When Parents Should Contact a Private Investigator for Help

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When to Hire a Private Investigator

This article explains how parents hire a private investigator to help protect their children.

If you have children, you probably ask yourself what this title is about. As kids grow up, the concerns of a parent grow as well. Parents may wonder – Is everything ok at school? Is my child being bullied? Are the teachers at the school decent people? What about their friends or babysitters? Are the parents of their friends safe?

Parenting is complicated, and it´s also a matter of learning to let go. Children need to find their way in life; sometimes, that can lead to a messy situation, or things can go pretty smoothly. But, most of the time, parents must know everything will be all right. In today’s world, it seems like there is a new risk, threat, or danger lurking around every corner. The risk is real, whether it is public shootings, online predators, social media and internet risks, or drugs and abuse.

Worrying too much won´t help, and there are situations in which you won´t be able to investigate on your own. In most cases, responsible parenting and some good luck can go a long way. In circumstances where you’re unsure, hiring a professional can bring peace of mind.

List of Circumstances

Following are some circumstances where parents may want to consider hiring a professional to assist and provide expertise:

1. You’re hiring a nanny.
Babysitters have complete control over your kids. What happens while you’re not around? How do you know if his or her references are accurate? What about the resume or CV? Is it accurate? Does the babysitter or nanny have a criminal record or any adverse history? In this case, a reputable private investigator can be a great way to verify the individual you’re thinking of bringing into your home. Be safe, and make sure your kids are in good hands.

2. Red flags regarding your teenager’s behavior.
Suppose you’re very concerned about your child’s safety and have noticed a sudden change in behavior or activities or think your child might be involved with dangerous drugs. In that case, it might be time to consider consulting a professional. Spying on your teenager is the last result, but it could save his or her life if your child is in harm’s way, on drugs, or spiraling out of control. Watch out for red flags such as changes in attitude, behavior, dropping grades, friends, injuries, etc. There is also much online information on identifying bullying and recognizing other serious problems.


Concerned about who your child is talking to?
Consider using a parental control smartphone monitoring application that allows parents to monitor text messages and calls, know their current GPS location, and monitor conversations on social media, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and more. If you want to learn more about a specific person, consider checking out their background.


3. Your child is planning a big trip.
Young people today are growing up fast. They want to see the world and do it all. It´s great they are so romantic and have such a big heart, but you might want to verify who they are traveling with, who they will see, and who they’ll be staying with overseas. Even many volunteering organizations are scams, so it pays to be skeptical these days. Verify the organizations before getting ripped off or before anything worse happens. This applies to those offering au pair jobs also.

4. International romance or online dating.
Let’s say your teenager is in love, and he or she met their sweetheart on a social network or online dating site. Maybe this person even lives in another country! Well, this is a recipe for disaster. Talk to your young adult about the risks of fraud and scams, and other crimes, and ask if it is okay for you to hire a professional background check company. In some cases, if necessary, it might be a good idea to verify the person without your child’s permission. If your child communicates with a criminal, it’s important to know early. A discreet dating background check investigation can provide valuable evidence for safety.

5. Modeling opportunities or job offers.
If your child has just been offered a dream opportunity that seems too good to be true, you should hear alarm bells. Sure, it might be real and undoubtedly exciting, but take time to put the brakes on it and verify the person or company is legitimate and reputable.

About the Author

Maria Taylor is an Investigation Analyst for Wymoo® International, a professional private investigation firm based in Florida, specializing in international background checks, private investigation, and complete due diligence. Visit the company website at Wymoo.com.

If you have any questions about when parents hire a private investigator, please post them below.

2 COMMENTS

  1. I like what you said about paying attention to red flags in a child’s behavior. My sister’s oldest daughter has been having problems lately. My sister will probably look into hiring a private investigator if the problems continue just to make sure her daughter is making safe decisions.

  2. All good points! Parents definitely need to be more proactive in many cases with their children. It never ceases to amaze me how many parents do not do their due diligence with their teenagers and the other adults that they allow around their children. A big part of our firms day-to-day operation is spent educating clients about the need for private investigators and appropriately employing investigators’ talents.

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