Thanks to AI tools and other technology, the scammers and manipulators have reached a new level of sophistication. We used to worry about whether an information source was biased or up-to-date. Now we have to ask whether it’s real.

What’s The Problem?

Information is becoming easier to distort, and fakes are becoming harder to spot. But these distortions and fakes are easy to spread, and they show up in a few different ways:

Misinformation – False or inaccurate information that’s shared without the intent to deceive. Think of a well-meaning person forwarding a social media post that turns out to be wrong or an editor missing a few mistakes. No malice, just error.

Disinformation – False information that is deliberately created and spread to deceive. Someone behind disinformation knows it’s false and wants you to believe it anyway. It’s used in influence campaigns, corporate sabotage, and fraud, and it’s strategic.

Deepfakes – Audio, video, or images, generally created with the help of AI tools that easily manipulate facial expressions, replace faces, or synthesize speech. You might see a fake CEO pitching a fraudulent investment or Taylor Swift endorsing Donald Trump for president. The technology has come a long way, and what once required significant resources can now be produced with free tools.

And here’s where the lines blur: disinformation campaigns increasingly use deepfakes as their delivery mechanism. A piece of disinformation wrapped in a convincing video is far more persuasive than a text post. And misinformation? Sometimes it starts with a deepfake that someone shares in good faith, not knowing it wasn’t real.

Why This Matters

If your work depends on gathering facts, verifying identities, or reconstructing events, misinformation, disinformation, and deepfakes are a big problem. Consider the ways we rely on news articles, social media posts, and video footage. Any of it can now be compromised in ways that weren’t possible a few years ago, and it makes our jobs more complicated.

What Can We Do?

In this new information environment, we need to be even more diligent about sources and how we evaluate and report our findings. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Verify the source before you trust the content. Don’t just evaluate what a source says. Evaluate whether the source itself is legitimate. Check domain registration dates, look for an editorial history, and cross-reference claims with multiple independent outlets.
• Be skeptical, especially of anything emotionally charged. Misinformation and disinformation tend to exploit strong emotions. If a piece of content makes you react on an emotional level, pause before you act on it.
• Apply deepfake detection to any high-stakes video or audio. Learn about the latest tools for flagging AI-generated content, and check what other sources are reporting on the topic.
• Go to primary sources whenever possible. Court records, official filings, and regulatory databases can be verified at the source, and you can opt for certified copies, if needed. Remember that the further you get from a primary source, the more chance for distortion, intentional or not.
• Document your sourcing. Before delivering your findings to a client, document not just what you found, but where you found it and how you verified it. Not every client needs or wants all that info in their report, but I like having it handy in case anyone asks.

Misinformation confuses, disinformation deceives, and deepfakes distort. Together, they don’t just complicate investigations, they redefine them. Our value as investigators lies in knowing what’s fake and what’s real.

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In investigations, clients often ask us to “find everything.” They haven’t decided exactly what they want to know, so they ask for it all. Even if we could find everything, it wouldn’t be worth the time and expense, so, through a series of client conversations, we narrow things down to some basic objectives for each case, including client must-haves, nice-to-haves, and alternatives.

In due diligence background investigations, it would be easy to resort to the “find everything” method of investigations, and you do need to cast a wide net. But you want to add some focus.

After identifying the client’s level of risk, budget, time frame, and deal stage, we decide what to include. So, some investigations may need an official degree verification, while others don’t. Some backgrounds involve retrieving court records from the courthouse, while others just need online searching.

That’s why no two background investigations look alike, and our objectives change based on individual client situations. But, no matter how broad or deep we go and which components we include, all due diligence background investigations focus on these five basic goals:

Confirm supplied information – In due diligence, our subjects often provide some documentation, including the Due Diligence Questionnaire, marketing materials, team bios, and signed authorization forms. Make sure what they say is true. Even if it’s too early in the process to ask for these documents, verify what’s in LinkedIn profiles, speaker bios, and other self-reported online info.

Uncover any missing information – What did they leave out of the supplied info, and why did they leave it out? Was it a simple case of deciding it wasn’t worth including? Or did something occur during their time of employment that you or your client would want to know about?

Reconcile any inconsistencies – Sometimes you discover inconsistencies between supplied and found information. Maybe employment start and end dates are slightly off, or job titles don’t match. Gather as much evidence as possible, and ask your subject for clarification. How they react to your questions could be as telling as their words (forthcoming? evasive?).

Identify warning signs – In due diligence background investigations, look for certain red flags, facts that indicate past fraudulent activities or potential for fraud. These are the deal breakers, such as a past conviction for fraud, or lying about a degree or previous employment. Then there are the yellow flags, the signals that, taken individually, don’t amount to much, but, when combined with other yellow flags, add up to some concerns.

