Lipstick Investigations and The Kyle & Jackie O Show

Lipstick Investigations have been chosen to work with the Kyle & Jackie O Show on Sydney’s KiisFM.  You are probably already aware that Kyle and Jackie have been at the top of the Sydney radio ratings heap for a decade and have one of the largest breakfast audiences on Australian radio.

As one of the most well-known private investigators in Sydney, Lipstick Investigations is well versed in all styles of investigation. Whilst we do tend to specialise in infidelity based investigations and relationship investigation, we also do a large amount of family law work. Furthermore we also carry out background checks and locate persons. In fact, the first three cases we are looking into for Kyle and Jackie O are all relating to reuniting lost families.

The first case involved a grandmother called Jane who was looking for her grand-daughter, Rachael. Rachel’s parents had split up when she was about two years old and Jane had longed to re-untie with her grand-daughter who is now eighteen. After much investigation and digging around we were able to locate Rachael and were able to pass on the details to a very relieved Jane. This was a particularly hard case because the surname that Jane had for Rachel was her son’s surname, not the mother’s surname that Rachael was known by. We had a lot of investigation to do to get to the end result.

The second case involved a young man named James, now in his mid-twenties. James had never met his father as his mother was involved with him only fleetingly. James’ mother knew his name so at least James had a starting point. James had been looking for years but had never been able to locate his birth father. Lipstick Investigations took the case on and we soon realised that the middle name James got from his mother was incorrect, so James had not been able to find his father because the detail was wrong. We were able to go back into the past and locate his father at an address in the early 1990’s and then learn his correct full name. After that detail was sorted it was a relatively straightforward investigation to locate him today. We made contact with James’ father, Peter, and while not wishing to go on the radio, was very happy to be introduced to James. You have to love a happy ending!

There will be more cases to come in conjunction with KiisFM. We are working on more as this blog is prepared. KiisFM and Lipstick – what a great pairing!

If you require a private investigator with any issue at all, please feel free to contact us at 1300LIPSTICK or email us at enquiries@lipstickinvestigations.com.au   There is no charge for an initial consultation.

Private Investigators and Missing Persons

Private Investigators and missing persons go hand in hand together. Yes, Lipstick Investigations is Australia’s foremost relationships investigation firm, but we also carry out other forms of investigation such as background checks, business based inquiries, and missing persons.

Missing persons can be explained in three main groups:

                Misplaced Persons

Misplaced persons aren’t really missing, just misplaced. This is one of the most common forms of missing persons jobs we do, and generally relates to people you have just lost track of. They aren’t really missing as such – it’s just that you don’t know where or how to contact them. Perhaps you are looking for a long-lost family member, an old flame you would like to check in with, an old friend from school or work, or even an adoption issue.  Of course nowadays social media like Facebook and even basic Google searches can help with this, but when you get stuck (and many people do) you can call a licensed private investigator to help. Investigators have the expertise and knowledge to track these individuals down and reunite you them.

                People Who Don’t Want to be Found

This is also an extremely common reason for using a private detective. More often than not a person will not want to be found if they owe money, performing a criminal act or have criminal tendencies, are avoiding service of legal process, or just wish to remain low-key (celebrities and people in the news). These people are still missing persons and can be located on most occasions. All we need is the know-how, some tenacity and the financial capacity to look into the missing person.

                The True Missing Person

The true missing person is when a person just disappears. It may be the fact that they wanted to run away from their problems and have just extracted themselves from the situation, or suffer some sort of mental disorder or a bout of dementia. Perhaps they just need some time out and gather their thoughts – but the family still worry obviously. And the worst case investigators and clients alike – the missing person is a victim of foul play – kidnapping or murder.

Private detectives use a number of methods to investigate a missing persons case. The most common methods are all done within the office. We have a number of databases that we have access to that the public don’t; plus the training and experience to use social media and Google to our advantage as well. Our other main tool is the telephone – it is amazing what you can learn by talking to people!

