There are no employees. There is no signage. The listed phone number routes to an automated voice and an endless hold. This situation sounds theatrical, and watching it unfold demonstrates that this can be a real risk for investors.

Lessons From Sweetpea And Kwabena

In a recent episode of HBO’s Industry, Sweetpea Golightly and Kwabena Bannerman, hedge fund analysts, travel to Accra, Ghana, to conduct a site visit, which involves visiting the locations associated with a business to see whether it actually conducts business at its registered addresses.

In Accra, Sweetpea goes to the registered address of a Tender subsidiary (a payment processing company) and asks the security guard for the location of the company’s office. The guard points to a mailbox. When she asks the guard for a phone number, he eventually provides it, which connects to an automated voice and a never-ending hold.

Her colleague, Kwabena, luckily knows someone who was affiliated with Tender’s subsidiary, who, during a conversation, admitted that Tender paid less than the $50 million it claimed in a news article. This source also provided the subsidiary’s actual office address.

This human-source interview yielded two helpful leads. First, we learn that what Tender publicly reported about the acquisition of the subsidiary was untruthful, according to this source. Second, the interviewee provided a physical address to allow for a second site visit.

Sweetpea and Kwabena traveled to the address the source provided, arriving at a warehouse that appeared abandoned. They went to the subsidiary company’s floor and found a mostly abandoned office space. Two security guards sat behind a desk in the middle of one of the rooms, monitoring video feeds to ensure there were no squatters. Sweetpea again called the number the guard provided her from the first site visit. The phone on the guards’ desk rang; one guard picked it up, then hung up immediately, and the automated voice began speaking. Sweetpea and Kwabena called their superiors to inform them that this operation appeared to be a fraud.

Real-World Takeaways

When conducting an enhanced due diligence investigation, research is essential to uncover new findings for the client and verify previously reported information about the subject (a company or person). The value of having someone complete a background check questionnaire (also called a due diligence questionnaire) is that it allows the subject to be transparent with both its business partner (our client) and the investigator who verifies this information (us).

While it would be alarming to discover that EU entities sanctioned a potential business partner or that a potential investor has declared bankruptcy multiple times, it would be even more disturbing if this entity claimed to have never been sanctioned or involved in legal proceedings, including bankruptcies. Being sanctioned and filing for bankruptcy multiple times are significant red flags. Blatantly lying about these matters is another one.

While this was an extreme case suited for television, this site visit and the interview with the human source were instrumental in helping these analysts conduct their due diligence. Many investigations rely solely on open-source intelligence, often conducted behind a desk. Site visits and human-source interviews can provide information that desk research cannot. Even if Sweetpea and Kwabena had the addresses for both the mailbox and the warehouse, they could have used an online map service to view the locations from the outside. If they had only done this, they would not have discovered that no company was conducting business behind these doors.

Since the human source and the news article provided different answers regarding the price Tender paid for its subsidiary, analysts would conduct additional research, attempting to verify these claims. Some sources are more trustworthy than others. In this case, a human source close to the subsidiary’s owners would likely provide more reliable information than a company’s online claims.

Business intelligence analysts, along with their clients, define the scope of the investigation, but a client’s budget and appetite for risk carry more weight. Human-source interviews and site visits are more costly because they are more time and labor intensive. They can even require working with partner investigations firms, often when the subject is located on a different continent (Sweetpea and Kwabena reside in London). Having to pay for higher-fee due diligence investigations can be a deterrent for clients, as many businesses view them as box-checking exercises. Ultimately, the client determines the scope of an investigation. A smaller scope and budget, while economical, could leave crucial findings uncovered.

Due Diligence Is Cheaper Than Damage Control

Site visits and human sources cost more, take longer, and may involve uncomfortable questions. However, it would be even more uncomfortable to explain to your board that you authorized the transfer of $50 million to a mailbox or to security guards monitoring an abandoned building.

To be clear, we’re not talking about anything illicit here. There’s no cloak-and-dagger hacking stuff that’ll land you in hot water. Unmasking an anonymous account requires patience, a solid methodology, and the uncanny ability to connect the dots across the vast—often wild—open web.

How to Start Tracking an Anonymous Account by Using OSINT

To begin the investigative process, it’s essential to gather all visible information. Key data points include usernames, email addresses, writing styles, images, and posting patterns, as these elements can offer valuable insights. Many individuals often use the same username across different platforms, meaning a handle found on X (formerly known as Twitter) may also be present on Reddit and in various forums or professional profiles. Additionally, while a profile photo might seem generic, utilizing a reverse image search can uncover other locations where the image is used and possibly reveal embedded metadata.

Following Digital Clues: How Anonymous Accounts Leave a Trail

The fun part begins with following the digital footprint. Anonymous individuals often leave small traces behind. These traces might include an email address linked to an abandoned social media profile, a domain registration that hasn’t been fully anonymized, or even a LinkedIn profile that follows a similar naming convention. It may also involve tracing the digital interactions of friends, followers, likes, and comments, gradually piecing together a mosaic that reveals the person behind the screen.

Although each piece of information may seem insignificant on its own, when combined, they start to form a clearer picture of a real person. This process encapsulates the essence of OSINT investigations: uncovering scattered clues and organizing them into a cohesive understanding.

Combining OSINT with Public Records for Legal Proof

What really makes these investigations powerful for attorneys is when OSINT is combined with other public record research. Corporate filings, court dockets, property records, and regulatory documents often link digital breadcrumbs to verifiable personal information. For example, a pseudonym mentioned in litigation records or a business registration that lists a previously hidden email address can make all the difference. Or court filings showing a suspiciously similar incident might uncover new leads. This is where unmasking anonymous accounts shifts from internet sleuthing into evidence that can be used strategically in legal proceedings.

In other cases, a group of suspects may surface, and further investigation into their backgrounds might uncover corroborating details that more clearly identify the true account holder. This might involve an account handle that appears suspiciously similar, a record of disseminating false claims, or previous participation in related legal actions.

Why Human Error Is the Weak Link in Online Anonymity

It’s rarely the tech that cracks an anonymous account. It’s the human behind it.

No matter how careful someone thinks they are, human error is the Achilles’ heel. They reuse a username they once used in a college forum. They post a photo without stripping the metadata. Or they leave a trail in the weirdest places—like a Venmo account with public transactions or a Spotify playlist linked to a real name.

It only takes one slip—or one “cracked window”—and the whole hidden identity can come crashing down.

Real Case Study: The Labor Dispute Leak

A Midwest company was under siege.

Anonymous social media accounts were popping up one after another, with each one taking shots at the business and its leadership. Posts accused the company of corruption, mismanagement, and worse. Employees were rattled. Customers were starting to whisper. And the general counsel knew that if the accusations kept up, it could bleed into the courtroom, the press, or both.

The general counsel’s gut told him it wasn’t random. These weren’t trolls from the outside. This had fingerprints indicating it was an inside job.

At the time, the company was knee-deep in a bitter labor dispute. Tensions were running high. Lawsuits were already in motion. And the general counsel had a list of suspects that was comprised of a smattering of disgruntled employees—about ten in total, each with their own grievances.

That gave us a place to start.

When we began digging, though, the trail was thin. Most of the accounts were locked down, and there were no obvious mistakes or sloppy overlaps. We found just one tiny thread: a partial email address exposed in a past data breach. On its own, it wasn’t much.

But when we lined it up against the suspects, one thing stood out: The partial email, with the exact same unique string of digits, was connected to one of the potential suspects. A coincidence? Not likely.

That was the weak link.

