Private Investigators Hired to Check Social Media

Businesses in Ohio and elsewhere are hiring private investigators to pore through social media sites for information about competitors and to watch for things like insider leaks.

The Plain Dealer of Cleveland reports that investigators still use old-fashioned methods such as taking secret photos and searching criminal files. But they are spending more time combing through information that people put online about themselves.

A Cleveland law office has hired investigators to find out more about a company or its executives to avoid surprises.

A Columbus investigative service has used social media to check the financial strength of people who wanted to invest in a client’s business and to see who gave business secrets to a competitor.