Of course some missing persons cases require us to get out into the real world and make field inquiries. Perhaps it is talking to people, or showing a photograph that will gather our next clue. A missing persons case may also require surveillance, particularly if we don’t want to tip off the person that we are making inquiries.

If you have a missing persons case that needs a discussion, please feel free to call us on 1300LIPSTICK or drop us a line by email at enquiries@lipstickinvestigations.com.au   An investigator will only be too happy to have a free chat with you about the issue. This obligation free talk will include pricing, methods and timeframe. 

Have you lost valuable info from a mobile phone?

Have you lost valuable info from a mobile telephone or tablet? Smartphones and tablets are incredible pieces of technology. They can do so much nowadays – I can even run the entire private investigation business from my extremely convenient smartphone. Phone calls, text messages, emails, photographs, chat sessions, Facebook, Twitter – all these platforms there at your fingertips. Have you wondered where that information goes after you delete it? Do you even delete it??

Data recovery is even more fantastic than being able to have all this information at our beck and call. Today we have access to some great telephone forensics which allows the forensic technician to explore the device and gather current and deleted information. That’s right, even deleted information can be available from a mobile phone. Would your spouse’s phone hold the secrets he has been keeping from you? Would you’re girlfriend’s iPad hold those chat sessions with a suspected lover? What if you needed to retrieve text messages from your phone for use in court litigation and the detail was deleted months ago?

In almost all cases our forensic telephone technician can retrieve of all of this valuable information. The forensic tech only requires the device or handset for a few hours, just long enough to download the data held on the device (sometimes it is even quicker). He will then head back to the lab and correlate the information. The more information collected, the longer it will take to put back together. This can take some time to turn all of the 0’s and 1’s back into readable information, and this is where to bulk of the cost comes into the picture. The total download service and report preparation does cost upwards of $2500 but it may be a precious source of information for you to make decisions concerning the rest of your life.

Not all licensed private investigators can provide this sort of service – it is very specialised indeed, and there are few true experts. Our technician is the easily the best in the business and you can be sure that anything that can be done to salvage your lost information will be.

However, nothing is better than visual surveillance when gathering proof for any matter, but mobile phone data recovery is another possible avenue in the never-ending grab for information. For any of your private detective needs – call us - we are here to assist.

Should you need to contact us here at Lipstick Investigations in Sydney, Brisbane or on the Gold Coast, please call us at any time on 1300LIPSTICK. Alternatively your email will be responded to quickly at enquiries@lipstickinvestigations.com.au

What is the cost of a private investigator?

How much does a private investigator cost? Well, that is an excellent question. Private investigation in Australia is a fairly small industry sector, although it is still a competitive one. There are a number of small operators giving the impression that they are larger than they actually are, and a few unscrupulous operators as well. All private detectives are required to be licensed in their states of operation and this can confirmed with a simple check of the licensing authority in the state of operation.

So what is the cost ??…….. There are a variety of diverse services we offer and each product can vary in cost depending on the amount of hours, and expertise required. And to make things more unknown, most investigations don’t come with a fixed charge because we don’t know how long it will take to get the answers required……. think about it logically – it makes total sense. This is especially true for relationship investigations.

For example, nearly all spousal and relationship investigations today are solved by carrying out visual surveillance (following the subject) because this is one of the few legal directions we now have. Surveillance is charged at an hourly rate – not ‘per investigation’. It is a time based exercise until the results come your way, although some customers do have a precise timeframe that they need a private detective so they can work out what it will cost. For example at this time of year we are often called to investigate work Christmas parties because the client was not invited. So the client will often know the exact venue and times they want the partner watched – they can pretty much lock in the cost because it is a one-off event and they will know the hours required.

Surveillance is charged at an hourly rate of $95 per operative used on the job. Some investigations need two and even more operatives and the costs rise consequently. It can be difficult to calculate the typical outlay for a surveillance assignment but we would advise that somewhere in the vicinity of $1500 and $3000 would be quite standard. Many assignments come in at a lesser charge, and some can go way over this average as well. We have solved problems for as little as $380, and some customers have spent well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Occasionally there may be another way to solve a relationship problem including background checks, general database inquiries, computer and mobile phone forensics. In these situations we really have to discuss circumstances of the issue and then we can work out how much it may cost to investigate these alternate directions. You may be pleasantly surprised that many matters may be cheaper than you would have imagined. Call us at any time and we are only too happy to advise further. That’s what we are here for.