With subpoenas in play, the pressure shifted. The accounts went silent almost overnight. No more anonymous smears. No more burner attacks. Just … nothing.

The message was clear.

The Limitations of Unmasking Anonymous Accounts

It’s important to understand that unmasking anonymous accounts, while often effective, is not a guaranteed process. Some individuals are exceptionally skilled at leveraging practices to ensure digital hygiene. They may use encrypted communications, spoofed IP addresses, privacy-first browsers, burner devices, or offshore hosting services that make tracking extremely difficult. Others may avoid leaving metadata, never reuse usernames, and operate with clockwork-level discipline across platforms.

Even with advanced OSINT tools and experienced investigators, there are cases where the digital trail simply runs cold. Also, legal and ethical constraints limit how far investigations can go in terms of hacking, coercion, and crossing privacy boundaries.

That said, anonymity is inherently fragile. The vast majority of people, even experienced bad actors, make mistakes. They overlook a forgotten account, reuse a unique phrase, or upload an image with embedded data. And in the world of OSINT, it only takes one weak link for an entire hidden identity to unravel.

Patience, persistence, and precision remain the investigator’s most powerful assets. While not foolproof, these methods often succeed where gut instinct and guesswork fail.

Final Takeaway: Anonymity Online Doesn’t Mean They Can’t Be Found

After struggling with online defamation or anonymous harassment, many attorneys find themselves stuck, armed with suspicion but no proof. The internet’s anonymity can make it feel like the truth is out of reach, leaving clients vulnerable and legal options limited.

Now you’ve seen how OSINT and public record analysis can change that supposed anonymity. When it comes to everything from username tracking to digital footprint tracing and metadata analysis, private investigators can bring clarity to otherwise murky digital threats. You’ve also learned how these tools turn loose threads into admissible evidence.

Moving forward, if you’re facing an anonymous attack or suspect digital manipulation tied to a legal matter, don’t wait. Leverage professional OSINT investigation to help you transform suspicion into strategy and protect your clients with facts, not just theories

Now imagine talking to someone who was actually in the room when the decisions got made. They saw the late-night emails, heard the whispered side conversations, and observed the “let’s not put that in writing” moments. And here’s the kicker: They don’t work there anymore.

That distance is power. Former employees aren’t protecting a paycheck or managing office politics. They’re freer, often more candid, and more willing to tell you what really happened before the sanitized version landed in court.

And yet they’re the witnesses attorneys most often overlook.

Why Former Employees Talk When Others Stay Silent

When someone no longer has a job to protect or a manager watching over their shoulder, they’re more candid. That doesn’t mean they’ll spill everything, but it does mean they’re more likely to speak plainly about questionable decisions, compliance gray zones, or just how messy things got before the lawyers showed up.

Even if they don’t have the smoking gun, they often help in subtler ways:

• Validating suspicions
  
• Pointing out overlooked records (e.g., a forgotten report or an internal memo)
  
• Identifying who really made the call (and who just nodded and went along with it)

Sometimes, they just give you context. But in many cases, context is as valuable as hard evidence.

How to Track Down Ex-Employees Who Hold the Missing Pieces

Of course, tracking down former employees isn’t always simple. People move. They change industries. Some want nothing to do with anything related to their old job.

That’s why these investigations require more than just Google searches. You need digital sleuthing to find things like resume trails, license databases, and social media breadcrumbs. And when you do find them, how you approach matters. This isn’t a deposition; it’s a conversation. Doors open when you show discretion.

Sorting Truth from Bias: When Ex-Employees Help—and When They Don’t

Some former employees are too far removed to be useful. Others may carry biases or grudges. That’s fine. Every perspective still adds something to the broader picture, as long as it’s vetted and weighed properly. You never know who holds the piece that makes the rest of the puzzle complete.

I’ve seen it more times than I can count: One conversation changes the entire case. It clarifies a timeline. Exposes a blind spot. Sharpens the narrative. Suddenly, a case that felt murky gets a lot clearer.

The Witness Everyone Missed: Why Overlooked Employees Can Crack a Case

I once had a case that was stuck until we tracked down the former executive assistant no one thought to call. We almost missed her because her title sounded too boring to matter. She hadn’t had a flashy title, but she knew everything. And she talked. That one conversation reshaped the entire strategy.

The point is this: Former employees often hold more power than you think. One call, one coffee, or one offhand memory can be the difference between a longshot and a winnable case.

So don’t overlook them. Because the truth is they’ve already seen everything. The only question is whether someone’s bothered to ask.

Why Former Employees Hold the Missing Piece

In case after case, I’ve seen former employees change the entire trajectory of litigation. Sometimes it’s an overlooked assistant who knows everything. Sometimes it’s a single email they remember that no one else thought to check.

Too many attorneys are still walking into court without tapping this resource. They’re chasing documents, deposing executives, and missing the people who have already lived through the decisions that matter most—people who are finally free to talk.

The future of smart litigation strategy is simple: Stop overlooking the obvious. Former employees aren’t just background players. They’re often the ones holding the missing piece of the puzzle. The only question is whether you’ll get vital information from them before it’s too late.

A resurfaced tweet. A sealed court record. A “business partner” with an inflated resume. These aren’t rare cases; they’re reality.

We’ve seen celebrities lose endorsements, companies tank mergers, and high-profile professionals get blindsided, all because someone didn’t do their homework.

That’s where background investigations come in. Done right, they don’t just protect you; they help you make smarter, safer decisions. Whether you’re exploring a partnership, fighting some legal claims, or just putting suspicions to rest, real due diligence gives you peace of mind and evidence-based knowledge.

Ethical Background Checks: Using OSINT the Right Way

We lead with ethics—always. Every investigation we conduct is grounded in strict legal and ethical standards, respecting both privacy and the law at every step.

While there are plenty of ways to dig up information, we stick to public, open-source intelligence and official records.

Why?

Because transparency, accuracy, and trust matter more than ever.

The wild part? Most folks don’t realize just how much of their life is floating around online, buried in court filings, tucked into tax rolls, or hiding in a forgotten Facebook post from 2009. Today’s data-rich world means public information is everywhere; you just have to know where—and how—to look. Using OSINT, we comb through massive volumes of public data, connect the dots, and deliver clear, unbiased reports that help you make confident decisions.

We use no hacking and no shady tactics, just intelligence and the effective use of ethically sourced public data.

Not Sure Where to Start? Ask Yourself the Whys

Every productive investigation begins with a purpose.

Maybe you’re worried about whom you can trust. Maybe someone’s story doesn’t quite add up. Or maybe you just want to be sure before you sign that contract, make that hire, or put your name on the line.

Ask yourself:

• What do I need to know that I don’t already know?
• What’s the worst-case scenario I’m trying to avoid?
• Am I looking to relieve a gut feeling or clear up a blind spot?

Clarity matters here.

Without a clear why, investigations can become aimless and expectations can be shattered. With a clear goal, there are no questions of whether you did this or you looked there.

Here’s the thing: Most red flags aren’t hidden behind passwords. They’re sitting in plain sight in public records, social media, or official databases. The key is knowing what to look for, why it matters, and what to do with the findings.

Whether your goal is to verify, uncover, prevent, or protect, we align every part of our investigation with that north star. It keeps the research tight, relevant, and impactful.

Because when the stakes are high, the worst thing you can do is not ask the right questions.

Prefer to Start on Your Own?

At the most basic level, you can take the do-it-yourself approach. Not all investigations need to go full Sherlock Holmes mode off the jump.

Depending on what you’re trying to verify, sometimes you just want to take the first few steps yourself. And honestly, that’s not a bad move, because doing something is better than doing nothing.

