PILB Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PILB facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What federal law restricts a private investigator's access to consumer credit reports? → Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
2. Which federal statute most directly governs interception of wire and electronic communications during a PI's covert investigation? → Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (Federal Wiretap Act)
3. Which of the following pretexts for obtaining personal information would VIOLATE the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)? → Calling a bank and impersonating the account holder to obtain financial records
4. When documenting findings from an asset search for a client, a PI should always: → Include only verified, source-cited information in the written report
5. When searching Nevada business entity records, a PI discovers the subject is listed as an officer of a shell company. The best next step is to: → Trace the company's registered agent and any linked filings for further ownership details
6. In mobile surveillance if the Investigator is not careful what most likely could draw suspicion from your “target”? → Erratic driving
7. A PI is hired to trace assets of a debtor following a civil judgment. Which government repository provides UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien filings in Nevada? → Nevada Secretary of State
8. When preserving a webpage as digital evidence, the most forensically sound method is: → Using a web archiving tool that captures the full HTML, metadata, and timestamp
9. Which of the following best describes a permissible purpose for a Nevada PI to access motor vehicle records under the DPPA? → Use in connection with a civil, criminal, administrative, or arbitral proceeding
10. Which of the following is a potential problem with the "pride and ego down" interrogation technique? → If it fails, it may be difficult for the interrogation to continue.
11. Which of the following sources is publicly accessible in Nevada for identifying judgment liens against a subject? → Nevada district court civil judgment records
12. A PI is hired to investigate suspected workers' compensation fraud. Which undercover approach is MOST appropriate? → Conduct covert video surveillance of the claimant in public to document physical activity
13. When conducting an asset search in Nevada, which public record source is most useful for locating real property owned by a subject? → County Assessor's Office records
14. To qualify for a private investigator's license in Nevada, an applicant must have at least how many years of experience as an investigator or its equivalent? → 5 years
15. A Nevada PI is asked to recover deleted files from a client's computer as part of a civil case. The PI should: → Use a forensic imaging tool to create a bit-for-bit copy before any analysis
16. Which tool of crime scene documentation is used to describe the collection of evidence? → General worksheet
17. Which of the following is a legal source a licensed Nevada PI may use to locate a subject's vehicle ownership information? → Nevada DMV records via a permissible purpose request
18. Which of the following forms of hearsay would most likely be admissible in court? → All of the above
19. When a PI uses a fictitious business name during an undercover operation, Nevada PILB regulations require that: → The fictitious name be registered and the PI still hold a valid PI license
20. Which of the following statements is correct with regard to private investigators? → A Private Investigator must follow all laws Federal, Provincial and Municipal.
21. During an undercover operation, a PI unexpectedly discovers evidence of an ongoing violent crime unrelated to the original assignment. The PI should: → Immediately report the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency
22. If a PI's cover identity is compromised during an undercover operation, the BEST immediate action is to: → Safely disengage from the situation and report the compromise to the client
23. Which of the following is an example of a public record that a private investigator can legally access and use during a background investigation? → County property tax assessment records.
24. Which of the following is a focus of criminalistics? → Voice spectroscopy
25. For which assignment would a Ghillie suit be most appropriate? → Outdoor surveillance
26. A Nevada-licensed PI discovers during a financial investigation that a client's subject may be committing bank fraud. The PI's primary obligation is to: → Report findings to the client and advise them to consult an attorney
27. According to NRS Chapter 648, what is the primary purpose of the liability insurance that a private investigator licensee must maintain? → To provide financial protection for third persons against liability.
28. Which of the following is a disadvantage for a private investigator of having an attorney as a client? → Attorneys are often reluctant to make advance payments.
29. What is 'elicitation' as used in undercover investigative methods? → Drawing out information from a subject through casual, seemingly innocent conversation
30. A Nevada PI uses spyware to secretly install tracking software on a subject's personal smartphone without consent. This action violates: → The CFAA, ECPA, and NRS 205.4765 (Nevada computer crimes statutes), and PILB ethical rules