Should you wish to contact us here at LipstickInvestigations in Sydney or Brisbane, Gold Coast or Tweed, please feel free to call us on 1300LIPSTICK, mobile on 0411 853 111 or email us directly at enquiries@lipstickinvestigations.com.au

Private Investigators and Relationships

Employing the services of a Sydney private investigator isn’t an easy decision; it is often a last resort. Whether trying to catch an unfaithful partner or look into the history of a potential business associate, it takes a great deal of thoughtfulness and professionalism to deal with such cases and the client places an enormous amount of trust in the private investigator. These frequently asked questions should offer readers with a comprehension of some of the issues that have to be considered very carefully before trying to catch a cheating spouse.

Is it ethical?

This is one of the most common anxieties when thinking about hiring a private investigator, especially when attempting to catch a cheater. If a secret affair could be described as two-faced and deceiving, then how would we describe the act of secretly employing an investigator to watch their every move?

Unfortunately, cases in which initial suspicions prove true account for the majority of matrimonial investigations, well over 80%  In these cases, there is hardly a moral case to argue as the suspicions of the client were proven true. Often, the suspecting spouse has given the cheating partner every chance to admit their affair, choosing only to turn to the help of a private investigator when the sequence of suspicion and lies continues again and again. But that doesn’t make the decision to hire a private investigator any easier – it is one of the hardest things you will ever do.

In cases when activities can be explained innocently, the moral and ethical case can seem less clear. But finding out that initial suspicions are incorrect can also bring long lasting peace of mind. In these cases the questioning party may choose to tell their partner which aspects of behaviour caused the suspicion in the first place, prompting them to change their ways and help re-establish trust within the relationship.

What steps can I take before hiring a licensed private detective?

If you are reading this article, it would seem that you already have strong suspicions that your partner is having an affair and feel that hiring a private investigator might offer a solution. But how can you be sure that you've taken every step to offer your cheating partner to admit infidelity? Confronting your partner may be enough to either confirm or allay your concerns. However, if you still have doubts, it’s time to call in the experts. The  other side of this point is that if you confront your partner before investigating the issue, then they have just be made aware that you are suspicious in the first place and this may encumber a surveillance investigation further down the track.

What if my spouse finds out I had them observed?

When attempting to catch a cheating partner it is most important to select the best private investigator for the job. An experienced private investigator will have all the necessary skill and know-how to carry out surveillance efficiently and discretely without compromising the client. Choosing the right private investigator is one of the most important factors that will determine the results achieved.

Do I really want to know the truth?

You already know the answer to that question. Finding out the truth can be one of the most overwhelming and painful moments that life can throw at you. For some relationships the damage is irreversible but others learn to work through their issues, emerging from the ordeal stronger and with a renewed sense of promise.

Should you wish to contact us here at Lipstick Investigations in Sydney or in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, please call us on 1300LIPSTICK or email us directly at enquiries@lipstickinvestigations.com.au

Sydney Private Investigator meets Homeland

Leading Sydney private investigator Lipstick Investigations was recently asked to teach a quick investigation training course for some media journalists to coincide with the promotion of the Emmy award winning US television program “Homeland”.

Lipstick Investigations, along with sister agencies Agency99Investigations and Integral Investigations, and its training subsidiary The Investigative Collective organised a crash-course in being a Sydney private investigator corresponding with the release of Homeland Season 2.

The first part of the surveillance training course was held in a posh hotel suite, and then after covering all of the basics the students set out into the Sydney CBD for a field exercise. Of course we had to engineer the whole private investigation exercise due to the limited time so we had a handful of licensed private investigators organised to be the ‘bad guys’ and there were two other private detectives showing the students around explaining surveillance methods and the ideal way to carry out an investigation of this type. We had to engineer the course in such a way that it utilised the usual types of activities a target will do – static surveillance (watching a target form a fixed point), foot surveillance (following on foot) and mobile surveillance (following in vehicles).