Simple background checks can start with a well-crafted Google search. Social media profiles, news mentions, and even court records in some states are easily searchable online. Dozens of low-cost background check services can pull basic details like addresses, phone numbers, names of relatives, and criminal records.

Just keep in mind that these tools often provide surface-level or outdated info, and they don’t distinguish between someone with the same name in another state and your subject. We’ve seen automated reports miss glaring red flags or, worse, flag the wrong person entirely.

If you’re starting there, great. But if the results raise more questions than answers or if what’s at stake is worth taking seriously, it might be time to dig deeper with professional help.

When to Bring in the Pros

If you need real answers quickly and have a minimal budget, our Red Flag Background Investigation is often the best place to start.

It’s far more thorough than any generic online background check. We don’t rely on automated reports or surface-level snapshots. Instead, we methodically review the past 10 years of court filings, criminal records, professional licenses, and online behavior, looking for signs of deception, instability, or patterns that warrant concern.

This level of research is ideal when you need to confirm that someone’s clean or to know for sure if they’re not. We’re often brought in to vet potential investors, business partners, or plaintiffs in legal disputes before the pen hits paper. Think of it as your due diligence firewall—focused, fast, and able to catch what surface tools miss.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• A healthcare investor we work with acquires small medical clinics across the U.S. These aren’t massive deals, but they’re still high-risk matters in a highly regulated industry. A $20,000 investigation wouldn’t make sense, but neither would a quick Google search. That’s where we come in. We analyze court records, licensing boards, and social media to flag anything that might signal trouble. It’s just the right overview level to protect the deal without overextending the budget.

Red Flag Background Investigations are designed to surface the truths that change outcomes quietly, efficiently, and without breaking the budget—and before it’s too late.

Need a Deep-Dive Background Investigation?

When the stakes are higher—eight-figure investments, complex litigation, high-profile partnerships—you can’t afford to make assumptions. You need the whole picture.

Our Deep-Dive Background Investigation goes far beyond basic checks. We reach back 25 to 30 years or more, connecting the dots across assets, legal entanglements, business ties, behavioral patterns, and hidden risks. It’s not just about what someone has done—it’s about how their past could impact your future with them.

Here’s what that looks like in the real world:

• A global conglomerate asked us to vet the leadership team of a public company they were planning to acquire. The CEO looked perfect—until minor inconsistencies in his biographies led us to dig deeper. Yearbooks didn’t list him. Graduation records were missing. The truth? He never attended the school he claimed to have graduated from. That lie broke his credibility and the entire deal.

Unlike a Red Flag Background Investigation, a Deep-Dive Investigation goes that extra step to ensure no stone is left unturned and your concerns are turned into answers.

Let’s Start Digging

Public records are out there, but finding them is only half the battle. The real challenge? Knowing how to dig, verify, and understand court filings, property records, voter rolls, political donations, and business documents.

Official records like DMV data, degree verifications, or licensing checks are foundational. These concrete pieces of information add validity to data that may seem insignificant in the bigger picture, but if they’re incorrect, they can change an entire investigation.

To put it into perspective, a simple court record search for “John Smith” in New York can return hundreds of results. Using verified information and sorting through that noise take time, training, and a sharp eye.

Social media, meanwhile, gives us a candid window into someone’s life and relationships, affiliations, behaviors, and values. We’ve traced business investors back to high school friend groups, exposed lifestyle contradictions, and surfaced patterns no public record would reveal.

And increasingly, breach data has become a powerful investigative tool. When email addresses or usernames appear in data leaks—from forums, financial platforms, dating sites, or even adult websites—it can reveal associations most people would never disclose. These details can provide crucial links to hidden assets, business activity, or behavioral patterns.

If we feel our resources have been exhausted, another step we can take is to go directly to the source. Interviews are a powerful method of data collection that can confirm, challenge, or expand on what we’ve already uncovered, adding context, nuance, and occasionally the missing link that ties everything together.

Our comprehensive approach to investigations combines various tools and proven methods for cross-referencing records, spotting inconsistencies, and confirming identities.

The bottom line? Anyone can search, but making sense of what you find is where we come in.

Why Even the Best Background Checks Have Limits

Even the most rigorous background investigation isn’t a crystal ball.

You can dig deep into someone’s past and find a manicured lawn, a picket fence, and a picture-perfect appearance but still end up blindsided. A clean record doesn’t mean clean behavior forever. It just means nothing’s happened … yet.

We’ve seen people with spotless records spiral six months into a business deal. We’ve watched clients get burned by folks who “checked every box” on paper but whose judgment unraveled under pressure.

Even the most prestigious executives have made headlines after appearing on the jumbotron at a Coldplay concert, revealing their personal affairs. You can’t make this stuff up. Sometimes there were no warning signs.

The truth is due diligence is about reducing risk, not removing it. It gives you the best possible information today so you can make smart decisions tomorrow. But humans are unpredictable. That’s why context and patterns matter as much as data points.

Better Safe Than Sorry: Why This Work Pays Off

The truth is that most people aren’t hiding anything. But the ones who are often slip through the cracks simply because no one checked.

A thorough background investigation isn’t just smart; it’s often the difference between a smooth partnership and a PR nightmare.

We’re here to help you avoid that.

Let’s dig deeper, ask the right questions, and keep your reputation clean before it ever gets tested.

Why do most “locate reports” come up short when the person you’re trying to find actually doesn’t want to be found? And why is it so hard to get real answers when you need them most?

Last week, I shared some interesting case studies to find people, but in this article, I’ll share why most people-search services and investigative firms fail, even when they have access to professional databases. I’ll also show you the tools, methods, and decision-making frameworks we’ve used to locate individuals others could not, even after multiple firms had tried and failed to find these hard-to-find people.

 You’ll learn:

• Why most locate reports are just data dumps (and what that really means for your case)
• The tools we rely on when someone’s gone dark
• Real-world tactics that go far beyond software or subscriptions

Because in the world of serious investigations, it’s not about magic tools—it’s about experience, strategy, and knowing where to look when the usual methods fall flat.

When Typical Locate Reports Fail

If you’re trying to track down someone like Jane—a stay-at-home mom who’s lived at the same address with her husband and kids for the last 15 years—then a standard locate report might actually work. Running her name through professional databases like IDI or TLO, or even a commercial subscription service like Intelius, TruthFinder, or Spokeo, could turn up the right address. These tools tend to do well when the person hasn’t moved much, has kept consistent records, and hasn’t tried to hide.

And then there are the cases where we’re given almost nothing to start with. A first name, maybe a city, a former employer, or sometimes just a vague connection. Like “He used to work construction in Phoenix,” or “She might’ve gone to school in North Carolina.” No last name, no date of birth, no address history. That’s when the real work begins. These aren’t just data searches; they’re puzzles. In those situations, it’s about pattern recognition, creative pivots, and looking where others never think to look. You can’t just run a report; you must build the story from scraps.

We get called in when the usual tools fall flat. When someone has changed names, moved without leaving a forwarding address, or deliberately scrubbed their digital footprint. That’s when the copy-and-paste locate reports from cheaper services not only fall short, they give a false sense of confidence. They tell you what might be true, not what’s provable. And in legal or high-stakes situations, “maybe” doesn’t cut it.

Common Mistakes Investigators Make, and How to Avoid Them

In the majority of failed investigations we’re called in to clean up, one thing stands out: the previous investigator relied on a single source of information and came up empty.

