what can I do if I think a Private Inv is following me? | FerrariChat

what can I do if I think a Private Inv is following me?

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by JimSchad, Jul 27, 2004.

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  1. JimSchad

    JimSchad Guest

    I have reason to believe that someone has hired a PI to follow my family. Long story so I will avoid the details, but things are being brought up that I feel the only way they would have this knowledge is if they tailed us or bugged our house/phone etc. The suspected person has used PI's before so it isn't that big of a leap.

    What legal rights do I have? How can I tell if my house/phone is bugged?
     
  2. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 30, 2001
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    The first thing I'd do is divest myself of the person that would have me followed. Or, hire a PI to follow him/her! ;)
     
  3. imperial83

    imperial83 F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    May 14, 2004
    2,893
    You have the right to go to your local police station and lodge an official complaint that your privacy is being invaded. Bugging or tapping into a phone line requires an official warrant issued by a judge. O dont think a PI can get such a warrant issued.

    If there are bugs and wire taps on your property, and they are found by the police then someone had to tresspass onto your property to put them there. This is an invasion of your privacy and your family's privacy and I am sure you ask for support from the police. It is a different issue as to how responsive the local police are, but if you have children at home and you think they or anyone in your family is in harms way you should report it to the authorities as soon as you can.
     
  4. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Aug 6, 2003
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    You might want to go to a "spy store" and buy a bug detector.

    Or do what Jim suggests and hire a "counter-PI" to follow the PI following you.

    Or get a 260lb Ex-Royal Commando and black belt close operative like Chaa on security detail for your family. This would solve many problems I think!
     
  5. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 30, 2001
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  6. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    LOL. Or start a very noticable thread saying, "I AM BUYING A BIG HANDGUN!"
     
  7. JimSchad

    JimSchad Guest

    Appreciate the info. I have asked Rob to delete my profile and all my previous posts since they are under my real name. Need to come back as a generic user for privacy.
     
  8. future328driver

    future328driver Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2001
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    Jim,
    Depending upon the type of activity that is involved, perhaps you can make a stalking complaint to the police. If you think your phone is bugged/tapped, you might think about hiring a PI of your own to check your house. Also, the phone company might be able to determine if the phone is tapped based on the electrical performance of your phone lines.
     
  9. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2003
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    Jim, a personal freind went though a samilar situation, he called the authorities and it developed that way....of course, the police are not very quick, but if you suspect something call them quickly and explain in full detail they should be able to advise better.
    Good luck !!
     
  10. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

    Sep 30, 2003
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    Otto
  11. Hammerdown

    Hammerdown Karting

    Mar 19, 2004
    79
    MotorCity
    Be observant. Change your routes to and from work. Visit a spy shop for counter surveillance equiptment. Take the freeway if you think you're being followed. Pull over to the LEFT shoulder (w/ hazzards) and sit a spell to lose your tail. He'll have to exit and double back. Hire a PI, or just ask the person who's done this before if they're doing it now.
     
  12. matterhorn762

    matterhorn762 Formula Junior

    Apr 19, 2004
    340
    Tennessee
    If you're being followed, why don't you confront the person following you? The sooner the better, since your family is involved. Carry a small camera in your car or on your (like a cell phone camera) so you can take the PI's picture in case he turns out to be unprofessional. Ask the PI what he's doing.

    You can have fun with this (not trying to make light of your situation).
     
  13. TestShoot

    TestShoot F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 1, 2003
    12,026
    Beverly Hills
    Don't confront him, if you know who it is he will be easy to manipulate. Come out when you want to, do nice things like help little old ladies cross the street etc... Makes for great character building video.

    Dress in drag, with maribou slippers and curlers in your hair, with a satin robe that allows a brief peak at lil jim and the twins, take out the garbage dressed like that.

    If it is an issue, call the police say you think someone was following you and toss in some random fear of carjacking.
     
  14. JimSchad

    JimSchad Guest

    the person I suspect has WAY more cash than I do, but what do you mean froggy?

    Is there a way to call each PI firm in town and figure out who they are using?

    I could pretend to be disputing a credit card charge for their services or somethign!
     
  15. maranelloman

    maranelloman Guest


    I can help, Jim. No joke.

    PM me, and I will give you my private email address and/or my phone #.
     
  16. matterhorn762

    matterhorn762 Formula Junior

    Apr 19, 2004
    340
    Tennessee
    counter surveillance just means beating them at their own game. It all depends on how serious/professional you think your followers are.

    I would not suggest the dressing in drag idea though. :)
     
  17. Ike

    Ike F1 Rookie

    Nov 4, 2003
    3,543
    I had one following me while a car accident case was still going on. I found the guy parked in my driveway. I should have blocked him, but he left quickly. Then I noticed he was following me. He could not drive at all, LOL. And his ford pickup didn't corner as well as my miata. I managed to get him to follow me down a dead end street, spun the car around and got behind him. As soon as he saw me take down his plate number he jumped a curb and ran a red light to get away.

    The cops of the area he followed me to ran the plates and gave me the owners info, who was somone else far away. The cops where I live would not do anything. They told him he could not park in my subdivision b/c it was private but thats about it. They would not even tell me that he was a p.i. A guy I sorta know in the D.A.'s office called the police and found out he was a P.I. once I knew he wasn't some weird stalker I didn't really worry about him.

    The police treated this guy as a fellow officer and didn't want to help me at all.

    Is it possible to put a bug in the phone box that is near the street? I would think someone would try that before getting on your property to tap your phone.
     
  18. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

    Nov 20, 2002
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    Pete
    May I suggest you change your medication or preferred alcohol ;)

    If you are not doing anything wrong I would simply ignore them ... soon they will get bored of watching normal-dom and have nothing to report ... but you might have to stop seeing the guys wife ;)

    Good luck.
    Pete
     
  19. Ike

    Ike F1 Rookie

    Nov 4, 2003
    3,543
    Mine went away after about a week and a half. I guess he got tired of following me to starbucks and school. Or they got someone better who didn't let himself be seen.
     
  20. Hubert888

    Hubert888 F1 Veteran
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    May 14, 2003
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    best bet...

    buy some bug detection equipment and so a bug sweep of your entire house.
     
  21. Ike

    Ike F1 Rookie

    Nov 4, 2003
    3,543
    If I found a listening device in my house I would have to do something to screw with them before destroying it.
     
  22. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Find the bug, sing some show tunes into it then crush it.
     
  23. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
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    Apr 3, 2001
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    Randy
    interesting tidbit to know. not like I'll be using that anytime soon, but it would have come in handy nearly four years ago.

    I regularly "lost them", or rather, according to the testimony: he drove erratically. but my situation was quite different and not necessarily personal. someone was trying to link me to another case, which wasn't true (if you really wanted to know).
     
  24. RossoCorsaItaly

    RossoCorsaItaly F1 Rookie
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    Jun 9, 2004
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  25. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    ROFL... I like the Oklahoman Solution!
     

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