Analyze results – After you finish your research, it’s time to take a look at the results and determine what they tell you. Do your findings inspire action, or is something missing? What recommendations can you make to facilitate decisions? What’s the best format for delivery?

In due diligence background investigations, you can’t find everything there is to know about your subjects. Investigators should help clients narrow their focus and concentrate on these five simple goals to help spot fraudsters before they do their damage.

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I didn’t set out to become a private investigator. I started my career as a librarian, then became a business owner specializing in business and market research. After 15 years, I pivoted and became a licensed PI and a Certified Fraud Examiner. Along the way, I learned that reinvention isn’t about abandoning who you are. It’s about building on what you already know and staying relevant as the world (and your clients) change around you.

Whether you’re choosing a new direction or being pushed into one, career transitions can feel unsettling. But they don’t have to derail you. Here are five lessons that helped me navigate multiple career shifts and stay grounded through them all.

1. Immerse yourself in learning

Every transition begins with curiosity. I’ve learned when to adopt a beginner’s mindset, even after years of experience. That means setting aside dedicated time to learn through conferences, webinars, books, and research.

Credentials can matter, but what matters more is staying engaged. Identify the experts in your field (or the one you want to move into) and pay attention to what they’re doing. Learning isn’t something you outgrow, and it’s never too late to start.

2. Tap into a support system

No one builds a sustainable career alone. Professional associations have been invaluable to me for continuing education, networking, collaboration, and accountability. Mastermind groups, mentors, coaches, and even informal peer connections can make a huge difference.

During transitions, it’s easy to isolate yourself. But that’s usually when you most need perspective from others who understand your challenges and can help you think more clearly about your next steps.

3. Be strategic

Reinvention works best when it’s intentional. Ask yourself: Where do I want to go? What skills or experience does that path require? What’s missing right now, and how can I fill that gap?

Strategy doesn’t require a perfect five-year plan, but it does require regular check-ins. Review what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs adjusting. Being strategic means making informed decisions, not reacting out of fear or frustration.

4. Prepare for the unexpected

Long-term plans are helpful, but shorter planning cycles can be even more effective. I’m a fan of setting 12-week or even monthly goals because they’re manageable and adaptable. They give you room to evaluate progress frequently and make course corrections before small issues become big problems.

Make sure to celebrate small wins, too. Career change can feel overwhelming if you only focus on the end goal. Progress is easier to sustain when you acknowledge it along the way.

5. Have faith

This may be the hardest part. Career transitions test your patience and confidence. You may need to change direction. You may need to pause. You may realize that a path you explored isn’t the right one after all.

That doesn’t mean time was wasted, and every step adds to your experience and perspective. Fear doesn’t disappear, but it can be managed. Sometimes the best plan is simply setting a deadline, taking action, and trusting that clarity will follow.

Staying relevant isn’t about chasing trends or reinventing yourself every few years. It’s about learning continuously, building strong relationships, recognizing opportunities, thinking strategically, and trusting your ability to adapt. That’s the secret to becoming a gumshoe librarian, and it’s served me well.

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I’ve never really counted the years, but I’ve blogged for a long time about research, investigations, and even power networking for introverts. While I don’t publish as frequently lately, I’ve stayed with it during a time when many professionals have switched to platforms like LinkedIn for their thought leadership. And while LinkedIn is an essential tool for networking and sharing, I don’t consider it a permanent record of my content. A post on LinkedIn is fleeting, and, after a few days it gets buried in our feeds, making it difficult to find and reference later. On the other hand, my blog offers some permanence—a curated collection of ideas that remains accessible and searchable for years to come. Yes, that sounds like my former-librarian self talking, but there’s more to it than just that.

For me, blogging is good for my brain, and it sharpens my investigative skills. When I sit down to write a blog post, I’m forced to dive deeper into a topic than I usually do with LinkedIn. It helps me focus on the details, organize them logically, and present them in a way that includes enough information but not too much. This process improves my writing and critical thinking and solidifies my knowledge base. The 500-600-word blog format fits in well with my just-the-facts investigative mindset.

A blog is no longer a place where people typically leave comments, so I share each of my posts on LinkedIn, which is where the real conversation begins. People connect, ask questions, and share their own experiences. The comments and conversations on LinkedIn help me learn even more and give the content a broader reach. It’s all connected. LinkedIn provides the community, and the blog provides the lasting content.

Finally, my blog is a living document of my career and my growth. It holds the lessons I’ve learned, the advice I’ve given and received, the insights I’ve gained—and a way to pay forward the mentorship I’ve received. Thank you all so much for reading and commenting on my blog through the years. It’s an honor to share my thoughts with you.