Law firms often send us the locate report from their last PI, and what we see is almost always the same: a cut-and-paste export from a professional database like TLO, IDI, or Delvepoint. That’s it. No verification, no context, no narrative. Just raw data that assumes the last known address is current and that every record is accurate.

Here’s the hard truth: dumping data into a PDF isn’t an investigation; it’s wishful thinking dressed up as a deliverable.

If you want real results, you have to think beyond the screen.

Common Mistakes That Cause Investigations to Fail

Below are some of the most common mistakes we see other investigators make, and why they fail:

Overreliance on a Single Database

Too many investigators pull data from one source, like TLO, and assume the most recent address or phone number listed is valid. But no single database has everything. Each pulls from different public records, credit headers, utility info, and scraping sources, all of which have gaps.

Why it fails: If the person has changed names, moved recently, or taken steps to avoid detection, that single-source data may already be outdated, or intentionally misleading.

No Cross-Verification of Key Data Points

Even if you find an address in a database, that doesn’t mean the person lives there. Good investigators cross-verify that information with other records: DMV data, voter rolls, property deeds, court filings, and more.

Why it fails: Without a second or third source confirming the same address, you’re building your case on a maybe, and in legal or high-stakes matters, “maybe” isn’t good enough.

Lack of Context or Narrative

Dumping data ≠ solving the problem. Raw data can’t tell a story. It doesn’t explain why someone moved, or how different addresses might connect through a relative, job, or phone record. Or if the address is just one of many database errors. 

Why it fails: Dumping a dozen addresses into a report without explaining their timeline or relevance leaves clients confused and misled. Worse, it can send legal teams in the wrong direction.

Failing to Pivot When the Trail Goes Cold

When the database comes up short, some investigators stop. They assume that’s the end of the road, or the client is unwilling to pay for it. But real investigations are about creative pivots like using vehicle sightings, licensing records, breach data, or social media breadcrumbs to find a new lead.

Why it fails: People who don’t want to be found leave misleading trails on purpose. You can’t out-database someone who’s hiding. You need real-world logic and lateral thinking.

Assuming the Client Won’t Notice

Some firms cut corners, assuming the client won’t know the difference between a thorough search and a recycled report. This might be a news flash to some people, but law firms have access to TLO, just like investigative firms. That might work once, but not twice. Law firms, in particular, can spot a lazy locate when they see one, and if they’re sending that report to us, it means they already know it didn’t deliver.

Why it fails: Credibility matters. And once your client sees that all you did was regurgitate a database export, they won’t call again.

What Actually Works

There’s no magic tool or one-size-fits-all method. Real results come from layering multiple data sources, confirming what’s real, and using logic, pattern recognition, and persistence to build a narrative that makes sense.

It’s not about copying data. It’s about connecting dots.

How Real Investigations Begin: What You Need Before You Start

When I say I’ve been able to “find people,” I usually mean one of two things: I’ve got them on the phone, or I have an address, verified through multiple sources, in hand. While email addresses can be useful, in most of my work, they’re too easy to ignore to rely on.

To actually locate someone, you need more than just a name. One piece of information rarely does the job. But give me two or three reasonably solid identifiers, like where they lived, worked, or went to school, and things start to click. With three good data points, I can usually track someone down. With only one, it’s often a guessing game, unless the person has a unique name.

Too often, I see other investigators run a name through one or two databases like IDI, TLO, Delvepoint, or Tracers, grab the most recent address, and move on. That kind of surface-level work doesn’t cut it.

I believe in confirming everything. If I get an address, I want a second or third source to back it up. That might be voter rolls, DMV records, property deeds, or anything else official that strengthens the case. When you’re serious about results, you don’t settle for maybe, you prove it.

Is It Always Possible to Find Someone? Not Exactly.

I like to say everyone can be found with enough time, money, and persistence. But those things aren’t unlimited. Not every case allows for hours of stakeouts or deep dives into digital trails. The real skill lies in knowing the available tools and choosing the smartest, most efficient path forward.

That said, the idea that everyone is findable just isn’t true. Sometimes the details are too vague. Sometimes the request itself feels off. I’ve had more than a few people ask me to find someone they sat next to on a flight last Tuesday, or someone they “forgot” to get a number from after a two-minute conversation.

One person once asked me to find “a guy named Tony” whom they’d met at a music festival in 2017. No last name, no city, not even a photo—just a memory of him wearing a red flannel shirt and liking old cars. That’s not an investigation. That’s a long shot at best, and throws up some red flags at worst.

What It Really Takes to Track Someone Down

Most of my work focuses on U.S.-based cases, primarily involving white collar matters. I’m not chasing international scammers or fugitives from the Most Wanted list. My cases are more grounded, but no less complex.

Often, I’m hired to locate someone who needs to be served in a legal matter. It could be someone covering their tracks or simply hard to pin down due to limited details, a common name, or a transient lifestyle.

In other cases, it’s about finding potential witnesses in civil or criminal matters, like Mike, an Uber driver in Chicago, identified only by a blurry profile picture. Sometimes it involves tracking down former employees who may have crucial knowledge, like Jeffrey Jones from Walmart in Bentonville.

And every so often, the challenge is locating someone with a common name and almost no supporting details, the kind of search where experience, persistence, and a bit of intuition make all the difference.

The Best Tools Private Investigators Use to Find Someone

People always want the list. “What tools do you use?” Here’s the truth: it’s less about having access and more about knowing how to use what you’ve got.

Some of the tools below are not so secret, but they might not be used often to track down people. We’ve worked hundreds of complex people-finding cases, including those that other firms gave up on.

Here are some field-tested tools and techniques we regularly use:

Professional People-Finding Databases (IDI, Delvepoint, etc.)

Never rely on just one. Each source has gaps. Professional investigative databases such as IDI, TLO, Delvepoint, Tracers, and IRB Search will help get a fuller picture. (I’ve had mixed success with commercially available “investigative” database websites like TruthFinder, Spokeo, BeenVerified, and Intelius, so with those, I would proceed cautiously.) One might give you a phone number, another a linked address. You wouldn’t believe how many “unfindable” people pop up once you combine enough datasets together.

License Plate Reader and Vehicle Sightings Databases

LPR databases, like those from DRN or accessible for investigators through TLO, Delvepoint or IRB Search, can be game-changers. They track where a vehicle has been spotted on city streets, in parking lots, or in driveways, using a network of vehicle-capturing cameras that roam the streets. In tough cases, when nothing else is working, a single plate hit can confirm where someone actually is. People may ditch their phone or move without a trace, but most don’t give up their car. Following the vehicle often leads to the person.

Social Media OSINT Tools and Username Tracking

Some of the most powerful clues hide behind usernames, email addresses, and phone numbers. Tools like OSINT.Industries help link social media accounts to usernames, email addresses, and telephone numbers, and Skopenow can identify accounts. WhatsMyName is useful for finding usernames across platforms, and ShadowDragon is great for linking social media accounts and conducting sophisticated, deep analysis and tracing.

Litigation Research Tools (County Courts, Pacer, Judy Records, LexisNexis, etc.)

Local county courts are a great place to start. Even the most minute detail in a traffic infraction might reveal something crucial. For deeper research, check Pacer, Recap, or Judy Records. For more comprehensive litigation coverage, you can use paid databases like LexisNexis, BloombergLaw, or Westlaw.

DMV Records and Driver Data

With permissible purposes (see the DPPA), DMV driving records and vehicle data are powerful tools for locating people. Investigative databases such as IDI, TLO, Delvepoint, Tracers, and IRB Search have some data, but it’s better to go directly to the source. Logan Registration and Denspri are excellent options for accessing individuals’ state records.

