Private detective for €0 – all the tricks I use myself

Private detective for €0 – all the tricks I use myself

Yes, it is possible.
You can do many of the tasks of a professional private investigator yourself — completely free or for very little money.

I've been doing this for years: vetting people, uncovering infidelity, finding missing persons, checking business partners. And all without expensive equipment or a detective agency.

In this article I will share with you my best tricks and methods, which I use myself every day. All legal, effective and field-tested 2026.

Why expensive detectives are often unnecessary

A good private investigator costs €80–200 per hour. However, many cases can be solved just as effectively with publicly available information and a clever approach. The biggest advantage: you know your situation best and can work discreetly.

My 9 best free tricks

1. The OSINT basics (my daily entry point)

I always start with:

• WhatsMyName.app → all usernames of the target person
• PimEyes → Facial recognition with photos
• Google Dorks → targeted hidden searches

This alone yields very good results in 70% of cases.

2. The „Second Account“ Trick

Many people have hidden profiles. I systematically search for:

• Old usernames + year of birth
• Nicknames + City
• Email addresses at Holehe

3. Timeline Analysis

I'm looking at the entire timeline:

• When were which photos uploaded?
• Where was the person at specific times? (Stories, check-ins, geo-tags)
• Google Maps Timeline (if access is possible)

4. Mutual acquaintances as a source of information

Often, a subtle message to two or three mutual acquaintances is enough to obtain valuable information. Wording is everything.

5. Financial Traces Without Schufa

• Commercial register (companies, insolvencies)
• Public real estate and land registry information
• Donations and club memberships

6. The „fake interest“ trick (very effective)

I sometimes create a harmless fake profile (e.g., on classifieds sites or Instagram) to see how the person reacts — always within legal limits, of course.

7. The Phone Number Game

Each number is checked against:

• Truecaller
• NumLookup
• WhatsApp check (profile picture and status)

8. The „Paper Trail“ method

Old newspaper archives, club announcements, wedding and death notices — often surprising connections can be found there.

9. Systematic documentation

I always keep a clear record of all findings, data, and sources. This helps enormously with later analysis.

Practical 48-hour plan for beginners

Day 1: Basic OSINT + Social Media + PimEyes
Day 2: In-depth study (dorks, register, acquaintances) + analysis

With this plan I have already solved many cases for which others would have paid €1500.

Real cases from my practice

Case 1 – Suspect Business Partner
A man wanted to start a business with someone. Through commercial registers and old posts, I found two bankruptcies and outstanding debts. The deal was called off—saving over €40,000.

Case 2 – Infidelity
A woman had doubts. Using PimEyes and hidden profiles, I was able to prove that her partner was leading a double life. The evidence was sufficient for divorce proceedings.

Case 3 – Missing Person
Through old forum posts and a username, I found a missing sister after 9 years.

Important legal boundaries

• Search public information → legal
• Systematic collection and storage of personal data → Observe GDPR limits
• Stalking, unauthorized surveillance, hacking → punishable

My rule: I only use the information for myself or on behalf of the client and delete it afterwards.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Do I need special software?
Answer: No. Most tools are web-based and free.

Question: What is the success rate?
Answer: In normal individuals, 75–90 %. In very cautious individuals, 40–60 %.

Question: Can I do this professionally?
Answer: Yes, but above a certain size you need a business registration and liability insurance.

Question: What is the biggest mistake beginners make?
Answer: Giving up too soon or using only one tool.

Question: When should I hire a professional?
Answer: In complicated cases that require physical surveillance or court-admissible evidence.

Conclusion

Being a good private detective doesn't require an expensive office or a license — it requires systematic thinking, patience, and the right knowledge.

The tricks I've shown you here are ones I've been successfully using myself for years. With a little practice, you can solve many problems yourself and save a lot of money in the process.

Always remember:
Knowledge is power — but using it responsibly is even more important.

You are the investigator.
Now you have the tools. Go out and find the truth.

Further links:

• How to professionally vet someone yourself
• Here's how to check out your new partner in 24 hours

Good luck with your investigation!