A lot of people these days think that you can simply type someone’s name into Google and get immediate, clear and true answers that are accurate. This frame of thought is indeed very inaccurate.
I field calls daily, and almost every single day I get a call from someone searching for information on another person in which they tell me, “I already know a lot about them because I googled them” or they say, “well I already have a lot of information on this person because I used truthfinder.” That’s when I roll my eyes. Okay. Okay…let me explain something about these methods:
- This information is simply aggregated by machines, not professionals. So the “John Jones” you are searching for may be one of many John Jones in the same age range and geographical area (this happens quite often and can lead to “bad leads”).
- If the info is correct, it not necessarily up-to-date or current.
- Some of the info may be correct but other info is likely not, so how do you know what is accurate about the person and what is not accurate?
The Digital Domain Searches
Now, can you google someone famous or someone with a large social media following and find out a lot of information about them? Sure. But what about Bob who is 65 and refuses to get a smartphone, and who definitely does not have a presence on social media? Or what about finding out information about someone that they don’t publicize online or information that someone is trying to hide? What about someone who is only known by a moniker or nickname, especially when they have a history that is criminal and they actively try to conceal? Okay, you’re getting the point.
What do we do as Private Investigators that is so special when it comes to finding someone?
Good question. We have special tools and access to databases of information on people and businesses. In order to access the databases we use, you must have a professional license. Even the information that we access, we are accountable for.
We also have software and digital experts who know how to search the dark web and the furthest corners of the internet for useful information on a person. We know how to take a little shred of information and use that to uncover more pertinent information to a case or inquiry by a client.
Getting information about a person or business goes much further than an online search. We sometimes have to physically go to courthouses to request files, or interview people at home, or follow someone on a surveillance in order to get the information we need for our client.
Not All Information Is Equal
Getting answers from infoseek or a free online search tool like PeekYou is very unreliable. The site will often offer up phone numbers and require $20 or so to give you the full info. But those phone numbers are rarely the current phone number of the person. Also, it’s very common for you to have the wrong person altogether…you would be surprised by how many people with the same name live in the same area and have other common or shared traits. You can spend hours and hours doing research that is providing you with incorrect information.
The way AI (artificial intelligence) works is by aggregating information that it believes “goes together,” in essence. But the problem with AI is that it does not have the ability to reason or think creatively or to understand why or why not something would make sense.
In summary, sure, anyone can use cheap or free online search tools, but beware…the info you get may not be correct, and you are most definitely not getting the full potential of answers that a private investigator or investigations company can provide you.
Give us a call and to get help finding out if someone is scamming you 424.284.8262
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