Breach Data and Credential Leaks (e.g., Dehashed, Darkside)

In a world where apps get hacked constantly, old email addresses become breadcrumbs. We’ve cracked cases using login data from parking apps, pet sites, and other random corners of the web most people forget ever existed. There are reasonably priced commercially available tools like Dehashed and Snusbase, or more sophisticated tools like Darkside from District 4 Labs.

Facial Recognition Software (e.g., FaceCheck.ID and PimEyes)

Usage of facial recognition tools may be subject to legal regulations and ethical considerations, but a few to check out include FaceCheck.ID and PimEyes.

FOIL Requests

Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests can be a powerful way to access records that aren’t readily available online. They’re especially helpful for military service or regulatory complaints. The catch? They often take time, and in many cases, time is the one thing we don’t have.

Professional Licensing Records

Many professions require a state-issued license—everything from doctors and nurses to electricians and nail technicians. These records often include valuable details like middle names, education history, employment status, and sometimes even home addresses. When used correctly, licensing data can be the missing link in a search.

Property Records and Deed Searches

Property records, when combined with voting data or DMV hits, can identify exactly where someone is, even if they’re trying not to be found. The local county recorder’s office is a good starting point; more in-depth research can be done on platforms like LexisNexis or Westlaw, which have a vast collection of nationwide property records, where you might find that vacation property in a neighboring state.

Google Dorking and Advanced Search Tactics

Google remains a vital tool for connecting ideas, but most people only understand it in its simplest form. Knowing how to do proper Google dorking can be a key skill. I also like to use the site MillionShort, which effectively filters out sites with too much SEO that always rank at the top, by, for example, allowing you to disregard the top 100,000 most popular sites. It’s like digging for gold in the depths of the Internet.

Employment Information

This can be a tricky area to nail down. The major investigative databases, such as IDI, TLO, Delvepoint, Tracers, and IRB Search, often fall short when it comes to current employment data. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Tools like ZoomInfo and other subscription-based platforms can offer employment history, titles, and contact details. Resume databases such as Monster and Indeed sometimes surface gold, especially if someone forgot an old resume that they posted years ago. And don’t overlook LinkedIn. A Sales Navigator subscription can be incredibly helpful for tracing work history and finding professional connections. Piecing this info together from multiple sources is often the key to confirming where someone works or worked recently.

Real-World Logic: Habits, Patterns, and Gut Instinct

Sometimes it’s not about the tools; it’s about the thing between your ears. Patterns matter. Habits don’t lie. Maintenance workers live close to their job sites. Ex-partners still pick up mail. Homeless individuals still check the same drop spots. Experience teaches you what to try when the software falls short.

What Situations Require More Than Google or a Database Subscription?

Let me be blunt for a second. If you’re relying on Spokeo, Intelius, or a cheap “people search” site to find someone who doesn’t want to be found, you’re wasting your time. These platforms pull from the same shallow public records and are often filled with outdated or incomplete data.

Google isn’t much better when the person you’re looking for has gone quiet, changed addresses, or actively taken steps to disappear. When you’re dealing with serious matters, a $29/month subscription isn’t going to cut it.

Even with a single-source professional database, you may also be wasting your time.

These cases demand layered investigation, access to professional-only databases, and field-tested strategies that uncover what software alone can’t. Real results don’t come from search bars, they come from experience, creativity, and knowing how to go far beyond the screen.

Why We’re Not the Right Fit for Every Case

More often than not, we succeed, not because we have access to some secret master list, but because we know how to think differently. We don’t rely on one tool or one database. We treat each case like a puzzle, and we know where to look for the missing pieces.

But we’re not the right fit for everyone. If you’re just curious about an old classmate, missed your chance to get someone’s number, or are looking for Jane—the stay-at-home mom who’s lived in the same house for 15 years—Google or a basic subscription site might be enough. In cases like that, you don’t need us.

We come in when the search actually matters: when it’s tied to a legal case, a financial stake, or a personal loss, and you’ve already tried the usual routes. That’s when our approach makes a difference.

A client once came to us after months of trying to serve court papers to a man who had vanished. They’d tried three different firms. Nothing worked. We found him in four days, because we didn’t stop at databases. We followed the trail until it made sense.

If your situation feels like that, and you’re ready for someone to actually solve the puzzle, we’re here. Just know that we can’t promise magic.

Final Thoughts: Finding People Takes More Than a Database

In the past, you may have tried to locate someone using online search tools or hired a firm that delivered little more than a database printout, only to end up with more questions than answers. And if the stakes were high, that kind of uncertainty probably wasn’t just frustrating but costly as well.

Now you’ve seen the difference that layered tools, strategy, and real investigative experience can make. Whether it’s identifying the right John Smith in a city of hundreds or tracking down someone who’s gone completely off the grid, the right process makes all the difference. Moving forward, if you’re facing a legal, personal, or financial matter where getting it right actually matters, and you’re tired of surface-level work, we’re here to help. We don’t deal in guesses. We deal in results.

In this article, you’ll get an inside look at 10 real-life investigations where our team tracked down people others had written off as untraceable.

From military records and facial recognition to license plate readers and a bright red shipping tube, these stories show what it really takes to find someone when databases, software, and shortcuts fail.

👇 The 10 Real-Life Cases We Cover

1. Richard Jones—Found via military records
2. The Red Tube at the PO Box—Creative field tactics
3. Facial Recognition Helped Find a Name-Changer—Facial recognition and name change
4. License Plate Data Revealed a Hidden Address—License plate reader database
5. The Only Clue Left Was Death—DMV and obituary tracking
6. Finding a Homeless Heir in the Bronx—Street-level detective work
7. Connecting Digital Breadcrumbs Across Platforms—Username OSINT mapping
8. The Breach Data That Cracked the Case—Dark web breach data
9. Finding Frank Rodriguez with a Simple Assumption—Real-world pattern recognition
10. The Bentley and the Court Filing—Court filings and car obsession

Case 1: Richard Jones—Found Through Military Records

We got a call one day from a woman chasing a ghost. His name? Richard Jones, her long-lost love from the 1980s. They had met while he was stationed in Virginia with the military. She remembered the car he drove, a 1970s Chevelle, and the way he made her feel. What she didn’t remember? Anything that could actually help us find him.

Richard Jones is one of the most common names on Earth. It was like trying to find a needle in a stack of needles. But we were intrigued and more than a little stubborn.

We started with the obvious; search for every Richard Jones in Virginia from the ’80s. There were over 50. That’s when it hit us: this wasn’t going to be a name match. It had to be a memory match. A gut-check. A long shot built on human instinct.

So we started calling.

Every. Single. One.

We’d open with something that wouldn’t freak them out: “Hey, this is kind of random… but were you ever in the military in Virginia in the 1980s?”

Polite. Direct. But it turned out to be useless.

None of the Richards we reached were her Richard.

We submitted military verification requests for all 50 names as a last-ditch effort. It was a Hail Mary and it took months. Eight months in, we’d gotten 49 nos. Then the final envelope arrived.

It was a hit. One Richard Jones had served in Virginia in the 1980s.

We checked our notes. We had already called him. He said it wasn’t him.

So we called again.

This time, we laid it out: “There’s a woman trying to find someone she loved. We think it’s you.”

Silence on the other end. Then a quiet laugh.

“Oh,” he said. “I didn’t realize that’s what this was about. Yeah. That’s me.”

Why didn’t he say so the first time?

“I just didn’t know what it was all about.”

That was it. Decades later, across dusty records and dead ends, love had finally found its way back.

