🚨 Scams to Avoid When Hiring an Investigator in 2026
The investigation industry has its share of scam artists, unqualified operators, and outright frauds. Before you hand over money to someone claiming they can find a person, locate assets, or run a background check — know what to watch for. This guide exposes the most common scams, red flags, and deceptive practices so you can protect your money and get legitimate results.
⚡ Why This Matters
When you need to find someone who owes you money, locate a defendant for service, or search for assets, you’re often in a vulnerable position — under time pressure, emotionally invested, and unfamiliar with the investigation industry. Scammers know this. They target people dealing with legal disputes, debt collection, family law matters, and personal crises because those clients are motivated to pay quickly and less likely to ask hard questions. The difference between a legitimate skip tracing service and a scam can be thousands of dollars and months of wasted time. Knowing the warning signs protects you.
The private investigation and skip tracing industry ranges from highly professional, licensed firms with decades of experience to fly-by-night operators running scams from a laptop. The internet has made it easier than ever for anyone to put up a professional-looking website and claim to offer investigation services — even without licensing, training, databases, or any legitimate capability to deliver results. According to state licensing boards, complaints against unlicensed “investigators” and fraudulent services have increased significantly in recent years as consumers increasingly search for these services online rather than through referrals from trusted attorneys and professionals.
This guide covers the most common scams and deceptive practices in the investigation industry, the specific red flags that identify fraudulent operators, how to verify that an investigator is legitimate before handing over your money, and what a trustworthy investigation service actually looks like. Whether you’re hiring a private investigator, a skip tracing service, an asset search provider, or a background investigation firm, this information can save you from losing money to a scam and help you find a provider who actually delivers verifiable, actionable results.
🚫 The 10 Most Common Investigation Scams
1️⃣ 🎣 The “Guaranteed Results” Scam
How it works: The operator promises they can “guarantee” they’ll find the person, locate the assets, or produce the information you need — no matter what. They charge a large upfront fee based on this guarantee, then deliver recycled data from free public records, fabricated results, or nothing at all.
Why it’s a scam: No legitimate investigator can guarantee results in every case. Investigations depend on variables outside anyone’s control — the target’s behavior, data availability, jurisdictional limitations, and the passage of time. A firm that has been in business long enough knows that some cases are more challenging than others. Professional skip tracing services have high success rates, but honest providers tell you upfront that results cannot be guaranteed in 100% of cases. They may offer partial refunds or reduced fees for unsuccessful searches, but they never promise something they can’t always deliver.
Protect yourself: Ask about the provider’s success rate — a legitimate firm will give you an honest number (typically 85% to 95% for standard skip traces). Be wary of anyone claiming 100% success on every case.
2️⃣ 💸 The Endless Retainer Scam
How it works: The operator asks for a large upfront retainer — often $1,000 to $5,000 or more — and promises to begin working immediately. They send occasional “progress updates” that contain no real information (“We’re still investigating, following up on leads”) to keep you waiting while they spend your money. Eventually they either disappear, claim the target is “untraceable,” or ask for additional money to “continue the investigation.”
Why it’s a scam: Legitimate skip tracing and locate services work on flat-fee or clearly defined pricing structures. A standard skip trace costs $75 to $300 — not thousands. Asset searches are similarly priced. There is no legitimate reason a standard locate or asset search requires a multi-thousand-dollar retainer. The retainer model can be legitimate for complex, ongoing private investigations (surveillance, fraud cases), but even then, a reputable investigator provides detailed invoicing, regular substantive updates, and a clear scope of work.
Protect yourself: Ask for a flat-fee quote before engaging. If the provider can’t tell you what the service costs, that’s a red flag. Compare pricing to industry standards — our skip tracing cost guide gives you realistic benchmarks.
3️⃣ 📋 The “Free Report” Data Harvester
How it works: A website offers a “free background check” or “free people search” that requires you to enter detailed personal information — your name, email, phone number, and sometimes your Social Security number or date of birth — before revealing results. The “results” are either worthless or hidden behind a paywall, and your personal information has been harvested for sale to data brokers and marketers.
Why it’s a scam: Your personal data is the real product. These sites exist to collect and sell your information, not to provide investigation services. The data they deliver is stale and unreliable — scraped from the same public databases anyone can access. Meanwhile, your information is now in the hands of multiple data brokers. Some of these sites also enroll you in recurring subscription charges buried in fine print.
