this later.

First, let’s look at the people search. This is where you can search for a person by name and possible city. Before you start a search that involves a pay service, get what you can for free first. At the end of this course you will receive an exhaustive list of free sites to search. I still like the pay searches, because they look everywhere for you, and you don’t have to guess as to where to search. That is the beauty of those services.

The easiest way to get an accurate report on someone is to know as many details as possible beforehand. Their address, phone number, and date of birth can verify a lot. Do not think that matching a report with one of thses bits of data confirms the data is for that person, but that will be covered in depth later. Right now, this lesson is about collecting the raw data.

The more you know the less wrong leads you will have to chase down. Even the great search tools aren’t magic. They cannot eliminate all non related information for you automatically.

Names:

Don’t forget that people’s names are not always how you know them. Not just the Charles Charlie thing, but often people use a middle name as a first, or even a name that isn’t their own as a first name. People also change names, for various reasons. Of course women often change their names when they marry. Many of the search tools are smart enough to translate Mike into Michael and so forth. Try to get the spelling if you can.

Address:

Searching by address is more specific, if you have the right time frame. The way most people in the US move, an address is only good for a few years. So you should know some kind of name to go with the address. This is a course about how to be your own detective, so do a little detective work. If it is a neighbor, introduce yourself and ask them their name. Property records are usually up to date, but remember that they cover the owner of the property, who may or may not be the occupier.

Phone Number:

This is easiest of all. All you need to check first is whitepages.com or 411.com. Those sites cover the listed phone numbers well. My recommendation for any unlisted or cell phone number is Reverse Mobile. Reverse Phone Detective works fine, but Reverse Mobile also has a lookup for those numbers by name. It also has a little better records database. The price is the same for both, so it isn’t a matter of cost.

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The Five Steps of the Investigative Process

1. State the Problem
• Identify subject
• Locate subject
• Recover evidence

2. Form a Hypothesis
• Motive
• Opportunity
• Means

3. Observe and Experiment
• Evaluate hypothesis
• Modify/reject hypothesis
• Experiment with hypothesis

4. Interpret Data
• Interpret results of final observations and experimentation

5. Draw Conclusions
• Has the stated problem been answered?
• Does evidence support hypothesis?
• Has every facet of the investigation been conducted within the law?
• Do the facts of the case support prosecution?


A typical investigation covers an extensive scope of duties, methods and objectives. In order to attain a successful resolution to the activity, the investigator must possess and utilize some type of methodical process. Frequently, an investigator will begin an investigation and will immediately be faced with a myriad of information, much which will seem unrelated at the time. In order to filter out the important from the minutia, a scientific process must be employed. This process consists of five simple steps that can lend order and direction to the investigation of activity. The five steps of this process are:

A. Identify and State Problem

1. Consider the Entire Problem

This step of the process may seem to be quite simple; however, stating the problem is more than saying that the subject needs to be identified and caught. An investigator must identify and take into consideration the entire problem.

2. Follow Legal Guidelines

Identifying, locating, and catching the subject through the use of illegal means can result in you getting into trouble or worse – being arrested and charged with a crime. To this end, the investigator must ensure that every step taken is within the established legal guidelines. If these factors are not considered while stating the problem, an accurate picture is not being painted.

B. Form a Hypothesis or theory

1. Apply Reasoning

This area creates more problems for investigators more than any other. In order to form a hypothesis, an investigator must be able to apply some type of reasoning to formulate an idea about what has happened and a subject’s involvement. An investigator must be careful not to draw too narrow a hypothesis, or one that is so broad that nothing meaningful can be derived from it. Care must also be exercised to avoid allowing one’s personal bias to influence this process.

2. Examine Motive, Opportunity, and Means

Traditionally, an examination into motive, opportunity, and means will produce one or more explanations. Motive is defined as that which causes a person to act in a certain manner, while opportunity would simply be the occasion or chance to commit the crime in question. Means is generally the least important element to be considered, since the means to commit a crime can usually be available to a wide range of individuals. For example, nearly anyone can walk into a convenience store and snatch cash from the hand of the clerk. The taking of the cash in and of itself is not nearly as important an element as the others.

C. Observe and Experiment

Test this by asking yourself, does the evidence support the theory and does the theory support the evidence and facts of the case. The investigator constantly re-evaluates the hypothesis by examining any and all information that is obtained during the course of the investigation. Each of these examinations will help test the strength of the investigator’s hypothesis. Additionally, the investigator’s hypothesis will also be tested for accuracy by the observations, collection of evidence and time.

D. Interpret Data

Interpreting data means that the investigator must evaluate all the evidence, statements, and personal observations in order to reach a conclusion.

1. Weighing the Data

While interpreting all of data in the case, the investigator looks at each interview conducted and determines what weight, if any, each must be given. For example, the witness statement of a person who has identified the subject, and positively picked his photograph from a photo lineup, will weigh much heavier than the account of a co-worker that insists the subject was at work when the incident occurred.

