Blog Layout

How do I know if a private investigator is following me?

Grant White • 3 February 2021

You might have to conduct some spy skills yourself.

Everyone’s had it, that feeling someone is following you.

You are walking down an empty street late at night; suddenly, there’s that twinge in the back of your mind that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end — someone is following you. You whip your head around to find an empty street yawning back at you…
If only there was some foolproof way to tell if someone is following you, well there is no foolproof method, however there are some tricks and tips that our investigators at Operant know all too well.

First, we need to understand the term ‘anti-surveillance’. In its most distilled form, anti-surveillance is the method by which you counter any surveillance that is being conducted on you, either by identifying surveillance being conducted on you, or to avoid empty street and hide from it.

So how can we do some anti-surveillance?

 1. Double back on yourself — Simple but effective, people walking in one direction usually don’t turn around unless they are lost, it will also give you a front view of whoever is behind you, if that person has changed direction to follow you, he or she might be on your tail.
 2. The funnel technique — if people are following behind you on foot, they won’t be far behind. Try to walk down a quieter, more condensed area that opens out into an open space, a quick glance behind will reveal anyone following you.
 3. What about vehicles? Similar techniques apply to vehicles, driving into a quieter area will reveal any cars behind you, unnatural legal maneuvers that are mimicked (such as going around a roundabout several times) can also be a dead giveaway as to someone trying to keep on your tail.

These are just 3 interesting techniques among many that you could use to check if someone is following you.
private investigator desk, computer, PI software, investigation
26 February 2023
A trained Private Investigator with years of experience reveals the 3 things you must know about Open Source Intelligence in the context of Private Investigations.
real investigator report, private investigator report, photographs, document, binder
by Grant 9 November 2022
How do Private Investigators find the information you are looking for? A detective working with Operant Investigators gives details on how OSINT provides significant data points for investigators.
private investigators desk, private investigator computer, monitor, desk, software
by Grant 18 August 2022
To understand investigations you must understand OSINT, to understand it you need to know the 5 reasons why it is critical. All Private Investigators use it, this is why.
5 March 2022
What types of overt photography do Private Investigators engage in and what equipment do they use?
17 January 2022
A common problem all agents encounter, especially so in cities is the problem of parking. A good parking location for a vehicle is essential in ensuring line of sight (LOS) and gathering recordings behind tint or disguised. Now you may be thinking, you would solve this problem through foot surveillance. This isn't always helpful, residential areas may not have many people on foot nearby, there may be nowhere to sit or bled in and a host of other reasons may want your bottom firmly planted in a car seat for this one. So you arrive or even better, as part of a recce (reconnaissance) or planning, you notice a parking problem. I find it helpful to break up the different problems into categories, I will list the types of scenarios. 2 Primary types of areas Urban - City or Town Rural - Villages, farms, greenery or forests Primary types of problems No LOS - Cannot observe the property or points of egress LOS but too distant - Cannot record of observe with any accuracy or with the level of responsiveness needed LOS but blocked - Your vision is obstructed temporarily Too close - The risk of exposure is too high and no places further away are available Primary causes of problems Temporary blockage by vehicle - A behemoth has just parked in your LOS Double yellow lines - No parking here Single yellow lines - Restricted at certain times, they will always be the times you need to be their All spaces are in use - The most frequent issue Moved too many times already - You've been moving around frequently and are reaching a point where further movement between spaces will compromise the surveillance A mixture - A mix of the above It is incredibly frustrating when your turn up to perform your surveillance and have nowhere to park. You know the client will not be happy and your stuck in a tough spot. Parking for private investigators is an essential part of the work and for some cases is strictly required to ensure good results.
man watching, investigator, private investigator, covert surveillance, car
by Grant White 25 September 2021
Who is able to hire a Private Investigator in the UK? Is it legal?
whatsapp, sherlock, investigator, glass, messaging, private investigator
by Grant White 25 September 2021
Can a Private Investigator access whatsapp messages? Can they see your private messages?
by Grant White 18 September 2021
How much does a Private Investigator charges for their services, what kind of fees can you expect and what will the cost be?
by Grant White 18 September 2021
Many people ask: "What do private investigators get hired for?" So, we've compiled a list: What do private investigators get hired for? 1. Surveillance. 2. Finding addresses. 3. Finding someone. 4. Verifying information. 5. Gathering intelligence for further action. However, this is not an exhaustive list of what a private investigator can do. There are many different applications and benefits of hiring a private investigator. Here are some of the benefits of hiring a private investigator: 1. Save money - Instead of dedicating an in-house employee to do the job, a quick and easy way would be to hire a PI short term to get the job done properly. 2. Save time - Time is money; private investigators investigate for a living, they can do the job quickly, professionally, and accurately getting the best results. The term 'Private Investigator is not that specific', but rather an umbrella term for people that act in the area of investigation - each with varying skill-sets and specialisations. Here are some of he common skill-sets a private investigator may specialise in. 1. Financial & Cryptocurrency investigations. 2. Business intelligence. 3. Surveillance. 4. Social engineering. 5. Tracing. 6. Fraud. 7. Background checks. 8. Employee absenteeism. 9. Property. 10. Company checks. Sometimes private investigators are picking up the pieces of a previous investigation, and can include many of these above listed investigations in one case.
8 September 2021
The penal code review in France which made Private Investigator use in civil proceedings legal.
Show More
Share by: