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Can a private investigator access my whatsapp?

18 August 2021

Can a Private Investigator access my whatsapp?

One of the most frequently asked questions is " Can a Private Investigator access my whatsapp?" Accessing a whatsapp account that requires a login/phone number and password, without the permission of the owner is ILLEGAL in the UK.

Private Investigators are no different, we are not law enforcement and have no way of accessing someone's WhatsApp.

What Private Investigators can do however is use the information publicly shown on your whatsapp to gather further details about in the course of a legitimate investigation. By using this information they can then pivot and start using that data to find further details about you. Examples can include, your name, image, status and other information. Utilising this data properly can be difficult depending on the level of skill and knowledge the investigator has however it could be key in unravelling more sensitive or prudent information needed.

However, you might want to check your privacy settings and who you are chatting with, as someone may be conducting a social engineering experiment to reveal more information about yourself or conducting an investigation.

Private Investigators will use a variety of tactics to gather information for their clients and whatsapp is one of these methods. Your private messaging details however are secure against those who are ethical or stay within legal boundaries. 

See our video on more things a UK private investigator cannot do. 

Private whatsapp messages are off limits unless they are one of the recipients or members of the chat group representing themselves without use of coercion, blagging or impersonation.

Operant Investigators are a professional UK investigation service. We use techniques like taking public whatsapp information for use in investigations as part of our repertoire. 
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