Interview & Skip Tracing Flashcards
6 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 6 Interview & Skip Tracing flashcards as text
Which database is commonly used by licensed PIs in the US for skip tracing and locating persons?
Answer: LexisNexis Accurint or TLO
LexisNexis Accurint, TLO, and similar commercial databases aggregate public records, utility data, and other information used by licensed PIs for skip tracing.
When interviewing a reluctant witness, the most effective approach is to:
Answer: Explain the importance of their information and appeal to their sense of civic duty
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.
What is the 'funnel technique' in witness interviewing?
Answer: Starting with broad open-ended questions and narrowing to specific details
The funnel technique starts with broad, open-ended questions to allow a free narrative, then progressively narrows to specific details and clarifications.
For skip tracing purposes, utility records are valuable because they:
Answer: Often reflect a current service address tied to the subject's residence
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.
What does the term 'locator search' refer to in PI work?
Answer: Efforts to find the current physical location or address of a person
A locator search is the process of using various records, databases, and field techniques to identify the current address or whereabouts of an individual.
Which of the following is a legitimate source for skip-tracing a subject's vehicle ownership?
Answer: State DMV records (accessed for a permissible purpose under DPPA)
State DMV records can reveal vehicle ownership and associated addresses when accessed for a purpose permitted under the Driver's Privacy Protection Act.