What Information Can a Private Investigator Obtain?

Public Records and Court Documents

Public records are the backbone of lawful investigations. We use them to confirm identities, map timelines, and connect people to assets or companies. You get facts that can stand in court and in corporate decisions.

What we can legally access

• Court dockets and filings (U.S.): Federal case files and dockets via PACER, including civil, criminal, and bankruptcy matters where accessible. Source
• Property records (Mexico): Registrations of ownership, transfers, and other acts for real estate recorded in the public registries. Source
• Corporate and shareholder acts (Mexico): Notices and acts published through the Sistema Electrónico de Publicaciones de Sociedades Mercantiles (PSM). Source
• Commercial registry lookups (Mexico): Basic company data and filings in the Registro Público de Comercio (RPC). Source
• Liens/UCC filings (U.S.): Public notices of secured interests filed with Secretary of State offices. Source

How this helps your case

• Asset checks: Match properties or companies to a person before you invest or litigate.
• Litigation history: Spot red flags in court records early.
• Cross-border clarity: Combine U.S. and Mexico records to see the full picture.

For property and corporate screening tied to Mexico, see our services on real estate verification and due diligence investigations.

Tip: Court systems and registries update at different speeds. We cross-check multiple sources and keep a dated audit trail in your report so you know where each fact came from.

Employment, Education, and Background Verification

Background checks protect you from avoidable risk. We verify jobs, degrees, licenses, and compliance issues before you hire or sign a contract. You get facts you can rely on.

What we verify

• Employment history: Roles, dates, gaps, and reasons for leaving.
• Education: Degrees and enrollment confirmed directly with registrars or trusted verification services. Source
• Professional licenses: Validity and status checked with official boards. In Mexico, we confirm the Cédula Profesional. Source
• Sanctions and watchlists: OFAC checks for restricted parties and entities in the U.S. Source

How this reduces fraud risk

Fraud hurts organizations and families. Strong screening helps you avoid repeat issues and identify high‑risk profiles before they reach your systems. Use checks for employees, contractors, and key vendors.

Stat: Certified Fraud Examiners estimate that organizations lose 5% of revenue to fraud each year; the 2024 study also reports higher median losses versus 2022. Source (ACFE 2024)

Legal compliance (U.S. and cross‑border)

• FCRA and FTC guidance (U.S.): If a third party provides a background report for employment, the Fair Credit Reporting Act applies. Provide notices, get written consent, and follow adverse‑action steps. Source
• Records discipline: Keep a dated audit trail for each verification. Store consent forms and screening outcomes per your policy.

Need deeper due diligence for partners or vendors in Mexico? See our services: Background Checks & Due Diligence and Due Diligence in Mexico.

Next: Surveillance and Field Investigations — how we legally document behavior and patterns.

Surveillance and Field Investigations

Surveillance helps us document behavior in a legal way. We work from public places. We record what is visible, time-stamped, and properly logged. You get usable facts—not guesses.

What we do (lawful methods)

• Fixed-site observation: Watch locations from public vantage points. Keep detailed logs and photos.
• Mobile observation: Follow targets in public areas when safe and lawful. Avoid trespassing.
• Photo and video: Capture events visible to the public. Add time, date, and location notes in the report.
• Report packages: Provide a clear timeline with images, notes, and source links for each fact.

Stat: In the ACFE’s 2024 study, 43% of occupational fraud cases were detected by a tip, making it the most common detection method. Surveillance supports and corroborates these leads. Source: ACFE 2024

What we will not do

• No wiretaps. Intercepting private calls or emails requires a court order under U.S. federal law (Title III). Source Source
• No illegal interception in Mexico. Intervening private communications without a judicial order is a crime (Código Penal Federal, Art. 177). Source (official PDF)
• No trespass or hidden devices in private spaces. We only record what is visible from public areas and areas with clear consent.
• No GPS trackers without owner consent or a court order. We document movement by lawful observation.

Consent rules (audio)

In the U.S., federal law is “one‑party consent,” but several states require all‑party consent for audio recording. We confirm local rules before any audio work. Source Source

Privacy and data handling (Mexico)

We follow Mexico’s data protection law for handling personal data collected during surveillance. This includes notice, purpose limits, and secure storage. Source (official PDF)

For details on how we run surveillance cases in Mexico, see our service guide: Hire a Private Investigator for Surveillance in Mexico, and our legal and ethical standards.

