PI Background Investigation Techniques 2

Question 1

When accessing court records for a background investigation, which type of case requires the most caution due to potential expungement or sealing statutes?

Accepted Answer

Juvenile criminal records

Answer

Juvenile criminal records are frequently sealed or expunged by law to protect minors, and accessing or reporting them may violate state statutes even if they appear in a database.

Question 2

The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) primarily affects private investigators by doing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Restricting access to DMV records to specific permissible purposes

Answer

The DPPA limits access to motor vehicle records held by state DMVs, requiring that requestors have a permissible purpose such as use in connection with a civil or criminal proceeding.

Question 3

A Social Security Number (SSN) trace is particularly valuable in background investigations primarily because it helps investigators do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Establish a subject's address history and verify identity across multiple records

Answer

An SSN trace links the number to associated names and addresses found in credit header data, making it one of the most effective tools for building a subject's address history and confirming identity.

Question 4

When a client intends to take adverse action against an employee based on a consumer report obtained through a PI, which step is legally required by the FCRA before that action can be taken?

Accepted Answer

The employer must provide the subject a copy of the report and a summary of their FCRA rights before taking action

Answer

The FCRA mandates a pre-adverse action process requiring the employer to provide the consumer with a copy of the report and a written summary of their rights before finalizing any adverse decision.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the 'permissible purpose' requirement under the Fair Credit Reporting Act as it applies to private investigators?

Accepted Answer

Consumer reports may only be obtained for legally specified purposes such as employment screening with written consent

Answer

The FCRA strictly limits who may obtain consumer reports and for what purposes; unauthorized access or use outside permissible purposes exposes the PI and client to civil and criminal liability.

(PI) Certified Private Investigator Practice Test

(PI) Certified Private Investigator Practice Test

PI Background Investigation Techniques 2