What you should know about us
Hiring a private investigator can raise a lot of questions—especially if it’s your first time. At Paramount Investigative Services, we aim to demystify the process and give you expert insight rooted in decades of real investigative experience. Our founder, Ken Childs, has been a licensed private investigator in California since 2005, is a POST-certified background check expert, and served over a decade on the board of CALI, including two years as Vice President. Ken was recognized as an expert witness in Superior Court of Santa Monica in 2017, and consults with attorneys on defending complex insurance fraud cases, infidelity investigations, surveillance, and even cryptocurrency crime.
We’ve worked discreetly with law firms, private clients, and public figures—including cases that have brought us into direct collaboration with the FBI and national media. Our work has been featured in Access Hollywood, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, the Los Angeles Times, and Rolling Stone Magazine. Whether you’re wondering what a private investigator can legally do, how much it costs to hire one in Los Angeles, or how we conduct surveillance, the FAQs below will give you honest answers from a trusted industry leader.
FAQ's of PI's in Los Angeles
Hiring a Private Investigator in Los Angeles
How can I verify a private investigators license?
Verifying a California private investigators license is easy. Google “BSIS” and then click “Verify a Private Investigators license” Enter Paramount Investigative Services and License number 24065 for our current licensing information or Click this link for our current license information
Is it worth hiring a Private Investigator?
Yes, depending on your needs and the results, they can certainly sway your case in your favor.
As a Los Angeles private investigator, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable our work can be. In insurance fraud investigations, we can locate, surveil, and document everything carefully so attorneys or insurance companies have solid, actionable evidence.
I always tell my clients this: if you believe someone is up to something, they probably are. For example, in workers’ comp fraud cases, we operate under the assumption that the claimant is still working. Let’s face it, Los Angeles is too expensive not to work!
Sure, hiring a PI can feel like a gamble. But when it pays off, the return can be huge. We’ve saved companies hundreds of thousands and on a few cases millions of dollars by exposing the truth.
If you’re wondering whether hiring a PI is worth it, I’d say: when the stakes are high and you want the truth, the right Los Angeles private investigator can make all the difference
How long does a typical case take?
With regards to infidelity cases, I would say that most cases are resolved quickly; within a few days. When it comes to legal cases like workers comp or personal injury claims, those cases will last a couple of years with short periods of intermittent surveillance investigations and social media gathering.
How much does a private investigator cost?
Local private investigators prices the range between 95.00 to some Beverly Hills private investigators who charge upwards of 400 to 500 per hour. At Paramount we are priced accordingly. Our experience and the equipment our investigators use in the field is second to none!
How do I hire a private investigator?
Hiring a PI doesn’t get any easier than hiring Paramount. With one call, we’ll answer your questions, take the necessary information and email you a contract and payment link to get your case scheduled.
Is hiring a PI legal?
Hiring a PI is legal unless we're hired for illegal or harassing reasons. Paramount is proud to operate fully within the law under a California PI license since 2005. Verify our PI license 24065
What should I look for when choosing a PI?
You should be looking at a few things: Experience, licensing and whether it sounds like the PI knows what their talking about. Is their website full of stalk images and no license numbers? Is the investigator talking you through their processes or are they selling you on your fears or are they vague and evasive? Have they handled cases like yours before? Either way, you should look at their google business and yelp reviews.
What Private Investigators Actually do?
What can private investigators legally do?
Private investigators can legally investigate for corporations, insurance companies and individuals. They use various methods to collect evidence from scouring the internet to gathering statements from witnesses, to performing surveillance investigations. Private investigators are private citizens and are held to the same legal standards.
How do private investigators get information?
Private investigators use a variety of methods to gather information, ranging from online database searches, OSNIT methods, to talking with neighbors and perform mobile surveillance. Depending on the case and the client’s budget, a private investigator will determine what resources to use in order to acquire the most clear, concise and efficient evidence possible.
What services do private investigators provide?
Private investigators offer a wide range of services, including but not limited to: background checks, surveillance, locating missing persons, investigation into insurance fraud and white-collar crime, and gathering evidence for legal cases. Some PI’s also specialize in specific areas such as computer forensics, infidelity investigations, or corporate investigations.
What is a private investigator?
A private investigator is a private person who is licensed within their state to perform professional services such as; gathering information and conducting field investigations for private individuals, corporations, and attorneys. They use a variety of techniques, such as surveillance, background checks, and data analysis, to uncover information and provide their clients with the answers they seek.
What does a private investigator do?
Private investigator gather information that the average person can’t get on their own. That includes surveillance, witness interviews, background checks, social media investigations, and verifying claims in legal or insurance cases. We’re professional observers who know how to document evidence cleanly so businesses, attorneys, and insurance carriers can defend themselves in court.
What kinds of cases do private investigators take?
Most private investigators handle surveillance investigations such as infidelity, insurance fraud, workers’ comp fraud, cohabitation cases, employee misconduct, and child custody investigations. Some PIs focus on skip tracing, missing persons, background checks, or asset verification. Others, like us, specialize in high-stakes surveillance. The kind of surveillance where timing, patience, and experience determine whether the subject gets caught or slips away. The truth is, every PI eventually finds a niche. Ours is exposing fraud, catching cheaters, and documenting evidence in a way that holds up in court and protects our clients.
