A private investigator (who can also be known as a PI, private eye, or private detective) is a professional who is hired by law firms, corporations, insurance agencies, private individuals, or other entities to gather intelligence and confirm or disprove information. Professional private investigators often have law enforcement backgrounds or other relevant experience and training that has prepared them to investigate and research.
Examples when someone might hire a private investigator include investigating suspicions of infidelity, performing background checks on potential employees, investigating the validity of an insurance claim, or finding a missing person. The reasons for hiring a private investigator are numerous, but investigators remain the most effective way to get to the bottom of a complex issue.