Next: Digital Footprints and Online Research — how OSINT supports field work and speeds up results.

Digital Footprints and Online Research

Digital activity leaves trails that investigators can study. This is called open-source intelligence (OSINT). It has become one of the fastest-growing areas in private investigation because more fraud now starts online. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report noted that U.S. victims lost $16.6 billion to cybercrime in a single year (IC3).

What investigators can review

• Social media profiles: Public photos, posts, and account activity.
• Connections and groups: Pages or groups linked to scams or fraud networks.
• Mentions in forums or news: Articles, blogs, or comment threads tied to the subject.
• Fake profiles: Tracing multiple accounts used for financial or romance scams.

Mexico-specific context

In Mexico, online fraud has increased sharply. CONDUSEF reported more than 12 million complaints related to electronic fraud in 2023, affecting both consumers and professionals (CONDUSEF). This makes structured online research essential for individuals and companies.

Why this matters

OSINT adds context to field investigations and background checks. For example, a social media investigation can confirm if a subject’s lifestyle matches declared income. It can also identify hidden business activities, conflicts of interest, or undisclosed relationships. Combined with property and corporate record checks, this creates a stronger profile for legal or business action.

Next we examine how asset tracing and financial investigations link online research with property and court records to track hidden wealth.

Asset Tracing and Financial Investigations

Asset tracing is one of the most requested private investigation services. It focuses on locating property, business holdings, and financial clues that point to hidden wealth or fraud. While bank account balances are protected and require a court order, investigators can still gather valuable information through lawful methods.

What investigators can identify

• Property and vehicles: Real estate deeds, car registrations, and land use records.
• Business ownership: Corporate filings, shareholder lists, and tax registrations.
• Liens and debts: Bankruptcy cases, unpaid judgments, or pending lawsuits.
• Lifestyle indicators: Spending or assets inconsistent with declared income.

When asset tracing is useful

These investigations are common in divorce cases, financial fraud investigations, and commercial disputes. Companies often request asset recovery to pursue hidden wealth or secure judgments. Courts may also rely on this evidence to enforce alimony, debt collection, or fraud claims.

Global and Mexico-specific context

According to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), effective asset tracing is essential in fighting money laundering and recovering stolen funds (FATF). In Mexico, financial crimes are a growing concern: the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) reported freezing more than 6,000 accounts linked to money laundering in 2023 (UIF).

Why this matters

Asset tracing combines document research, online intelligence, and field checks to create a clear financial profile. By connecting company filings, property records, and lifestyle reviews, investigators provide evidence that holds up in court and in negotiations. This makes financial investigations a cornerstone of professional private investigation.

Next we review how interviewing and human intelligence add context to the hard data gathered in financial and digital research.

Interviewing and Human Intelligence

Documents and databases provide facts, but human intelligence adds context. Interviews and personal sources often reveal details that no record can confirm. Skilled private investigators use structured conversations to validate timelines, confirm identities, or expose hidden relationships.

What interviews can provide

• Context and reputation: Feedback from neighbors, colleagues, or former associates.
• Verification: Confirming or challenging alibis, job claims, or property use.
• Leads: Identifying new witnesses or uncovering connections to fraud or misconduct.

Standards and certifications

Ethical interviewing requires training. Techniques used by certified forensic interviewers follow international standards designed to avoid coercion and ensure credibility. The International Association of Interviewers (IAI) recognizes forensic interviewing as a specialized skill (IAI).

Applications in Mexico and abroad

In Mexico, structured interviews are often used in due diligence investigations and fraud cases. For example, speaking with past employees may reveal hidden corporate conflicts or unethical practices. Globally, human intelligence is essential in organized crime and missing persons cases, where official records provide only part of the picture.

Why this matters

When combined with public records, surveillance, and digital research, interviews provide a full investigative perspective. They transform scattered data points into a clear, human-centered narrative. This makes human intelligence a critical layer of professional private investigation.

In the next section, we explain the limits of what private investigators cannot access, to set clear expectations for clients and protect against misleading claims.

What Private Investigators Cannot Access

Even the most experienced private investigators must respect strict legal and ethical boundaries. Clients sometimes believe investigators can access any type of information. In reality, strong data protection laws in Mexico and abroad limit what can be obtained without proper authority.