Protect yourself: Never enter your Social Security number on a free search site. Read the fine print for subscription terms before entering payment information. Use legitimate, security-conscious services for any investigation needs.
4️⃣ 🏴 The Unlicensed Operator
How it works: Someone advertises private investigation or skip tracing services without holding the required state license. They may produce a convincing website, impressive testimonials, and confident marketing — but they have no legal authority to conduct investigations, no access to commercial databases, and no regulatory oversight. If something goes wrong, you have no recourse through licensing boards.
Why it’s a scam: Most states require private investigators to hold a state-issued license, which involves background checks, experience requirements, testing, and ongoing compliance. Unlicensed operators skip all of this. Without a license, they likely cannot access the commercial investigation databases that provide current, accurate data. Information obtained by unlicensed investigators may also be inadmissible in court or obtained in violation of privacy laws like the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.
Protect yourself: Verify the investigator’s license with your state’s licensing board before paying anything. Check our guide on how to work with a private investigator for licensing verification resources.
5️⃣ 🔓 The “Illegal Access” Operator
How it works: The operator claims they can access “anything” — bank account balances, private phone records, sealed court records, tax returns, medical records — for a premium price. They may deliver some of this information, but they obtained it through illegal means: pretexting (impersonating someone to access records), hacking, bribing insiders, or accessing restricted databases without permissible purpose.
Why it’s a scam: Using information obtained illegally puts you at legal risk. If you use illegally obtained data in court proceedings, it can be excluded and may result in sanctions against you. In some cases, the client who hired the illegal investigator can face criminal charges as a co-conspirator. Legitimate investigators operate within strict legal boundaries — see our compliance checklist and legal skip tracing guide. Learn about pretexting laws and how pretexting scams work.
Protect yourself: If someone promises access to bank balances, private phone records, tax returns, or medical files for a fee, walk away. No legitimate investigator provides these through legal means at consumer prices. A proper asset search reveals what legally discoverable information shows — and it doesn’t include bank account balances or tax returns.
6️⃣ 🔄 The Recycled Public Records Scam
How it works: The operator charges professional investigation fees ($200 to $500+) but delivers a report that consists entirely of publicly available information — data you could have obtained yourself from county recorder websites, voter registration rolls, and free people search sites. The report may look polished and professional, but the underlying data is no better than what you’d get from a $20 consumer background check site.
Why it’s a scam: You’re paying for professional-grade investigation and receiving consumer-grade data dressed up in a fancy template. Legitimate skip tracing services access commercial databases that aggregate data from credit bureau headers, utility records, postal data, telecommunications carriers, and DMV records — information that is simply unavailable through public records alone. If the report doesn’t include data points from these restricted sources, you’re paying for a glorified Google search.
Protect yourself: Ask what databases the provider accesses. A legitimate firm will reference commercial investigation databases. Our guide on databases skip tracers use explains what to expect from real investigation data versus recycled public records.
7️⃣ ⏰ The “Rush Fee” Pressure Scam
How it works: The operator tells you the standard fee is reasonable, but then creates artificial urgency — “If you want results before your court date, you need our expedited service for triple the price.” They exploit your deadline pressure to charge exorbitant fees for the same work they would have done at the standard price. Some operators deliberately quote long timelines for standard service to make the rush fee seem necessary.
Why it’s a scam: Standard skip traces from legitimate providers deliver results in 24 hours or less. There is no reason a basic locate search should take weeks at the standard price and hours at the premium price — the database searches involved take the same amount of time regardless of what you’re paying. Reasonable expedite fees exist for truly complex cases, but they should be modest — not triple or quadruple the base price.
Protect yourself: Know standard turnaround times before you engage. Our page on how long skip tracing takes gives you realistic expectations. If someone quotes weeks for a standard locate and then offers instant results for a premium, they’re playing games.
8️⃣ 📱 The Fake Testimonial / Review Mill
How it works: The operator’s website features dozens of glowing testimonials and five-star reviews on Google and Yelp. But the reviews are fake — written by the operator, purchased from review mills, or generated by AI. The website testimonials are fabricated with stock photos and invented names. The impressive online presence creates a false sense of legitimacy that convinces clients to pay before doing deeper due diligence.