Lesson: Sometimes it’s not about the tools or the tech. It’s about tenacity and the willingness to follow the trail even when it looks cold.

Case 2: The Red Tube at the PO Box

The client had a $500,000 problem and just a few weeks to solve it.

They had a judgment against a former business partner who had mostly vanished. The only lead? A PO Box in Texas. No residential address. No phone. No property records. The usual databases showed nothing. DMV? No luck. Voter rolls? Another dead end.

They needed to serve him personally, and time was running out.

So we got inventive.

We sent a large, bright red shipping tube to the PO Box, big enough to attract attention. Then, we waited at the post office.

Sure enough, his wife showed up to pick it up. Carrying a giant red tube, she was impossible to overlook.

We followed her directly to their house and served him right then and there.

She didn’t see it coming.

And neither did he.

Lesson: When traditional tools fail, creativity takes the wheel. Sometimes all it takes is a red tube and a little patience.

Case 3: Facial Recognition Helped Find a Name-Changer

A law firm came to us with a serious problem. Their entire case hinged on one man: Cameron Smith.

He wasn’t just a witness. He was the person who had received and documented every single complaint about mold in a mismanaged building. Without him, their case was shaky at best.

They had his name and the company he used to work for. That was it. We couldn’t find anything to tie a Cameron Smith to the management company.

So we started digging through the management company’s social media accounts, post by post. After hours of scrolling, we found a photo: a going-away party for someone named “Cameron Smythe.” Same guy, different spelling.

But it was still not enough to locate him.

Then we tried a facial recognition database.

That’s when everything changed.

The tool flagged a photo from a Costa Rican wedding photographer. Cameron and Joseph, newly married. Turns out, Cameron had changed his last name to his husband’s.

With that extra clue, we found him quickly.

Lesson: Sometimes, the truth hides in a name change. And a single photo can reopen a case that was dead in the water.

Case 4: License Plate Data Revealed a Hidden Address

By the time the law firm handed us the case, they were out of options.

Stacy was a key witness in a sex abuse case, and she’d gone dark. Process servers had already tried four different addresses, all dead ends.

I ran her name through six different databases, hoping broader tools would do the trick. Still nothing.

But I had one thing left: her license plate.

Here’s something I’ve learned over the years. People might ditch their phone, move cities, change names. But most of them hang on to two things: their phone number… and their car.

So I ran the plate through a license plate reader system. These tools scan streets, garages, parking lots.

Her car had been spotted twice in the past few weeks at a brand-new housing development.

That was the lead we needed.

We showed up. We served her. Game over.

Lesson: Cars don’t lie. When people try to disappear, follow the vehicle.

Case 5: The Only Clue Left Was Death

Until 2014, private investigators could access the Social Security Death Index. That ended because of identity theft concerns. These days, most investigative databases don’t flag the dead very well. Sometimes you’ll stumble across an obituary or a stray Facebook post, but often it’s like the person just vanished.

That means we have to get creative.

One Arizona attorney reached out after months of trying to serve a man in a personal injury lawsuit. Every address came up empty. Family social media? Nothing. So we pulled his driver history, a move that sometimes reveals a hidden address.

Instead, it revealed something else.

The Arizona DMV record listed him as deceased. In all my years pulling DMV records, I had never seen that before. But it explained everything.

In another case, we were asked to track down a young security executive. The trail looked promising until we hit silence. Two disconnected numbers. No returned calls. On one last attempt, we finally reached his brother.

The news was simple, and final.

He had passed.

Lesson: Sometimes the hardest truth to uncover isn’t where someone is hiding. It’s that they’re not here anymore.

Case 6: Finding a Homeless Heir in the Bronx

An attorney called me years ago with a question that sounded simple on paper.

“Can you find a man named Victor?”

Victor was the only child of a woman who had just passed away. He hadn’t spoken to her in years, but he was about to inherit a life-changing amount of money.

There was just one problem.

Victor had been homeless in New York City for over a decade.

At first—I’ll be honest—I wasn’t thrilled. The idea of roaming the streets, asking strangers about a guy who hadn’t left a digital footprint in 12 years? It felt like chasing smoke.

But I’ve never been one to back down from a long shot. So I did what I do best: I started digging.

Court records. Jail logs. DMV hits. Old addresses. Dead phone numbers. Anything that could give me a thread to pull. I even called a few homeless shelters around the Bronx.

And then, one tiny lead surfaced. A dusty old address in the Bronx. No confirmation. Just a hunch.

I went anyway.

I knocked. Nothing. Knocked again, harder. I heard shuffling.

Then the door cracked open, and a tired-looking man with tangled hair and a face worn by years of street life peered out.

I told him why I was there.

“I’m looking for Victor.”

He blinked.

“That’s me.”

He couldn’t believe someone had actually found him.

Victor explained that he came to that house once a month to shower and pick up his disability check. A woman living there, a friend he’d met on the street, let him use her place just enough to stay on the system’s radar. The rest of the time, he lived wherever he could.

Lesson: You don’t always find people from behind a keyboard. Sometimes you find them by showing up.

Case 7: Connecting Digital Breadcrumbs Across Platforms

An attorney reached out with a pretty straightforward request. They needed to track down the address of a Facebook user posting defamatory comments about their client. It should’ve been simple.

Except it wasn’t.

The user went by “Strongarm Willy,” and the account was locked down tight. No public posts. No friends list. Just a blurry profile picture and a single clue most people overlook—his user handle: @willythedream.

That little detail was key.

Because people are creatures of habit. They reuse usernames like digital fingerprints. So I dug in with tools like WhatsMyName, OSINT.Industries, and ShadowDragon and started painting a picture. One username turned into a map of accounts across platforms. But none of them had his real name.

That’s when I shifted tactics.

The weak link is almost always a family member.

I started mapping his social circle. Instagram, Twitter, Venmo. And one name kept showing up across them all, Jenny Williams.

Her accounts were wide open, a goldmine.

Scrolling through her photos, I saw something familiar. Jenny’s husband looked pretty close to the blurry photo on Strongarm Willy’s Facebook picture. Digging further, I confirmed her husband’s name was Willy Williams. Better yet, I found his email address, which matched accounts tied to that same @willythedream handle.

Game over.

Lesson: Sometimes the truth isn’t hidden, it’s just scattered. You just need to know where to look and, more importantly, how to connect the dots.

Case 8: The Breach Data That Cracked the Case

James was practically a ghost.

Every database showed him in three different states at once. He had multiple PO Boxes, conflicting addresses, and zero property ownership to tie him down. No phone. No obvious digital trail. He wasn’t wealthy and wasn’t off the grid for noble reasons; he was intentionally keeping his location blurred.

I had a hunch about one of the addresses in Colorado, but a hunch wasn’t good enough. I needed more proof so I didn’t send the client on a wild goose chase.

That’s when I turned to an overlooked but increasingly valuable source: breach data. Specifically, credential leaks from known data breaches. Most people don’t realize how much personal information surfaces when apps and services get hacked.

I ran one of James’s old email addresses through a dark web breach checker. Bingo.

It had been compromised in the ParkMobile data breach, which exposed all kinds of details, including license plates tied to his account. ParkMobile is an app used to pay for street parking.

It was the break I needed.

We took one of the plates and ran it through DMV records. It came back registered to a generic LLC. But the address linked to that LLC? It matched the one I had suspected all along.

Lesson: Sometimes, the breadcrumbs aren’t in public records or databases. They’re buried in places people forget they ever left them, like a parking app from three years earlier.

Case 9: Finding Frank Rodriguez with a Simple Assumption

Every now and then, we get a case that reminds us it’s not about fancy tools; it’s about knowing how the real world works.

