My neighbor Janet learned this the hard way. Her husband was acting weird – working late, being secretive with his phone, the usual stuff. So she Googled “private investigator Tallahassee” and hired the first guy who answered.
Three grand later, she had blurry photos of her husband getting lunch with his sister and a bill for “expenses” that included gas receipts from Miami. Turns out the guy wasn’t even licensed to work in Florida.
Janet’s not dumb. She’s a school teacher who does her homework on everything else. But when you’re emotional and need answers, it’s easy to make bad choices.
The Stuff Nobody Tells You
Look, I’m not a private investigator myself, but I work with them sometimes through my security business. What I’ve learned is that this industry has some real sharks swimming around.
There’s this guy who runs ads all over Tallahassee promising he can “get into anyone’s phone” for $500. Last I heard, he was under investigation himself. Another one claims he’s ex-FBI, but when you check, he was a security guard at an FBI building for six months.
The problem is when you need a PI, you’re usually stressed out about something. Your judgment’s off. You want answers fast. That makes you an easy target for the con artists.
Spotting the BS Artists
If someone promises they’ll “definitely find evidence of cheating” or “guarantee results,” that’s your first red flag. Real investigations don’t work that way. Sometimes there’s nothing to find. Sometimes the trail goes cold. Anyone who promises otherwise is either lying or planning to make stuff up.
Money demands are another giveaway. I had someone tell me about a “PI” who wanted $2,000 cash upfront and wouldn’t take checks or credit cards. Cash only? Come on. That’s drug dealer behavior, not professional services.
Here’s a weird one – be careful of investigators who seem too eager to take your case. Good PIs ask lots of questions and sometimes turn down cases. Someone who immediately says “yes” to everything without understanding the situation probably isn’t thinking it through.
What Legit Looks Like
A Private Investigation Services in Florida need a license from the state. It’s not hard to check – you can look it up online on the Department of Agriculture website. If they won’t give you their license number, or if it doesn’t check out, walk away.
They should have an actual office, not just a cell phone and a P.O. Box. I’m not saying it has to be fancy, but they should have somewhere you can visit and paperwork you can see.
Insurance is boring but important. If something goes wrong during an investigation, you want to know they can handle it. Most legitimate PIs carry professional liability insurance specifically for this work.
Questions That Matter
Ask them straight up: “How long have you been doing this?” and “What kinds of cases do you handle most?” You want someone with actual experience, not someone who just got their license last month.
Find out how they plan to investigate your specific situation. They don’t have to give away all their secrets, but they should be able to explain their approach in general terms. If they’re vague or evasive, that’s not a good sign.
References are huge. Any PI who’s been around should have former clients willing to say they did good work. If they can’t provide any references, or if the references seem fake, keep looking.
The Technology BS
This is where a lot of scammers try to impress people. They talk about “hacking into phones” or “special surveillance equipment” that can do impossible things.
Here’s the truth – legitimate PIs use legal databases, public records, and basic surveillance techniques. They can’t hack your spouse’s iPhone. They can’t magically access deleted text messages. If someone claims they can do this stuff, they’re either lying or planning to break the law.
Good investigators are really good at finding information that’s already out there legally. They know which databases to search, how to follow paper trails, and how to conduct surveillance without violating privacy laws.
Money Talk
Most PIs around here charge somewhere between $75 and $150 an hour, depending on what they’re doing and how experienced they are. Surveillance work costs more than database searches.
If someone’s way cheaper than that, ask why. Maybe they’re new and trying to build a client base, which could be fine. Or maybe they’re cutting corners you don’t want cut.
Way more expensive isn’t necessarily better either. Some PIs charge premium rates because they can, not because they’re better at the job.
Finding the Right Fit
Not every PI handles every type of case. Some focus on insurance fraud. Others do mostly missing persons work. Some specialize in corporate investigations.
If you need someone to investigate a cheating spouse, find someone who does that regularly. If you’re looking for a missing family member, that requires different skills and contacts.
Don’t assume any PI can handle any case. You wouldn’t hire a plumber to do electrical work, right?
Meeting Them Face to Face
Always meet potential investigators in person before hiring them. You can tell a lot about someone by talking to them face to face.
Do they ask good questions about your case? Do they seem to understand what you’re going through? Do they explain things clearly? Are they professional without being cold?
Trust your gut. If something feels off during the meeting, listen to that feeling. You’re going to be sharing personal information with this person. If you don’t feel comfortable with them right away, you won’t feel better about it later.
What They Can and Can’t Do
A good PI will be clear about legal limits. They can’t trespass on private property. They can’t install GPS trackers on cars they don’t own. They can’t hack into email accounts or social media.
They can follow people in public. They can search public records. They can take photos from public places. They can interview people who are willing to talk.
If an investigator suggests doing anything that sounds illegal or sketchy, find someone else. You don’t want to end up in legal trouble because your PI broke the law.
Making Your Choice
After you’ve talked to a few investigators, don’t just go with the cheapest one. Consider their experience, how comfortable you felt with them, and whether they seemed to understand your situation.
Check their references. Call the former clients they give you and ask honest questions. Were they professional? Did they deliver what they promised? Any complaints?
Take a day or two to think about it if you can. Don’t make the decision when you’re angry or upset. Sleep on it.
What Good Service Looks Like
Once you hire someone, they should keep you updated on what’s happening. Not every day necessarily, but regularly enough that you know the case is moving forward.
Their reports should be professional and detailed. Photos should be clear. Written summaries should make sense. Everything should be documented properly in case you need it for legal purposes.
A good investigator will also be honest with you about what they’re finding, even if it’s not what you want to hear.
Getting Help in Tallahassee
If you’re dealing with something that needs investigation, take your time finding the right person. Don’t let desperation make the choice for you.
I’m Vince with USA Security & Protection Group LLC. While we mainly handle security services, we work with reputable investigators all over Florida when our clients need that kind of help.
If you need guidance on finding a good private investigator in the Tallahassee area, give me a call at (954) 477-1088 or drop me an email at USACURITYPROGROUPLLC@GMAIL.COM. I can point you toward people who do this work the right way.