Why it’s a scam: Reviews and testimonials are the easiest things to fake. A website can be built in a day, fake reviews can be purchased for pennies, and AI-generated testimonials are indistinguishable from real ones at first glance. Scam operators invest heavily in appearance because it’s cheaper than investing in actual investigation capability.
Protect yourself: Look for reviews from verified purchase accounts on Google. Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Verify the company has been operating for multiple years — check domain registration dates using WHOIS tools. Look for detailed, specific reviews rather than generic five-star praise. Be skeptical of any company with only perfect reviews and zero complaints.
9️⃣ 🕵️ The Fake “Government Database” Claim
How it works: The operator claims to have “direct access to government databases,” “law enforcement databases,” or “classified records” that give them superior investigation capability. They charge premium prices based on this supposed exclusive access. In reality, they access the same commercial databases available to any licensed investigator — or worse, they access nothing at all and fabricate results.
Why it’s a scam: No private investigator or skip tracing service has direct access to law enforcement databases like NCIC (National Crime Information Center), classified federal records, or sealed court files. These databases are restricted to law enforcement officials with authorized access. Commercial investigation databases are powerful and comprehensive, but they are not “government databases” — they aggregate data from regulated commercial sources. Any investigator claiming otherwise is lying to charge higher prices.
Protect yourself: Understand what databases professional skip tracers actually use and what an asset search actually shows. Legitimate providers are transparent about their data sources and capabilities.
🔟 🤖 The AI-Generated Report Scam
How it works: A newer scam emerging in 2026: operators use AI chatbots and content generators to create professional-looking “investigation reports” that contain plausible but unverified — or completely fabricated — information. The reports look detailed and authoritative but are not based on actual database searches or investigative work. Some operators combine AI-generated analysis with minimal real data to create reports that seem comprehensive but contain significant fabricated content.
Why it’s a scam: You’re paying for investigation services and receiving AI fiction formatted as a professional report. Acting on fabricated information — sending a process server to a nonexistent address, filing legal papers based on invented asset data — wastes money and can create legal liability. Legitimate investigation services produce results from actual database queries and human analysis, not AI-generated content.
Protect yourself: Ask how results were obtained and what databases were searched. Request specific data source citations for key findings. Verify critical data points independently — how to verify a skip tracing report shows you what to check. Real investigation reports reference specific data sources and dates, not vague generalities.
🔍 Red Flags That Signal a Scam
Beyond the specific scam types above, watch for these general red flags when evaluating any investigation or skip tracing service.
🚩 Pricing Red Flags
💰 No clear pricing — “We’ll quote after we assess your case” for standard services that should have standard pricing
💰 Prices far below industry standards — a $10 “professional” skip trace cannot deliver real results
💰 Prices far above industry standards — a $2,000 charge for a basic locate search that should cost $75-$300
💰 Required large upfront retainer for simple services (locate, asset search, background check)
💰 Payment only accepted via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or cash apps with no refund capability
💰 Automatic recurring charges buried in terms of service
🚩 Communication Red Flags
📞 No verifiable business phone number — only email, web forms, or social media messaging
📞 No physical business address or only a P.O. box
📞 Refuses to provide their business license or PI license number
📞 High-pressure sales tactics — “This offer expires today” or “I can only hold this price for one hour”
📞 Reluctant to explain their process, data sources, or methodology
📞 Makes promises that sound too good to be true — finding anyone anywhere guaranteed
🚩 Website and Business Red Flags
🌐 Website domain registered recently (check WHOIS) despite claiming years of experience
🌐 No Better Business Bureau listing or business registration records
🌐 Stock photos used for “team” or “office” pictures
🌐 Generic testimonials without specific details or verifiable names
🌐 No mention of compliance with FCRA, GLBA, or DPPA
🌐 Claims capabilities that no private firm legally possesses (accessing sealed records, wiretapping, GPS tracking)
✅ What a Legitimate Investigation Service Looks Like
Now that you know what to avoid, here’s what to look for when hiring a legitimate investigator or skip tracing service. Trustworthy providers share common characteristics that distinguish them from scam operators.