2. Inconsistencies and Discrepancies

This same type of scrutiny must also be applied to the victim if inconsistencies are identified in the statement. Although some discrepancies are inevitable, a witness that provides numerous discrepancies when asked to repeat the facts as they occurred may not be being totally truthful. The investigator must proceed carefully while conducting this analysis.


3. Forming a Different Hypothesis (Theory)

If this step of the process does not yield a strong indication of guilt, the investigator may need to form another theory and take a different approach in the investigation. The investigator must be careful not to stubbornly refuse to yield when the facts do not support his/her theory. Sometimes things are not always the way they seem.

E. Draw Conclusions

The investigator must employ not only deductive reasoning, but more importantly inductive reasoning to help reach final conclusions concerning the witnesses, evidence, and motivations in the case. By using proven truths (facts), the investigator should hopefully be able to draw some meaningful conclusions concerning certain aspects of the case, such as the who, what, where, when and how the act was committed

Through this final step in the investigative process, the investigator should reach the conclusion that the accused is the person who committed the act being investigated, to the exclusion of all other possibilities. This conclusion should be supported by as many other facts as have been uncovered during the investigation, such as victim/witness statements, and physical evidence.

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There are certain characteristics of human nature that an investigator must appreciate in order to conduct a quality investigation. These general principles can be used to the investigator’s advantage if they recognize what is occurring and adjust their strategy accordingly.


A. People May Lie

1. Reasons for Lying

An investigator should not be surprised when a witness or suspect lies during the course of the investigation. Both may have good reason(s) to lie and may include any or all of the following:

a. Freedom
b. Money
c. Reputation
d. Protection


2. Maintaining Self-Control

If the investigator becomes upset or morally offended because someone is lying to him or her, the investigator loses effectiveness. The investigator must always maintain a high level of professionalism and never lose their self control. Once the investigator shows their own emotional vulnerability, the suspect gains the upper hand.
If an investigator loses control when someone lies, the next time they must talk to this person, he/she will have lost some degree of rapport. This can be interpreted by the person as a weakness on the part of the investigator. It can also effect whatever rapport the investigator and suspect may have developed. The loss of this rapport can seriously impede the investigator’s efforts to obtain additional information, or even a confession. A good investigator simply realizes that being lied to is an inevitable part of doing business as an investigator.


B. Man Is a Creature of Habit

This is a very important characteristic of human behavior for investigators. The use of Modus Operandi (MO) is based on this principle. It is the outward behavior, not the mental processes.

C. Personal Emotions

There is no typical person or typical personality. A person’s occupation, upbringing, and/or personality can run the entire gamut of humanity. Lawyers, doctors, and ministers can all have suspicious behavior. If the investigator is morally offended by the actions of the person and reveals this fact, the lines of communication may shut down. Regardless of how heinous the actions are, the investigator must always act in a professional manner and not allow their emotions to be exposed to the person they are investigating.

For example, an investigator might be faced with interviewing a suspected child molester. Although the investigator will probably find this act to be repulsive and disgusting, he/she cannot reveal their true feelings to the suspect, particularly if they expect to engage him/her in incriminating dialogue. Even if an investigator has an intense dislike of the suspect, because he/she has committed an indecent act with a child or has committed some other terrible crime, the investigator must still treat the person with respect and dignity. To do anything less would be a poor reflection on all investigators, and will surely eliminate the possibility for any meaningful questioning since the suspect will probably form an instant dislike for the investigator. By failing to project a professional image, the investigator can quickly become ineffective when dealing with the suspect.

D. Personal Bias

Personal bias is a factor that all investigators must take into account as they go about their work. Everyone has their own personal biases which influence them in their everyday lives. Often, we are unaware of the influence that our biases have on our actions and decisions. Frequently, this influence occurs without us being aware of it.
Personal bias simply means that you probably do not like the same things that the person sitting next to you likes. Many times, it is simply an opinion, not necessarily based on a scientific fact or a study. In other words, sometimes you simply like or dislike something without being able to articulate why. However, the most common bias is one based on personal preference, for whatever reason.

Witnesses can often transfer their own bias or preference into an investigation, sometimes inadvertently. A person may unconsciously slant his/her account of what happened, without even recognizing that their own personal bias is influencing their perception.

Everyone is biased in some manner, and a good investigator should not be surprised when a person gives an account which is substantially different than other witnesses.
The person may not be trying to directly lie to the investigator. It is simply a fact of life that some individuals see things slightly different than others. Bias is one reason this occurs.

In an identical manner, an investigator’s personal preference or bias-type feelings can also be transferred to an investigation. Care must always be exercised by the investigator to ensure that opinions, decisions, and observations are never tainted by the investigator’s own personal bias.

E. Group Perception

Personal biases shape the way people view things by having them focus on certain elements while screening out others. To this same end, one can most likely draw the logical conclusion that groups of people with like backgrounds tend to see things the same. As discussed above, certain individuals will notice or experience events based on their personal interests and backgrounds.

In a similar fashion, persons who have similar experiences and backgrounds tend to develop common beliefs or attitudes. These attitudes cause them to filter out certain types of information and become highly sensitive to other types of information. This is due to common experiences, age, professional backgrounds, education, or socialization.

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