In our experience at Charlotte Private Investigator, many people—both here in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area and elsewhere–have incorrect ideas about what we do. Most media portrayals of private investigators exaggerate or make things up, so it’s easy to see why people don’t have an accurate understanding of what a private investigator actually does.
In this article, we will go over a few of the most common myths about private investigators and replace them with accurate information about what we can do for you.
- Myth: A private investigator can subvert the law. One misconception about private investigators is that because we don’t work for the police, we aren’t bound by the law. In reality, the opposite is true; we have to follow the law even more carefully to make sure the evidence we gather is admissible in court. This means that unlike fictional private detectives on TV, real ones can’t impersonate people or trespass on private property to get evidence.
- Myth: A private investigator can access police information. Another myth about private investigators is that we can access non-public information, such as police or FBI files. The truth is that private investigators have to make do with public information. However, we are well-versed in sifting through public information to figure out what is going on, and we can search through available records to help you find what you are looking for.
- Myth: Private investigators can look up credit card information. Many people also believe that private investigators can look up someone’s credit card information, but in real life it is very difficult to get someone’s credit card data without their permission. When someone tries to access another person’s credit card information, the person they are trying to look up is notified, and the person who is prying can face serious consequences.