The client was on a tight budget and needed to find Frank Rodriguez. The name is not exactly rare, especially in Houston. There were hundreds of hits, most leading nowhere.

Frank was listed as a maintenance manager at a specific building. That was the only detail we had.

But here’s something I’ve learned over the years: most maintenance guys live on-site or at least nearby. It’s part convenience, part job requirement.

So I plugged the address of the building he worked at into a few of the databases.

And there he was.

No data wizardry. No special software. Just one small assumption based on real-world patterns.

Lesson: Sometimes what looks like dumb luck is just experience dressed in plain clothes.

Case 10: The Bentley and the Court Filing

Richard Green had it made. He was a rising Florida attorney, flashy lifestyle and big wins. Then came the gambling. The debt. The temptation. And finally, the fall.

He started siphoning money from his clients’ settlements. Millions of dollars, gone. When the walls closed in, Richard vanished. He bounced from couch to couch, drifting from state to state. No fixed address. No online footprint. Nothing.

For a while, nobody could find him.

But Richard had two fatal flaws.

First, he loved his car; a black Bentley Continental GT convertible. Second, he had a thing for lawsuits. He’d sue anyone who looked at him sideways.

We scoured databases. Nothing pointed to his current location. So we followed the only thread that made sense: his court filings. Turns out, even when you’re running, you still leave paper behind.

Buried in a stack of pro se lawsuits, we found one he’d filed against a convenience store. It said he slipped on a step. The fall wasn’t interesting. The address he listed in the complaint was.

It led us straight to him and his Bentley.

Lesson: If you’re litigious and love a luxury car, odds are you’ll eventually give yourself away.

Final Thoughts: When It’s Time to Call in a Professional

You’ve now seen what really goes into locating someone others have written off as unfindable. It’s rarely about a magic tool. It’s almost always about persistence, creativity, and knowing where to look when the trail runs cold.

If you’re in a situation where finding someone truly matters and surface-level searches, cheap reports, or even previous investigators have failed, you’re not alone.

These kinds of cases require more than effort—they need experience. If you’re ready to solve the puzzle once and for all, reach out to us for a consultation. We can’t promise it’ll be easy, but we do promise we’ll treat your case like it matters, because to you it does.

When the stakes are high, the details matter, and guessing isn’t an option, that’s where we come in.

Sanctions and the FCPA

Sanctions are regulated by the U.S. Treasury Department, specifically the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). On its website, OFAC states that sanctions are used “to accomplish foreign policy and national security goals.” For example, in December 2014, sanctions were imposed on Venezuelan security forces due to violence against student protestors. To avoid fines, business intelligence investigators are tasked with ensuring a client’s business and business partners and its principals (the UBOs of a company) are not sanctioned. However, in 2024, U.S.-based entities were fined around $48 million due to conducting business with a sanctioned entity, which can be a person, company or country.

Besides sanctions, firms can face financial penalties if they violate the FCPA. The FCPA of 1977 seeks to prevent U.S.-based companies from engaging in corruption or using financial incentives paid to foreign government officials to benefit the company’s business operations. The Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which oversee FCPA enforcement, received nearly $1.3 billion in fines in 2024. While the White House is not enforcing the FCPA at this time, it can be enforced against companies in the future due to the five-year statute of limitations. While harder to identify than sanctions busting, investigators leverage open- and human-source intelligence to evaluate a business’s operations to ensure compliance with the FCPA.

Emerging Risks in Brazil and India

Currently, there are heightened geopolitical risks in multiple jurisdictions, such as Brazil and India. Therefore, solely conducting sanctions and FCPA research is insufficient, and greater analysis of UBOs is needed.

In Brazil, a Supreme Federal Court justice was sanctioned in July. In August, tariffs on Brazilian imports followed due to the White House’s opposition to charges against President Jair Bolsonaro. As U.S.-based companies do business in Brazil, they will likely want to assess risks associated with companies or their UBOs who support the charges against the former president. While this is not a typical risk for business, it is a reality of the present moment. As business intelligence firms research Brazil-based entities, assessing political views should be a part of their overall analysis. Businesses may be associated with greater risk if the company or its UBOs have public opinions that directly contradict the views of the White House.

India, too, is facing U.S. tariffs due to its government’s decision to continue purchasing Russian oil. This will likely create risks when engaging with Indian companies. First, Indian goods will become more expensive. Second, the White House may seek to take additional punitive steps if the 50% tariff rate does not result in the change it seeks. These could be sanctions against Indian companies or UBOs directly involved in purchasing Russian oil. In the alternative, the White House could fine U.S.-based companies that are working with Indian companies that are involved in the purchase or transfer of Russian oil. Assessing these risks will require in-depth analysis of these supply chains.

Beyond Compliance: Why Emerging Political Risks Demand Proactive Analysis

While these emerging risks have yet to materialize into fines or penalties for U.S.-based firms, the risks remain elevated as the White House takes untraditional steps to pursue its policy goals. While U.S. companies can still do business in Brazil, India and other nations with certain geopolitical risks, business intelligence analysts should consider these emerging risks to assist their clients in operating efficiently and free of regulatory obstacles.

Well, that’s sort of a lie. 

We are actually six people strong now, but we’ve never had an open job opening that we needed to fill. In the past, we have hired people I knew, or were at the right place at the right time. I’ve generally taken the approach of “hiring when it hurts,” which I learned from 37 Signals.

As a small business owner, my company is my baby, so finding the right person is just as much about finding the person with the right skillset, as it is about finding the right personality and fit. 

The work we do is pretty fascinating, has taken us to some pretty amazing places, and being part of a small team means we all get our hands dirty. 

And I mean that pretty literally.

We’re looking for a sharp, detail-oriented investigator with 2 to 5 years of experience, a strong background in public records research, OSINT, and data analysis to conduct deep-dive investigations, compile comprehensive reports, and present key findings with clarity and precision. 

The ideal person is a versatile problem-solver with excellent writing skills, hands-on experience with investigative tools, and the ability to juggle multiple projects while uncovering critical insights.

If that sounds interesting, you have the right set of skills, and you want to join a small but growing investigative firm, feel free to drop a line.

Maybe I’ll see you on the other side.

Diligentia Group Senior Analyst Job Opening – March 2025

Company Description

At Diligentia Group, we’re a small but growing investigative firm based in Westchester County, New York, specializing in due diligence, background investigations, and litigation support for businesses, law firms, and financial institutions. We’re all about delivering thorough, accurate, and actionable intelligence that helps our clients make smart decisions and manage risks effectively. Our team of sharp, curious professionals uses advanced research techniques and deep industry knowledge to uncover critical insights with precision and integrity.

Role Description

We’re looking for a Senior Analyst to play a key role in our investigative projects—think due diligence, litigation support, and complex research assignments. If you’re passionate about digging into the details, connecting the dots, and uncovering the bigger picture, this role is for you. You’ll dive into open-source intelligence (OSINT), apply advanced investigative methods, and deliver detailed, insightful reports that help guide strategic decisions and legal strategies. While this role is primarily research-focused, we’re a nimble, adaptable firm where versatility is key. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to various aspects of investigative work—including conducting witness interviews, locating individuals, and engaging in fieldwork as needed. No two days are the same, and that’s exactly how we like it.

What You’ll Do

• Conduct deep-dive research using public records, databases, and other sources to uncover relevant information.
• Analyze data from social media, public records, and online sources to support investigative objectives.
• Compile comprehensive background reports with clear, concise, and actionable findings.
• Present key insights through well-crafted written reports and occasional verbal briefings to case managers and clients.
• Juggle multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines without compromising accuracy or attention to detail.
• Versatility and adaptability to take on diverse tasks, from deep-dive research to conducting interviews, locating individuals, and occasional fieldwork.

