As the year comes to a close and the holidays are drawing near, it may come as a surprise that this can be a busy time of year for Private Investigators. From online shopping scams to locating loved ones, let’s break down some of the reasons why more businesses and individuals may be looking for a private investigator to meet their needs this holiday season.
Phishing & Online Fraud
More and more people are relying on the internet to do their holiday shopping. It’s convenient, it saves time, and it makes it easy for consumers to shop and compare a wide variety of products. While the internet hosts more consumers every year, it also hosts more scammers. Scam sites will often offer electronics, luxury items, and other high-priced goods at deep discounts. Consumers will pay for the product and never receive it. A private Investigator is often hired to investigate these companies and to prove their illegitimacy.
Charity Scams
During the holiday season, many people often feel more charitable and are eager to help those in need. Unfortunately, scammers will take advantage of this spike in generosity by creating fake charities and asking the public for donations. The scams appear on social media, in emails, through a phone call, or even in person. Private detectives can help investigate these charities and identify their creators.
Seasonal Hiring
For many companies, the holiday season is the busiest time of the year. Consequently, seasonal employees are often hired to help fill in the gaps. Business owners are forced to hire a number of employees quickly, and many don’t have time to do personal background checks. To ensure they are hiring trustworthy people, owners will often rely on a private investigator to provide pre-employment screenings and background checks.
Locating Loved Ones
The holiday season is often met with nostalgia and reflection, and in turn can be a difficult time for those who are missing someone. Some are looking for an estranged loved one. Others are looking for a child they gave up for adoption or a biological parent who gave them up. From missed connections to actual missing persons, many are compelled to locate these people around the holidays. Private Investigators often receive an increase in these types of requests during this time of year.
Insurance Fraud & “Get Rich Quick” Schemes
Unfortunately, the holiday season often highlights economic hardships for those who are struggling. Many people feel pressured to be able to provide gifts to their loved ones, especially children. If there are financial blocks preventing them from being able to do so, some people will resort to “get rich quick” scams – workers compensation abuse, staged motor vehicle accidents, slip & fall scams and more. Defrauded insurance companies often rely on private detectives to investigate and surveil the claimants in order to prove the claims to be fraudulent.
Infidelity
According to some studies, the holiday season is a popular time for married people to join dating websites and apps. Data from the dating app Clover showed a 300% increase in new members during the month of December who claimed to already be in relationships. The holidays can be a stressful time, and cheaters could be looking for an escape. Many spouses suspecting their partner of cheating will hire personal investigators for surveillance.
This holiday season, our goal is to bring peace of mind to every one of our clients. If you are considering hiring a personal investigator, contact us for a free consultation today!