✅ Transparent Pricing
Legitimate services publish their pricing or provide clear quotes for standard services. A skip trace has a defined price. An asset search has a defined price. A background check has a defined price. You know what you’re paying before you pay it. There are no hidden fees, no surprise upcharges, and no vague retainer requirements for straightforward services.
✅ Proper Licensing and Credentials
A legitimate investigator holds the required state licenses and is willing to provide their license number for verification. They maintain compliance with FCRA, GLBA, DPPA, and other applicable laws. They follow a documented compliance program and can explain their data security practices. Our ethics of private investigations guide covers the standards legitimate firms maintain.
✅ Established Track Record
Look for a firm that has been in business for years — not weeks or months. Established businesses have verifiable history, real client relationships, and a reputation they cannot afford to jeopardize. Check business registration records, domain registration dates, and industry association memberships. People Locator Skip Tracing has served attorneys, landlords, debt collectors, and individuals since 2004 — over two decades of consistent, professional service.
✅ Clear Scope and Honest Expectations
A legitimate provider tells you what they can and cannot do. They explain what information a standard asset search reveals and what it doesn’t. They’re honest about success rates and accuracy metrics. They’ll tell you if your case presents challenges and give you a realistic assessment before taking your money. They never promise results they can’t deliver.
✅ Verifiable Contact Information
Real businesses have real phone numbers answered by real people. They have physical addresses (or at minimum, registered business addresses). They respond to inquiries professionally and promptly. They provide written agreements or service terms that clearly spell out what you’re purchasing, the timeline for delivery, and any refund or satisfaction policies.
📋 Due Diligence Checklist Before Hiring
✅ Verify Before You Pay — Complete This Checklist
✅ Verify their state PI license or business license number with the issuing authority
✅ Check Better Business Bureau for complaints and rating
✅ Search for the company name + “scam” or “complaint” online
✅ Verify the domain registration date matches their claimed years in business (use a WHOIS tool)
✅ Confirm they have a working phone number and someone answers it
✅ Ask what databases they use — legitimate firms will name commercial investigation databases
✅ Get a written quote with clear pricing before paying
✅ Ask about their refund or satisfaction policy if results are not delivered
✅ Confirm payment is processed through a legitimate payment processor (credit card, business invoice)
✅ Verify they require permissible purpose documentation for regulated searches
✅ Ask for their turnaround time and compare it to industry standards
✅ Trust your instincts — if something feels wrong, it probably is
📊 Legitimate Pricing Benchmarks
One of the best ways to spot a scam is knowing what services actually cost. Here are realistic price ranges for common investigation services from legitimate providers:
| Service | Legitimate Price Range | 🚩 Scam Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| 🔍 Skip Trace (Person Locate) | $75 – $300 | Under $20 = recycled public data; Over $1,000 = inflated pricing |
| 💎 Asset Search | $100 – $500 | Claims to show bank balances = illegal; Over $2,000 = overcharging |
| 📋 Background Check | $30 – $150 | Under $10 = consumer-grade data; “Deep” check for $1,000+ = scam |
| 💼 Employer Locate | $75 – $200 | Guaranteed employer in 1 hour for $500+ = pressure pricing |
| 🏠 Property Search | $50 – $200 | Claims to find “hidden” property for $1,000+ = inflated |
| 🔎 Comprehensive Investigation | $500 – $3,000+ | Retainers over $5,000 for standard cases = excessive |
⚠️ Industry-Specific Scam Warnings
⚖️ Legal Service / Litigation Scams
If you need to locate a defendant for service or find someone to serve a lawsuit, be especially cautious of operators who promise they can “guarantee service” on evasive defendants. Legitimate process server skip tracing provides verified addresses, but successful service depends on factors no provider controls. If someone is actively avoiding service, there are legal options like substituted service and service by publication — but no honest provider guarantees personal service on every case.
💰 Judgment Collection Scams
The judgment collection space attracts scammers who promise they can collect any judgment for a “small upfront fee.” Legitimate judgment recovery works on contingency (they get paid when you get paid) or charges reasonable fees for specific services like locate and asset searches. Anyone demanding thousands of dollars upfront to “collect your judgment” before doing any work is likely running a scam. Read about DIY vs. professional judgment collection to understand the real process.
