UPDATED December 11, 2021 This piece has been updated to reflect the emergence of new technology
Christian Mathews Security Writer
Have you been feeling like someone is constantly monitoring your movements? Do you get the eerie feeling like you are being watched? If you answered yes, then it is highly likely that you have a private eye on your back. They are tracking every move and action you make. Learn how to stop a private investigator from following you and keep them off your back.
There can be many reasons why a private investigator is tailing you. People from your personal and professional life may have put someone on you to dig up dirt or intimidate you. In such circumstances, you should know how to identify if you are being followed by a PI. Then next, learn how to get rid of them.
A PI will do their best to keep their investigations a secret while monitoring your everyday movements. If concerns about being watched worry you, you can use the information in this article to learn a few things:
Why Would A Private Investigator Be Following Me?
Like we mentioned earlier, there can be many reasons why a PI is following you. The main reason that people hire a private investigator is to solicit information that they otherwise don’t have access to.
They could be employed by someone in your past, by a fraudulent company, or by insurance companies. Insurance companies and loan sharks use PI as intimidation techniques to harass people into paying back loans or other dues.
Many times, couples going through a messy divorce or separation hire private investigators. They do this to dig up sordid details of their affairs or other financial and personal secrets. Evidence collected from private investigations is often used in divorce proceedings to prove allegations against the other person. If you are going through messy divorce proceedings, it is possible that your partner has set a PI on you to collect information to use against you.
If you have a criminal past or you’ve done something illegal, a PI may been investigating your actions. Either way, having a private investigator following you can be quite unnerving and stressful.
How To Detect A Private Investigator/Signs I’m Being Investigated
Knowing what is a private investigator allowed to do is part of knowing how to stop a private investigator from following you. The job of the private investigator is to be a covert eye. They are paid to quietly gather information for their client. They stay away from the public eye and keep themselves disguised to draw attention away from themselves.
But there are some tell-tale signs of surveillance. If you pay attention, you can easily catch if someone has put a PI to investigate you. And then know how to stop a private investigator from following you in the future. You should remain calm and observant throughout this process so that the PI is not alerted about your newfound awareness. With a calm and collected mind, you can pin down the PI’s activities against you.
We have compiled some basic tells that can alert you in case you suspect someone following you. If any of these apply to you, then a PI may be following you.
They Are Generally Lurking Near You
If you suspect that someone is following you, then you have probably suspected something fishy is going on. We advise you to be extremely cautious and observant. Monitor your surroundings for that one person who keeps popping up on your radar.
Don’t make it too obvious that you have noticed the PI lurking about. Note down their license plate or keep a record of their physical description. These details can prove to be useful if you decide to file a formal complaint with the authorities.
Getting Requests From Unknown People On Social Media
Getting unusually random requests and follows on social media can be a sign of someone monitoring your online presence. The PI could be using your social media activity to track your activities.
Be careful about what you post online because things on the internet never truly die, despite deleting all traces of it. For most PIs, the internet and social media present a treasure trove of information they can mine for their client.
Your Phone And Laptop Light Up Randomly
If your smartphone lights up or vibrates without you touching it, then it could be that your phone has been bugged or tampered with by a PI. If your laptop or computer is acting funny, then it has probably has been riddled with malware and viruses to keep track of your online actions.
With control over your phone, a PI can access your location, contacts, messages, and any sensitive information on it, risking your safety and privacy. The best way to avoid this situation is to keep your electronics close to you so that there is no chance of tampering. You could also use a surveillance detector device to locate and destroy bugs in your house.
Korkuan Anti Spy Detector
You Notice People Taking Pictures Of You
You may find that you are often the subject of random people pointing their cameras or phone in your direction. Likely, someone is covertly taking pictures of you at different locations, quietly mapping your life and activities.
Cars Following You
You may find that a particular car or person keeps following you around in a car. You can identify if you are being followed by PIs in a car if it’s the same car, license plate or person behind the wheel. The PI may change drivers or cars to avoid any suspicion, but it is important to stay vigilant either way.
How To Get Rid Of Private Investigators
If you know that you are in the right, then the solution to this problem is quite simple. Call the local authorities. With the help of police authorities, you can easily stop any illegal surveillance activities against you and report anyone who is trying to intimidate or harass you. That’s how to stop a private investigator from following you right away.
Alternatively, you can try and find out who placed a private investigator on you and try to resolve your issues with them.
However, if the PI gets a hint that you are aware of their surveillance, they will likely stop all their activities and leave the situation. They will not engage in an altercation or argument with you; instead, likely, they will quietly fade away. This is probably the best way to get rid of a PI.
