Disguising one's identity, in order gain trust, is at the heart & soul of private investigation. The task can be as simple as pretending to be a customer a bar, with the objective really being to "spot" the bartender(s) suspected of stealing from the owner—or it can involve truly going under cover to assume a complex pseudo-identity over a sustained period of time.

Regardless, the objective is always gaining the trust from an individual, or group—even a targeted organization—in order to learn, or confirm, confidential information, not possible by direct inquiry. This type of work it is not for the faint-hearted or inexperienced. From simple pretext work over the phone, to the sustained work of developing a relationship with the target, that can last for months, this type of work requires both professional acumen as well as inherent street smarts to pull off.

True undercover work is the most involved, time-consuming PI work there is, and as such a substantial, upfront payment must be discussed, agreed upon, and delivered before the project will begin.