👨👩👧 Family Law and Missing Person Scams
People searching for long-lost family members, biological parents, or former spouses are emotionally vulnerable and attractive targets for scammers. Operators may string clients along with fabricated “leads” and “promising developments” while charging ongoing fees. Legitimate searches have defined timelines and deliverables — a professional skip trace produces verifiable results in 24 hours or less, not weeks of vague updates.
🔍 Background Check Scams
The background check industry has its own set of scams, particularly services that claim to provide FCRA-compliant reports but are not actually registered consumer reporting agencies. Using non-compliant background data for tenant screening, employment screening, or credit decisions exposes you to significant legal liability. Check what actually shows up on a proper background check versus what scam sites deliver.
🏠 Real Estate and Skip Tracing Scams
Real estate investors who use skip tracing for real estate — particularly for finding absentee property owners — face a unique set of scams. Some operators offer “bulk skip trace” services at pennies per record, delivering recycled public data with no verification. When you’re making investment decisions based on owner contact information, inaccurate data doesn’t just waste your marketing budget — it can lead you to contact the wrong people, miss legitimate opportunities, and create legal complications. Legitimate real estate skip tracing provides verified current contact information for property owners, not mass-produced data dumps.
🕵️ Surveillance and Infidelity Investigation Scams
People seeking surveillance services or infidelity investigations are often emotionally charged and willing to pay premium prices for answers. Scam operators exploit this by charging exorbitant retainers, providing fabricated “evidence,” or stringing clients along with expensive ongoing surveillance that produces nothing useful. Legitimate surveillance work involves clear engagement terms, specific deliverables, and honest communication when surveillance isn’t producing results — rather than requests for more money to continue indefinitely.
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself: The Complete Hiring Process
Follow this step-by-step process when hiring any investigation or skip tracing service to protect yourself from scams and ensure you get legitimate results.
📋 Define Your Need First
Before contacting any provider, clarify exactly what you need: a person locate, an asset search, a background check, surveillance, or something else. Understanding your need helps you evaluate whether a provider’s services and pricing match what you’re looking for. It also protects you from upselling — where an operator convinces you that you need expensive services you actually don’t. Our when to hire a skip tracer guide and skip trace vs. PI comparison help you determine the right service for your situation.
🔎 Research Multiple Providers
Never hire the first provider you find. Contact at least two or three services, compare pricing and services, and ask each the same questions. Legitimate providers welcome comparison shopping because their pricing and credentials stand up to scrutiny. Scam operators prefer clients who don’t shop around — isolation is a key element of fraud. Check each provider’s website age, business registration, licensing, and online reviews before engaging.
💰 Get Written Pricing Before Paying
Request a written quote or fee schedule that clearly states what you’re purchasing, the total cost, and what’s included. Legitimate services provide this without hesitation. If a provider won’t commit to a price in writing before you pay, or if they pressure you to pay immediately before discussing terms, that’s a major red flag. Compare their pricing to the benchmarks in our pricing table above.
💳 Pay by Credit Card
Always pay by credit card, which provides fraud protection and the ability to dispute charges. Never pay by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or untraceable cash apps — these payment methods offer zero recourse if the service is fraudulent. A legitimate business will accept standard payment methods including credit cards and business checks. Any provider that insists on untraceable payment methods is sending a clear signal that they don’t want you to be able to get your money back.
✅ Verify Results When Received
When you receive results, verify key data points independently. Cross-reference addresses against county property records. Call phone numbers to confirm they connect. Check employer information through basic online research. Our guide on verifying skip tracing reports walks you through the process. If results seem too detailed (bank balances, private records) or too vague (no specific addresses, only general locations), something is wrong.
🔍 Work With a Trusted Provider — Since 2004
People Locator Skip Tracing has provided professional, compliant, transparent investigation services since 2004. Flat-fee pricing, 24-hour-or-less turnaround, and real results from commercial-grade databases. No hidden fees, no subscription traps, no recycled public data. Serving attorneys, landlords, debt collectors, and individuals nationwide.
Order Skip Trace Now Questions? Contact Us❓ Frequently Asked Questions
📌 How do I verify a private investigator’s license?
Contact your state’s Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Public Safety, or equivalent licensing authority. Most states maintain online searchable databases of licensed investigators where you can verify by name or license number. Ask the investigator for their license number and verify it directly — don’t just take their word for it. If they refuse to provide a license number or make excuses about why you can’t verify it, do not hire them. Some states exempt certain types of searches (like database-only skip tracing) from PI licensing requirements, but the provider should still be able to explain their legal authority to operate. Check our working with a PI guide for state-by-state licensing resources and verification procedures.