What You Bring

• Strong expertise in U.S. public records research—litigation documents, corporate filings, regulatory records, and more.
• Skilled at navigating social media platforms and leveraging them for investigative purposes.
• Hands-on experience with investigative tools like LexisNexis, Maltego, and other specialized databases.
• Exceptional writing skills with a knack for turning complex investigative findings into clear, fact-based compelling narratives. If you can make legal jargon sound interesting (or at least readable), you’re our kind of writer.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Criminal Justice, Political Science, International Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2–5 years of experience in investigative research, due diligence, litigation support, or a related field, with a strong focus on open-source intelligence (OSINT) and data analysis.
• Excellent internet research and data analysis skills, with a knack for finding and connecting critical information.
• Strong analytical thinking with the ability to turn complex data into clear, concise reports.
• Bonus points if you’re fluent in a second language.

Work Environment

We offer a hybrid work environment, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life. Diligentia Group provides competitive pay, profit sharing, a 401(k) plan, and medical benefits. Plus, you’ll be part of a dynamic, growing team where your work truly makes an impact.

Compensation: $75,000 to $95,000 plus profit sharing.

Apply at https://diligentiagroup.com/private-investigator-senior-analyst-2025/ or send a resume to hireme@diligentiagroup.com. 

For many, it might even seem crazy.

But for investigators, it’s often just another day on the job—and there are surprising positives to these situations.

Private investigators are often brought in as a last resort, not the first line of defense. This means we’re no strangers to unreasonable requests, tight timelines, and seemingly unattainable outcomes. Take, for instance, the calls we get with urgent deadlines like “I need this done yesterday” or expectations that feel borderline absurd.

Most people would say walking into a job with such odds isn’t good business practice.

After all, who wants to risk failure?

But here’s the thing: These challenges also bring unique opportunities.

Standing Out by Taking on the Tough Jobs

When faced with impossible tasks, you can only do what’s realistic. Transparency about what’s achievable is key. You can still make a lasting impression by managing expectations honestly and delivering your best effort. Clients begin to see you as someone willing to tackle challenges others avoid, an invaluable position.

Being their go-to resource for tough jobs means you stay at the top of mind, build trust, and earn repeat business (hopefully with less time-sensitive projects in the future).

A Boost to Your Bottom Line

Desperation often shifts the conversation away from budgets or rates. I’m not suggesting exploiting the situation, but time-sensitive, high-stakes work usually justifies premium fees. These jobs often require immediate, intensive effort, and the resources they demand can be profitable for your business.

When You Get to Be the Hero

Sometimes, you’re lucky enough to achieve the desired result, which feels incredible when it happens. Just recently, we faced one of those daunting tasks. With limited time and an already full plate, we were asked to find a 60-year-old grand jury case—that didn’t result in an indictment—related to a recently accused sexual abuser.

If you know anything about grand jury cases, you know how elusive they can be—especially when no charges were filed. These cases often vanish into thin air, with no public record available.

But in just two days, we found it.

The result? We uncovered critical information that might have otherwise remained buried and were able to play the role of heroes for the day.

Even When You’re Not the Hero

The truth is, you won’t always get the “win.” But even when you don’t deliver the impossible, your effort and willingness to give it a shot still speak volumes. Clients remember the people who step up when the stakes are high, and the reputation you build can drive future opportunities and long-term growth.

Taking on the “impossible” may not be ideal or easy—but when approached with the right mindset, it can be an opportunity to shine, build trust, and even strengthen your bottom line.

Every so often, you come across a LinkedIn profile that doesn’t contain the person’s full name—for example, “Joshua M.” LinkedIn users can choose to display only their first name and the first letter of their last name for anyone who isn’t a connection by going to settings and privacy, then visibility. 

I get it. 

Some people want to keep some semblance of privacy. 

While some may see the lack of last names as a hindrance and move on, I see it as a fun little challenge. 

The key is finding a pivot point—a point of inflection where you can combine multiple data points. For example, a middle name, date of birth or social media profile might find a data point to help identify who the person is when you pivot to another source. In my case, that might mean plugging the person’s middle name or date of birth into an investigative database to determine their full name. 

There are dozens of ways to determine a person’s last name or entire identity, some of which require deep research, but below, I’ve outlined some of the most common.  

I’ve included six examples of people named “Joshua M.” where no last name is revealed. Note that I’ve got nothing against anyone by the name Joshua. Or “Joshua M.” 

I just thought it would be a fun exercise to find examples of people with the same name. 

I have organized these from the most common way to the more uncommon ones. 

Without further ado …

1 URL

The URL is the easiest and most common way to determine a person’s last name. Quite often, when only the initial of the last name is listed, the URL has the entire last name. I suspect the URL was created long before the person decided to go private and forgot to change it. (Here’s how to change your public profile URL on LinkedIn.)

2 Contact Info

Every LinkedIn profile has a link to “Contact Info” underneath their name, which typically contains little information other than what is otherwise available on the profile. But in some cases, you can find an email address, date of birth, personal website link or handle on another social media platform, any of which you can use to pivot. 

3 Credentials

When the URL and contact info come up empty, a credential or professional license might be your answer. Since LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform, people often like displaying their credentials. More commonly, these credentials can be verified by simply clicking on the “Show credential” button, which brings you to a page that shows their full name. 

Voilà!

In other cases, it requires some manual effort. For example, a licensed nurse, a lawyer or a doctor can be verified through the local, state or national board by simply checking their license status. This can be a bit hit or miss, though, since not all of these websites allow you to search by just a first name. 

4 Creative Googling

One of the best pivot points is finding unique data on a particular individual. So, even if you only have a person’s first name, like Joshua, but they went to Deep Springs College (the smallest higher education school in the United States) and you know their approximate age, you might get lucky with some googling. So, in this case, we have a guy who works in the security business, and with a not-so-creative but effective Google search, you may be able to identify another online profile for them.

5 Image Search

The image of the person can be a good source of leads. There may be some interesting detail in the photo, like a name tag or some unique item, that you can pivot from. You can use some commercially available facial recognition reverse image searches, like FaceCheck.ID or PimEyes. But you can also search the image in Google to see whether the photo has been used elsewhere. In this case, you can see that the user has a Pinterest account with the same exact photo and their full name.

Truth be told, Google image searches for people leave much to be desired. In fact, Google warns that “results for people are limited,” there are times when fortune may favor you.

6 Username

On many social media sites, people use their full name; on others, you will see users have a particular handle or username, like “babykitty1993.” LinkedIn users primarily use their real name in the URL. 

Usernames are typically unique to a person and are often used across multiple platforms. So when you get a username, it’s usually gold. In this case, the user has a particular username in the URL, and by searching that username on WhatsMyName, which searches across hundreds of platforms, you can find other platforms where the user has an account. You can even take it a step further and use OSINT.Industries or Maltego and ShadowDragon to further vet the username on other social media sites.

Screenshot from OSINT.Industries

Screenshot from Maltego / ShadowDragon

Closing

There you have it. Six simple ways to unlock the full name from a LinkedIn profile.

While LinkedIn offers a layer of privacy by allowing users to display only partial names, there are several creative and effective methods for uncovering the full name behind the profile. Whether conducting research, seeking professional connections or satisfying your curiosity, these six techniques can provide the insights you need without needing to resort to more-invasive tactics. 

Happy searching!