Post: #1

Has anyone used a private investigator before and if so how did you like the services they provided (or if you work as a PI I have a few questions for you)?


Here is my scenario.

1) My personal mail (bank & statements, bills, or even anything that contains enough personal information to create additional credit cards or even wire money) is missing. I requested two $1000 disbursements from 2 different financial institutions two weeks ago and only received one (I dont even use the mail anymore now. I just have whatever I need wired to me as a precautionary measure). I pretty much have written off the last $1000 disbursement & if I dont receive the check in the mail I will just have that wired to me as well.
2) Someone makes random attempts to charge my CC (my card was replaced twice b/c of this)
3) My phone & cable services get turned off randomly (the billing is paid and always current)


What I mentioned is considered wire & mail fraud.



I always take precaution whenever I do anything & have reported these incidents to the FBI as well as to the ic3 site. I also had a long consultation with a field agent & he explained that the federal agencies (FBI or any of the other DOJ agencies. Unfortunately this includes the local PD as well) do not act on each complaint filed but they gather a list of complaints, look to see if there is a recurring pattern, then they decide whether they want to pursue anything at all. My only option would be to hire a private investigator and from what the P.I. told me on the phone they mostly go after cases that are larger in sizes.



TIA for your help.

Post: #2

I have not worked with a PI before, but I think the book "How To Be Invisible" would be of great interest to you. You could perhaps reverse engineer some of the things happening, and hone in on exactly what you would want a PI to do for you. The book breaks down different levels of privacy, how to achieve those levels, as well as the techniques someone might use to track down information about you.

Here is the book:

Post: #3

Since you believe your mail is being intercepted some how, could you give us a few more details. I'm UK based, so things may be different where you are.

How long has this been happening for?
Do you live in a house or apartment complex?
Is your mail box seperate from your property, or does it come through your front door?

Whilst it is highly unlikely, your mail could be getting intercepted at the post office / sorting centre. Have you raised the issue with the postal service? It could simply be a mistake at the post office. Your credit cards could be getting skimmed somewhere too.

A more likely scenario for your post considering that your phone and cable are regularly cancelled is that the mail is being intercepted at your property. This is most likely either a disgruntled neighbour, or an ex / friend that you've had a falling out with. If your mail box is external from your property (outside / lobby mail boxes / etc) then one thing you could do is set up a camera to monitor the mail box to see if anyone is accessing it. If your post comes through your front door, then change your locks and set up a camera to monitor your front door.

I think the services of a PI would be a little over the top in this scenario as all they would do is mount surveillance anyway.

Post: #4

Used a PI to locate a long-lost relative who changed their name and tried half-heartedly to get invisible. Successful, because they have access to databases we don't.

Not sure what a PI could do for you.

Suggest also using a PO box for your personal mail.

Unrelated, but you wrote off a $1000 disbursement? Are you a high roller? Seems like a single phone call could have the missing disbursement check cancelled and a new one resent. Hassle for them perhaps but that is why they have a customer service department, right?

Post: #5

(12-03-2014 02:57 PM)Marmite Wrote:  Since you believe your mail is being intercepted some how, could you give us a few more details. I'm UK based, so things may be different where you are.

How long has this been happening for?
Do you live in a house or apartment complex?
Is your mail box seperate from your property, or does it come through your front door?

Whilst it is highly unlikely, your mail could be getting intercepted at the post office / sorting centre. Have you raised the issue with the postal service? It could simply be a mistake at the post office. Your credit cards could be getting skimmed somewhere too.

A more likely scenario for your post considering that your phone and cable are regularly cancelled is that the mail is being intercepted at your property. This is most likely either a disgruntled neighbour, or an ex / friend that you've had a falling out with. If your mail box is external from your property (outside / lobby mail boxes / etc) then one thing you could do is set up a camera to monitor the mail box to see if anyone is accessing it. If your post comes through your front door, then change your locks and set up a camera to monitor your front door.

I think the services of a PI would be a little over the top in this scenario as all they would do is mount surveillance anyway.

This has been happening since May of this year. I live in an apartment complex BTW. As I mentioned before my cable & phone documents & billing statements have been taken (and my service either shut off, altered, or interrupted. As a result I pay for this service online to keep everything current). The billing address for me cell provider was changed and forwarded to a different address w/o my consent (I had to go over later & change it). A check from my state (sent & addressed to me) was swiped (I had to call & have a new check issued to me). My monthly bank statement was missing for two separate months. My latest dilemma is the missing disbursement check that is missing (I requested a new replacement).


I made a complaint with my local post office twice already. Something tells me that this is more than a disgruntled neighbor (considering what is missing this reeks of fraud).

Post: #6

(12-03-2014 09:55 PM)Engineer Wrote:  Used a PI to locate a long-lost relative who changed their name and tried half-heartedly to get invisible. Successful, because they have access to databases we don't.

Not sure what a PI could do for you.

Suggest also using a PO box for your personal mail.

Unrelated, but you wrote off a $1000 disbursement? Are you a high roller? Seems like a single phone call could have the missing disbursement check cancelled and a new one resent. Hassle for them perhaps but that is why they have a customer service department, right?

I didnt write it off (poor choice of words on my part) but I have accepted that fact that I wont be getting that check & will have to request a new one. I have complained to my local post office twice.