📌 Is it legal for an investigator to access bank account information?
No. Accessing bank account balances or transaction records without legal authorization (such as a court-issued subpoena or discovery order) violates federal law, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Any investigator offering to provide bank balances for a fee is operating illegally, and using that information puts you at legal risk — potentially including criminal liability as a co-conspirator. Legitimate asset searches reveal property, vehicles, business interests, liens, and judgments — not bank account details. The only way to legally obtain bank account information is through court-authorized discovery processes like debtor examinations or subpoenas after a judgment has been obtained.
📌 What should I do if I think I’ve been scammed by an investigator?
File a complaint with your state’s attorney general consumer protection division, report the business to the Better Business Bureau, file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov, report the scam to your state’s PI licensing board (if the operator claimed to be licensed), and dispute the charge with your credit card company if you paid by card. Document all communications and keep copies of any reports or materials the scammer provided.
📌 Why do some investigators charge so much more than others?
Legitimate price variation reflects differences in service scope, database access, analyst expertise, and the complexity of the work involved. A basic locate search costs less than a comprehensive investigation with surveillance and multiple database searches. However, dramatic price differences for the same service — one firm charging $100 for a skip trace and another charging $2,000 for the identical type of search — usually indicate either overcharging or a scam. Be especially skeptical of operators who price based on perceived urgency or emotional stakes rather than the actual work involved — charging a desperate parent $3,000 for the same database search that costs an attorney $150 is predatory pricing, not professional investigation. Compare pricing using our cost guide as a benchmark to ensure you’re getting fair, transparent pricing.
📌 Are online background check sites legitimate?
Some are; many are not. Legitimate consumer reporting agencies operating under the FCRA provide legally compliant reports. Free or low-cost people search sites typically provide stale, unreliable data that cannot be used for legal decisions. The key distinction is whether the provider is a registered consumer reporting agency with compliance procedures — or just a data aggregator selling recycled public records.
📌 Can I get my money back if I was scammed?
If you paid by credit card, you may be able to dispute the charge under your card issuer’s fraud protection policies — most card issuers allow disputes within 60 to 120 days of the charge. Wire transfers, cryptocurrency payments, and cash app payments are extremely difficult to recover — this is exactly why scammers prefer these payment methods, and why you should always pay by credit card when hiring investigation services. Credit card payment also provides clear documentation of the transaction for any complaints or legal actions you may pursue. Beyond chargebacks, file complaints with the FTC, your state attorney general, the BBB, and the relevant state PI licensing board. If the amount lost is significant, consider consulting an attorney about fraud claims — in some states, you may be able to recover treble (triple) damages for intentional fraud.
📌 How do I know the difference between a PI and a skip tracing service?
Private investigators offer a broad range of services including surveillance, interviews, undercover operations, field investigation, and testimony as expert witnesses. Skip tracing services specialize in locating people and assets using database searches, data analysis, and investigative research. Both are legitimate — the key is matching the service to your specific need. For most locate, asset search, and background check needs, a skip tracing service is faster, cheaper, and more efficient than a full-service PI. You don’t need a $300/hour investigator to find someone’s current address when a $150 skip trace delivers the answer in 24 hours. Our comparison of skip tracing vs. private investigator helps you decide which service type is the right fit for your situation and budget.
📚 Related Resources
🔍 Professional Skip Tracing Services — Transparent pricing, licensed, compliant
💰 How Much Does Skip Tracing Cost? — Realistic pricing benchmarks
🆚 PI vs. Skip Tracing Service — Which do you need?
📋 How to Work With a Private Investigator — Best practices
✅ How to Verify a Skip Tracing Report — Confirm results are real
📊 Skip Tracing Accuracy Metrics — How quality is measured
🔐 Data Security Best Practices — How your data is protected
⚖️ Is Skip Tracing Legal? — Legal framework explained
📖 Compliance Checklist — Regulatory standards
🕵️ Pretexting Scams — How scammers get your information
🔎 Scam Verification Script — How to verify if a contact is legitimate
📋 Ethics of Private Investigations — Industry standards
