Private Investigator Exam Interview & Skip Tracing 2

Question 1

Which database is commonly used by licensed PIs in the US for skip tracing and locating persons?

Accepted Answer

LexisNexis Accurint or TLO

Answer

LexisNexis Accurint, TLO, and similar commercial databases aggregate public records, utility data, and other information used by licensed PIs for skip tracing.

Question 2

When interviewing a reluctant witness, the most effective approach is to:

Accepted Answer

Explain the importance of their information and appeal to their sense of civic duty

Answer

Appealing to the witness's sense of fairness or civic duty, while being respectful and non-threatening, is the most effective ethical technique for gaining cooperation.

Question 3

What is the 'funnel technique' in witness interviewing?

Accepted Answer

Starting with broad open-ended questions and narrowing to specific details

Answer

The funnel technique starts with broad, open-ended questions to allow a free narrative, then progressively narrows to specific details and clarifications.

Question 4

For skip tracing purposes, utility records are valuable because they:

Accepted Answer

Often reflect a current service address tied to the subject's residence

Answer

Utility records—gas, electric, water—are tied to an active service address, which is often the subject's current residence, making them useful for location research.

Question 5

What does the term 'locator search' refer to in PI work?

Accepted Answer

Efforts to find the current physical location or address of a person

Answer

A locator search is the process of using various records, databases, and field techniques to identify the current address or whereabouts of an individual.

Private Investigator Exam Practice Test

Private Investigator Exam Practice Test

Private Investigator Exam Interview & Skip Tracing 2