Private Investigator Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real Private Investigator Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Private Investigator Assessment flashcards as text
A PI installs a GPS tracker on a vehicle. Which condition makes this legal in most US jurisdictions?
Answer: The vehicle is owned by the PI's client who consented to the tracking
In most states, GPS tracking is only legal when placed on a vehicle by or with permission of the registered owner; placing a tracker on someone else's vehicle without consent is illegal.
What is a 'field report' in private investigation?
Answer: A written document recording observations, activities, and evidence collected during fieldwork
A field report is a detailed, objective written account of all observations, actions, and evidence gathered by the PI during active fieldwork.
Under which circumstance would a PI be justified in making a citizen's arrest?
Answer: When witnessing a felony being actively committed and law enforcement is unavailable
Citizen's arrest authority is extremely limited; in most states it only applies when a felony is directly witnessed and law enforcement authority is not immediately available.
What is the purpose of an 'asset search' investigation?
Answer: To identify and document a person's or company's financial holdings and property
An asset search reveals a subject's financial resources, including bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and business interests, often used to aid in debt collection or litigation.
A PI's client asks them to hack into the subject's email account to gather evidence. How should the PI respond?
Answer: Refuse, as this violates the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and is a federal crime
Unauthorized computer access is prohibited under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), and a PI who complies could face federal criminal charges.
What distinguishes a 'confidential informant' from a 'witness' in a PI investigation?
Answer: A confidential informant provides information with an expectation of anonymity, while a witness typically can be identified
Confidential informants provide information under the expectation of anonymity to protect their identity, whereas witnesses are identifiable and can be called to testify.
Which of the following best describes 'reasonable suspicion' as it applies to private investigators?
Answer: A belief based on articulable facts that a person may be involved in wrongdoing, used to justify further investigation
Reasonable suspicion is a factual basis for believing wrongdoing may be occurring, which guides a PI's investigative direction, though it does not grant law enforcement powers.