Private Investigator Exam Private Investigator Assessment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PI discovers that their client is actually using the investigation to harass an ex-partner. What is the ethical obligation?
- Complete the case since the client is paying
- Withdraw from the case and potentially report the situation to authorities (Correct answer)
- Warn the subject of the investigation
- Subcontract the case to another PI
Correct answer: Withdraw from the case and potentially report the situation to authorities
A PI must not knowingly participate in illegal or unethical activities, including facilitating harassment, and should withdraw and may have a duty to report.
Question 2: What is 'skip tracing' in private investigation?
- Following a subject without being detected
- Locating a person who has left without a forwarding address (Correct answer)
- Reviewing financial records for fraud
- Conducting background checks on employees
Correct answer: Locating a person who has left without a forwarding address
Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who has 'skipped' (left) their known location, often used in debt collection and missing persons cases.
Question 3: Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), when can a PI legally obtain a consumer credit report?
- Anytime they are hired by a paying client
- Only for permissible purposes such as employment screening or court orders (Correct answer)
- Whenever they have a valid PI license
- Only with the subject's written consent in all cases
Correct answer: Only for permissible purposes such as employment screening or court orders
The FCRA strictly limits access to consumer credit reports to specific permissible purposes defined by law, regardless of a PI's professional status.
Question 4: A PI is hired to locate a biological parent for an adoptee. Which database is NOT typically accessible to private investigators?
- Public property records
- Social media platforms
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) (Correct answer)
- Voter registration records
Correct answer: National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
NCIC is a restricted law enforcement database that private investigators cannot legally access without law enforcement authorization.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) between a PI and a client?
- To prevent the PI from testifying in court
- To protect confidential information shared during the investigation (Correct answer)
- To limit the PI's liability for false information
- To allow the PI to share findings with third parties
Correct answer: To protect confidential information shared during the investigation
An NDA ensures that sensitive information exchanged between the PI and client remains confidential and is not disclosed to unauthorized parties.
Question 6: During a workers' compensation fraud investigation, a PI films a subject lifting heavy boxes, contradicting their injury claim. Where should the PI film from?
- From the subject's backyard with a telephoto lens
- From a public street or other legally accessible area (Correct answer)
- From a rented room in the subject's apartment building with a hidden camera
- From inside the subject's workplace after hours
Correct answer: From a public street or other legally accessible area
PIs must record only from areas where they have legal access, as filming from private property without consent violates privacy laws.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'counter-surveillance'?
- Hiring a second PI to watch the first PI
- Detecting and neutralizing surveillance being conducted on oneself or a client (Correct answer)
- Using mirrors to observe without being seen
- Filing a police report about being followed
Correct answer: Detecting and neutralizing surveillance being conducted on oneself or a client
Counter-surveillance involves techniques to detect, identify, and evade surveillance being conducted against a person or organization.
Private Investigator Exam Private Investigator Assessment 3
A PI discovers that their client is actually using the investigation to harass an ex-partner.
What is the ethical obligation?