The journalists / students followed one target through the Sydney streets in the morning peak hour on foot before she climbed on to a bus, then catching a ferry, where she met with a second target and switched some ‘stolen plans’. They both then went and caught a train, before separating. The new target (now holding the ‘plans’) then got into a taxi where we had a surveillance car waiting. The cab was tracked to a drop-off point some kilometers away where the ‘stolen plans’ were handed over to a final target.

The students and the private investigators all met up at the end for a debrief and a giggle about the morning’s activities – and the successes enjoyed. All the journalists agreed that being a private investigator in Sydney is not the easiest thing to do!

After the course there were a number of articles written by the journalists including these light-hearted looks at being a Sydney private investigator. The first is a story written by Toby McCasker from the Fairfax publication “The Vine”. You can read the article by following this link http://www.thevine.com.au/life/news/i-was-a-terrible-real-life-spy-for-a-day-20130918-265359/ 

And a second entertaining critique was penned by Cathy Morris and printed in mXMagazine – of which over six hundred thousand copies are handed out to Sydney commuters.

Lipstick Investigations have offices in Sydney and the Gold Coast, and have trusted affiliates right around the Australia. Call us on 1300LIPSTICK or email your inquiry to enquiries@lipstickinvestigations.com.au

Hiring a private investigator in Sydney or the Gold Coast

Hiring a private investigator in Sydney or the Gold Coast? Private investigators sometimes get a bad rap in the movies but in real life, they can help you with a number of investigative issues from locating missing persons to making discreet inquiries about potential significant others. In Australia many investigations are solved by using surveillance techniques. As licensed professionals we often investigate a number of issues that the police normally do not undertake. There are several reasons why you should not carry out private detective matters on your own.

Do You Know the Law?

Do you know what you can and cannot do legally when it comes to do an investigation by yourself? Unless you know your Australian law (and even that varies from state to state), a trained expert should be employed to conduct the investigation for you. Licensed private investigators will know and understand the law as well as the best legal way to collect evidence that will assist in a court of law should the circumstances call for it. Because you will not know or understand the many points of the law, you could potentially gather information or evidence illegally or unintentionally contaminate it – negating it’s use, and landing yourself in legal distress.

Training and Experience

The average person will not have the experience necessary to carry out an investigation. Hiring a professional makes sense because private detectives are more likely to identify reality when questioning people, as well as know when they are following false leads. They can handle themselves in a variety of situations and have the general experience to take an investigation from beginning to end. Investigators in Australia need to be licensed in their respective states and all those holding a licence will have training qualifications under the national training framework guidelines

Skills and Technology

Investigative work is a special ability that takes a lot of study, training and perseverance. They understand the legalities of tracking and listening devices, how to conduct surveillance properly whether it is following a vehicle or positioning themselves at a certain location without being observed.

Technology is a large part of investigations these days so an investigator will know which internet resources to look at, what databases to search through and even trace emails. Private investigators have access and know how to use a variety of surveillance equipment that can help their cases as well. Remember that Australian privacy laws are very strict and surveillance is one of the few avenues we have of gaining results.

Other reasons why you should not conduct an investigation on your own include the possible danger. You do not have the experience to stay safe or identify hazardous situations. Plus, investigations can take time and sometimes it is tedious work. Can you take the time out and devote yourself to your case? Chances are you have to work, go to school or raise a family, leaving very little time for the investigation. Take the safe and smartest route and look to professional private investigators to get the results for you.

Lipstick Investigations have been in business for 15 years and have offices in Sydney and on the Gold Coast, also covering Brisbane. We also have trusted agencies right around the Australia. Phone us on 1300LIPSTICK or 0411 853 111,  or email your inquiry to enquiries@lipstickinvestigations.com.au