Restricted information

• Bank records: Private balances, account numbers, or transactions require a court order.
• Medical files: Protected by privacy laws and accessible only with patient consent.
• Government IDs: Passport, voter ID, and Social Security numbers are off-limits without authorization.
• Private communications: Wiretapping calls, reading emails, or intercepting messages is illegal.

Why these limits exist

Laws such as HIPAA in the United States and Mexico’s Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data protect individuals from misuse of personal information. These regulations ensure that investigators work within legal boundaries and that collected evidence remains valid in court.

How clients can stay safe

Be cautious of any investigator who claims they can bypass these restrictions. Promises of “guaranteed access” to bank accounts or government databases are warning signs of fraud. Working with a licensed and compliant firm ensures your case is handled legally and ethically.

Next, we explain the legal and ethical standards that guide professional investigation, and why compliance protects both clients and investigators.

Legal and Ethical Standards

Professional investigations only have value when they are conducted legally and ethically. Evidence collected outside the law can be challenged in court and may even put the client at risk. This is why compliance with licensing, tax registration, and professional standards is non-negotiable for investigators in Mexico.

Professional licensing and registration

At GrayCat PI, we operate under a valid Cédula Profesional in public security and maintain active registration with Mexico’s tax authority (SAT) under investigation service codes. This framework allows us to work legally and to provide services that stand up to legal and corporate review.

Ethical obligations

Beyond licensing, investigators must respect privacy rights and follow ethical codes established by recognized associations. These include the International Federation of Associations of Private Detectives (IKD) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Adherence to these standards ensures that evidence is not only lawful but also credible in business and legal contexts.

Why it matters to clients

Hiring an investigator who follows legal and ethical standards means your case will be supported by valid evidence, free from practices that could be considered intrusive or unlawful. This protects both the investigator and the client, ensuring that findings can be used with confidence in courts, negotiations, or compliance audits.

In the next section, we will review real-world case studies that highlight how proper legal and ethical investigation has helped clients solve fraud, protect assets, and defend against scams.

Case Studies and Real Examples

Professional investigations have real impact when applied to cases that involve fraud, hidden assets, or personal security. Below are examples that illustrate how lawful methods and ethical practices provide results that protect clients and stand up in legal or corporate settings.

Financial fraud in Mexico

In recent years, financial fraud investigations have revealed shell companies operating under false ownership. By combining property checks, corporate filings, and background verification, investigators identified patterns of fraud that traditional checks had overlooked. This allowed investors to avoid major losses and pursue recovery through civil claims.

Romance scam investigations

Online fraud is a growing threat. In romance scam cases, investigators analyzed digital footprints and reviewed communication histories to confirm fraudulent intent. By tracing false social media profiles and financial requests, victims were able to stop financial losses and, in some cases, take action through law enforcement.

Corporate fraud and employee misconduct

Businesses frequently face risks from internal misconduct. In corporate fraud cases, surveillance, interviews, and OSINT identified conflicts of interest and unauthorized side businesses. These findings provided companies with the evidence necessary to dismiss employees lawfully and recover losses.

International investigations

Cross-border work highlights the importance of structured legal processes. In international investigations, investigators connected missing persons cases to organized crime activity. Collaboration with local and international authorities ensured that findings were admissible and actionable, protecting families and supporting law enforcement.

Together, these case studies show that lawful investigations protect clients, prevent fraud, and strengthen legal cases. They also demonstrate the value of choosing a licensed and compliant investigator.

In the conclusion, we will summarize what private investigators can and cannot do, and provide guidance on how to work with a firm that meets professional standards.

Conclusion

Private investigators provide value by accessing lawful information that individuals and companies cannot easily obtain on their own. From public records and background checks to surveillance, OSINT, and asset tracing, these methods deliver evidence that protects clients and supports legal cases. At the same time, investigators must respect strict legal limits—they cannot access private bank balances, wiretap communications, or retrieve protected records without proper authorization.

Working with a licensed and compliant investigator ensures that findings are ethical, admissible, and effective. At GrayCat PI, we operate with a federal professional license in public security, are registered with SAT for investigative services, and maintain liability insurance and certifications that meet international standards.

Whether you are a business seeking protection from fraud, an individual tracing hidden assets, or a client facing online scams, choosing a qualified investigator makes the difference between reliable results and wasted effort.

Ready to move forward? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and see how we can support your case: https://graycatpi.com/contact/