FAQ — Cipher Sleuths LLC

Question 1

Are you licensed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cipher Sleuths LLC is licensed by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), license number 11-30421. You can verify any Virginia private investigator's license through the DCJS public lookup.

Question 2

Is it legal to hire a private investigator?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Individuals, attorneys, businesses, and insurers hire licensed investigators to gather facts lawfully. Every engagement is conducted within federal and Virginia law, and we will decline any request that would require otherwise.

Question 3

What can a private investigator not do?

Accepted Answer

A licensed investigator has no law enforcement authority. We will not: impersonate law enforcement or any government official; record or intercept phone calls or conversations we are not a party to; access email, social media, phone, or computer accounts without authorization; obtain bank, telephone, or medical records through deception (pretexting), which federal law prohibits; place a GPS tracking device on a vehicle without the owner's consent (Va. Code § 18.2-60.5); or trespass on private property. These limits protect you as well; evidence obtained unlawfully can expose a client to liability and is unlikely to be admissible in court.

Question 4

Can you clone or monitor someone's phone?

Accepted Answer

No — and any investigator who offers to do so is operating outside the law. Cloning a phone, installing spyware, intercepting text messages, or accessing someone's device without their knowledge or consent violates the federal Wiretap Act, the Stored Communications Act, and Virginia's computer crimes statutes. The same applies to stalkerware and remote monitoring apps marketed as parental or partner tools. We do not offer these services, and we will not accept a case that requires them. What we can do lawfully is analyze publicly available digital footprints, open-source social media activity, and records obtained through proper legal channels — methods that produce admissible evidence without exposing you or us to criminal liability.

Question 5

Can you get someone's bank or phone records?

Accepted Answer

Not directly. Financial and telephone records are protected by federal law and are generally obtained through a subpoena or court order in litigation. We can identify assets, business interests, property, and public financial filings through lawful sources, and we work with your attorney when records must be obtained through legal process.

Question 6

Will your findings hold up in court?

Accepted Answer

Our work is documented to an evidentiary standard, with sources, methods, and dates recorded for every finding. We are available to testify regarding our findings when a case requires it.

Question 7

How much do your services cost?

Accepted Answer

Rates depend on the type and scope of the investigation. Most engagements are billed hourly at $120/hour, plus case expenses such as database searches, records fees, and mileage. Defined-scope services, such as standard due diligence reports, are available at a flat fee. You will receive a written estimate before any work begins.

Question 8

Do you require a retainer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A retainer of $1,200 is required to open a case and is applied against hours and expenses. Any unused portion is refunded when the case closes.

Question 9

How long will my case take?

Accepted Answer

Timelines vary by case type. Basic database background checks are typically completed in 1 to 3 business days. Comprehensive background or due diligence reports take 5 to 10 business days, longer for international subjects or courthouse records not available online. Locate and skip-trace cases range from 24 hours to several weeks depending on complexity. Surveillance is booked in blocks of hours or days, with total duration depending on the subject's activity. Cryptocurrency tracing takes days for a single-chain trace to an exchange, and weeks when funds pass through mixers, bridges, or multiple chains. Business fraud investigations run several weeks to several months, driven by document volume and the number of people involved. We will provide an estimated timeline at the outset and update you as the case progresses.

Question 10

What do I need to provide to get started?

Accepted Answer

Provide every detail you have: names, known addresses, dates of birth, usernames, email addresses, transaction records, wallet addresses, and any relevant documents or correspondence. A small detail can open a productive line of inquiry.

Question 11

What will I receive at the end?

Accepted Answer

You will receive a written report documenting the findings, the sources consulted, and the methods used, along with supporting exhibits. Reports are prepared to a standard suitable for attorneys, courts, regulators, and law enforcement.

Question 12

Can you guarantee results?

Accepted Answer

No. No ethical investigator can guarantee a specific outcome, because results depend on what the facts and the records show. We guarantee a thorough, lawful, and well-documented investigation, and an honest account of what we found and what we did not.

Question 13

Is my case confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your identity, your case, and our findings are shared only with you and anyone you authorize in writing. The exceptions are a valid subpoena or court order, or circumstances where the law requires disclosure.

Question 14

Will the subject know I hired an investigator?

Accepted Answer

No. Our research relies primarily on public records, commercial databases, and open-source information, and it is conducted discreetly. The subject is not contacted unless you request interviews as part of the engagement.

Question 15

What happens to my information after the case closes?

Accepted Answer

Signed client agreements are retained for a minimum of three years from the completion of the engagement, as Virginia requires. Case files and investigative reports are retained for the same minimum period of three years from case closure. All records are stored securely, and you may request copies of your report at any time during the retention period.

Question 16

Can you recover my stolen cryptocurrency?

Accepted Answer

We trace stolen cryptocurrency; we do not recover it. Tracing follows the funds across the blockchain to identify where they moved and, when possible, the exchange or service where they landed. Recovery depends on law enforcement action, a court order, or the cooperation of that exchange. Our tracing report provides the evidence those parties need to act.

Question 17

How do I avoid a recovery scam?

Accepted Answer

Victims of cryptocurrency fraud can be targeted a second time by individuals who claim they can recover the stolen funds for an upfront fee. Be cautious of anyone who guarantees recovery, asks for payment in cryptocurrency, claims special access to the blockchain or to law enforcement, or contacts you first. A legitimate investigator will describe the limits of tracing plainly and will not promise a result.

Question 18

What can blockchain tracing show?

Accepted Answer

Tracing can map the movement of funds between wallets, identify transfers to exchanges and other services, and connect related addresses. It cannot, on its own, reveal the identity of a wallet's owner. Identification typically requires records from an exchange obtained through legal process.

Question 19

What information do I need for a tracing case?

Accepted Answer

Provide the transaction IDs (hashes), the wallet addresses involved, the dates and amounts of each transfer, the cryptocurrency type, and any communications with the suspected scammer.

Question 20

Should I report the theft to law enforcement?

Accepted Answer

Yes. File a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov and with your local police department. We can prepare a tracing report to support your complaint and coordinate with investigators on request.

Question 21

What is OSINT, and is it legal?

Accepted Answer

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is information collected from publicly available sources, including public records, court filings, corporate registries, news archives, and social media. Collecting and analyzing public information is legal. We do not access private accounts or use deception to obtain information.

Question 22

What does a due diligence investigation cover?

Accepted Answer

A due diligence investigation verifies the background of a person or company before you invest, partner, hire, or sign. A standard report covers identity verification, business affiliations, litigation and judgment history, regulatory actions, bankruptcies and liens, adverse media, and sanctions screening. The scope can be expanded to fit the transaction.

Question 23

How is your background check different from an online people-search site?

Accepted Answer

People-search sites aggregate data automatically and can contain outdated, incomplete, or mismatched records. Our reports verify each finding against original sources and are reviewed by a licensed investigator. Background checks used for employment, tenancy, or credit decisions must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and we will advise you on whether your purpose falls under it.

Question 24

Do you investigate fraud for businesses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We investigate employee theft, vendor and procurement fraud, identity fraud, and financial misconduct. Our team brings more than 20 years of experience in federal fraud, financial crime, and intelligence analysis.

Question 25

Do you work with attorneys?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We support attorneys with asset searches, witness location, background research, and fraud analysis for litigation, and our reports are prepared for use in legal proceedings.

Question 26

Can you help me report fraud?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can help you organize your evidence and file reports with the appropriate agencies, including the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and local law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Licensing & Legal Limits

Cost & Process

Confidentiality

Cryptocurrency Tracing

Fraud, OSINT & Due Diligence

Explore What We Investigate

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