What can private investigators NOT do?
What private investigators can't do is hacking, stalking, lock picking, trespass or breaking an entering a building. To simplify, private investigators are normal citizens and we can not break laws like any other citizen. PI's don't get any special law enforcement privileges either. If we get pulled over for speeding, trust me, we're getting a speeding ticket.
Insurance Fraud & Workers Compensation Investigation
Can I dispute my employee’s workers’ compensation claim?
Not only can you dispute your employee’s workers’ compensation claim, if there’s even a hint of doubt, you absolutely should. See our workers compensation investigation services. Many of these individuals go to great lengths to furnish a believable story and commit to the act necessary in hopes of a payday. Ask yourself: how long would you wear a back brace, and grimace if you knew at the end of the case you’d walk away with a payout? While wildly unethical and something many of us would never even consider, there are thousands out there who wouldn’t hesitate for a second to enact this plan. Even worse, California is a zero-fault state. Oftentimes, awful employees will simply file a claim to hurt your company (and get another job) as they know hardly any work comp cases get prosecuted. Read more about our Work Comp Fraud Investigators. Read more about workers compensation claims red flags.
As an employer, Can I investigate my employees?
Not only can you legally investigate your employees, but it is often in your best interest to do so in the event of workplace harassment, open workers’ compensation claims or when there is suspected overclocking. With insurance scams, injury scams, and career scammers becoming increasingly commonplace across Los Angeles (and the nation), hiring a private investigator near you to investigate nearly every workers’ compensation claim is a drop in the bucket in comparison to the potential losses your business may face in the event their claim is upheld and undisputed.
How do I report someone for suspected insurance fraud?
The first step is to gather the evidence by hiring a licensed private investigator. Second, if there was fraud uncovered you should fill out the FD-1 Suspected insurance fraud form. Then fax or email it to the Department of Insurance and your local district attorney’s office.
What evidence can a PI gather in an insurance fraud case?
Private investigators can gather all sorts of evidence. Often times investigators will start off with gathering statements and or video of the incident. Then if warranted we will dig into criminal and civil records along with social media searches. Read our in depth article on what evidence can a PI collect for insurance fraud investigations
How long does a workers compensation investigation take?
Often times investigating workers compensation cases vary. Some workers comp claims need statements to understand the incident itself. While other cases are resolved by online social media screening and then there is surveillance. Most workers comp claims will have a few rounds of investigations during the duration of the case.
Surveillance & Infidelity Investigations:
Can a private investigator put a GJPS tracker on my car?
The short answer is; it depends. Private investigators can put a tracker on your car if the registered owner gives us permission. For example, if we're following a cheater and the owner of the vehicle is the spouse, then we certainly can instal a tracker on the vehicle.
Is it legal to follow my spouse?
Yes, it is legal to follow your spouse so long as they are within the public realm. If you suspect infidelity you can legally follow your spouse, or possibly place a GPS tracker on their vehicle. While using a GPS can be useful, we recommend turning to a professional private investigator to avoid drawing attention or worse, you getting caught. Through our years of experience we are usually capable of determining if your spouse is cheating on you quite quickly.
What do I do if I suspect my spouse is cheating?
If you suspect your spouse of adultery First, you must approach the situation with care and caution. We ask you to try to identify what you believe is going on and when you think they could be having the affair. Then hire a licensed private investigator to perform surveillance and see if they are cheating or not. If they are cheating, you can take this information and work towards your desired outcome.
How do I catch my cheating spouse?
By not trying to attempt surveillance on your own and hiring a licensed private investigator. Surveillance services is how we catch 90% cheating spouses in Los Angeles. After a couple of quick questions from our Sr. Investigator to dial your specific situation in. Not only will we identify the most opportune time your spouse is likely cheating, we will likely catch their lies on video for you.
Should I confront my spouse if I suspect infidelity?
The short answer is no. Sadly, you should not confront your spouse unless you feel comfortable with what you know. If not, you should hire a private investigator to get you the proof you need!
What is the number one sign my spouse is cheating?
The number one sign your spouse is cheating is how your spouse is acting with regards to their phone! Are things feeling a bit “off?” Do they no longer leave their phone out on the counter? Are they changing their passcodes without telling you? Are the leaving the room to text or hiding the screen while texing?
For those that suspect infidelity, we offer discreet infidelity investigations We're 100% confidential, contact us today.
Should I use an airtag to track someone?
The short answer is, no. It is not a good idea. Not only do most phones alert you when an airtage is present and has been with you for a short amount of time, it is likely against the law. See our full article on why you shouldn't use an airtag to track your spouse. Read more about gps tracking and using apple airtags to track your cheating spouse
What Evidence can a private investigator gather in an infidelity case?
Private investigators are known for their abilities to surveil, follow and get the images of the cheating spouse with their lovers! And that is exactly what we do. We follow and film everything possible so nothing goes undocumented.
