• Database and Public Record Access: Investigators can access various databases and public records that are not available to the general public to find information and locate subjects. 
• Digital Forensics and Footprints: They can uncover digital footprints by analyzing public social media profiles and other online presences to trace a person's activities and potential locations. 
• Physical Surveillance: Involves following a person to verify their location and gather evidence. 
• GPS Tracking: A tool that can track a vehicle's movements and provide evidence of a person's location. 
• Interviews and Background Checks: Conducting interviews and thorough background checks helps build a comprehensive picture of a person's history and activities. 
Network of Contacts: Investigators often leverage a wide network of contacts, including law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and other experts, to gain intelligence and locate individuals.

• Missing Persons: To find family members, runaways, or individuals who have disappeared. 
• Debt Recovery: To locate debtors who have absconded or are avoiding payment. 
• Legal Matters: To serve summonses or gather evidence for cases, such as tracking witnesses. 
• Personal Investigations: For personal reasons, such as verifying a spouse's activities or finding a lost business associate. 

• Legality: Investigators must adhere to federal and state laws regarding privacy and surveillance, ensuring their methods are lawful and not considered harassment. 
• Privacy Rights: Respecting an individual's right to privacy is crucial, and illegal methods like eavesdropping can lead to criminal charges. 
• Information Required: A successful trace depends on the information provided by the client. While a skilled agent can trace someone with minimal information, more complex cases require advanced techniques. 

What a Private Investigator Can Do
• Question individuals: PIs can ask questions to gather information but cannot place anyone under duress. 
• Identify themselves: They should produce an appointment card and identify themselves as a private investigator. 
• Gather information: PIs are trained professionals in gathering evidence through surveillance, background checks, and other techniques. 

What a Private Investigator Cannot Do
• Use excessive force: A PI cannot use unnecessary force, and physical confrontation should only occur if absolutely necessary and lawful. 
• Engage in illegal activities: Unauthorized wiretapping, hacking, or intercepting electronic communications are illegal. 
• Break the law: All PIs must operate within the same legal boundaries as ordinary citizens and cannot break the law to do their job. 
• Make arrests: While any person in South Africa can make an arrest under certain circumstances, this is not an inherent power of a PI. 
Therefore we believe to have a member of the South African Police Services present when we do Secure the Arrest.

If You Are Confronted
• Safety First: If a PI confronts you, prioritize your safety.
• Ask questions: You can ask them why they are following or confronting you.
• Report to police: If you believe the PI is crossing legal boundaries or acting illegally, you can report them to the authorities.
• Know your rights: You are not obligated to speak to a private investigator.
• Consider legal action: You may have grounds to issue a cease and desist letter if the conduct is harassing or unlawful. 

What Asset and Fund Recovery Involves
• Asset Tracing: The process of identifying and locating assets that may not be immediately obvious or accessible. 
• Due Diligence: Investigating individuals or companies to understand their complete financial position and identify any potential liabilities or hidden assets. 
• Investigation: Gathering information about the target's financial activities, including public records, social media, and financial institutions. 

How Private Investigators Conduct Recovery
• Forensic Accounting: Analyzing financial records and structures to uncover hidden assets or funds. 
• Public Record Searches: Using databases and public information to identify property ownership, corporate records, and financial transactions. 
• International Networks: Collaborating with local experts, lawyers, and forensic accountants in other jurisdictions to navigate different legal systems and recover assets. 
• Digital Forensics: Investigating electronic records and data to trace financial flows and locate virtual assets like cryptocurrencies. 

Why Asset Recovery is Necessary
• Legal Disputes: In cases like divorce or business disputes, asset tracing ensures fair settlement by locating all financial resources. 
• Fraud and Crime: Recovering assets obtained through criminal activities, money laundering, or corruption. 
• Debt Collection: Locating assets to satisfy outstanding debts owed to creditors. 
• International Asset Recovery: Tracing and recovering assets that have been moved or hidden in other countries. 

Key Stages of the Recovery Process
• Pre-Investigation: Verifying initial information and building a comprehensive profile of the target and their associates.
• Investigation: Conducting asset tracing to identify and locate assets, often involving cooperation with international authorities.
• Judicial Proceedings: Pursuing legal action, such as court orders, to freeze and confiscate assets.
• Asset Disposal and Return: Following legal proceedings, the recovered assets are returned to their rightful owners.