Let me know if there are any topics you’d like to see me cover in my blog!

P.S. Some of you may have noticed that, in the About this Blog section on the right side of this page, my blog now has a name: ResearchNOTES. Before blogging, I sent a monthly email newsletter to subscribers, which was called ResearchNOTES. Most don’t know this, but my late son helped me name the newsletter. When I asked for his help, he thought for just a few seconds and came up with the perfect name. I loved it, and I love that memory, so I’m honoring Dennis by naming this blog ResearchNOTES. Next task, a logo based on the original–it’s in the works.

The post The Power of Permanence: Why I Still Blog in the Age of LinkedIn appeared first on Marcy Phelps and Associates.

When you’re conducting research and investigations, it’s easy to get sidetracked by opinions, expectations, and wishful thinking. Sometimes we hope for or have too much invested in a particular outcome. Other times, we rely on our usual tools and techniques and don’t consider their limitations.

The technical term is cognitive bias, and it means that our assumptions and beliefs affect how we process or interpret our findings. It means that we alter our judgments based on these biases, and it distorts the truth.

When you’re conducting research or an investigation, it’s important to park your biases and proceed with an open mind. We’re not there to judge or prove anyone else’s point. We need to focus on the facts. And we can’t do our best when opinions get in the way.

What are some of the most common cognitive biases that you might encounter when you’re gathering information for research and investigations, and what can you do to avoid them? Here are just five that might come into play:

1. Confirmation bias – Favoring information that conforms to our opinion or hypothesis and discounting what doesn’t

We’re not here to prove what our clients want us to prove. We’re not here to judge the information we find, except for its authenticity and reliability. Just gather and report the facts, adding context as appropriate.

2. Anchoring bias – Relying too heavily on the first piece of information that we find

We all do it. We get excited when we finally find something useful and base the rest of the investigation on that one piece. While we need to follow leads, spend a little more time on gathering those initial facts before making changes in direction.

3. Automation bias – Over-reliance on automated tools and not verifying through manual methods

Comprehensive reports, packaged due diligence, online court record systems, software for mining social media, and other tools save time, but they’re a starting point. It’s just raw data that needs to be analyzed and verified, often through boots-on-the-ground research.

4. Overconfidence bias – Overestimating our ability or knowledge in a particular area

Research and investigations are mostly specialized these days, and you can’t do it all. I’ll never be able to take on surveillance cases, and even some research, like verifying patents, is best left to the experts.

5. Bias blind spot – Recognizing the effect of bias in the judgment of others but not in ourselves

Yes, it can can happen to any of us. We’re only human, and our own biases can get in the way. Take stock of how you approach your research, and stay aware throughout the process.

Don’t taint your research and investigations with cognitive biases. Remember to keep an open mind, gather as many perspectives as you can, and explore the possibilities. Keep expanding your toolkit, and never rely on just one source. Verify everything, and build your network of experts. It’s the only way to keep those biases from interfering with finding and reporting the truth.

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What exactly is an asset?

An asset is a resource owned or controlled by an individual or entity that has the potential to produce positive economic value. In short, it’s something that adds to the bottom line. Assets can include houses, land, businesses, jewelry, or any other tangible item, or intangible items such as book royalties, patents, or even brand recognition.

What’s involved in asset investigations?

An asset investigation goes beyond a simple snapshot of wealth. It’s a meticulous process aimed at painting a complete financial picture. This is accomplished by determining net worth, identifying spending patterns, locating hidden assets, and creating a financial and behavioral profile of your subject.

What are the two approaches to asset investigations?

1. Direct Approach: This method relies on direct access to an individual’s or company’s financial books and records, including account statements, insurance policies, tax records, and other official documents. But maybe you don’t have legal access because its too early in the process or you’d rather not alert your subject. Even once you have the financial records, they don’t always tell the full story. That’s where the second approach might come in.

2. Indirect Approach: The indirect method pieces together the financial puzzle using external sources, including interviews, surveillance, and online research.

Let’s talk more about online research and it’s role in asset investigations.

What’s involved in online asset research?

Online research goes beyond Google, digging deep, with the following objectives in mind:

Identify assets: Discover publicly listed real estate, business interests, professional licenses, and even high-value possessions.

Identify liabilities: Equally important, identify financial distress in the form of bankruptcies, liens, judgments, or ongoing court cases.

Identify leads: Look for connections to other individuals or entities, patterns of behavior, and potential new avenues for investigation.

Get to know your subject: Learn about lifestyle, interests, past endeavors, and what might be important to them (potential leverage).

Collect visual evidence: Photos from social media or news articles can confirm asset ownership or lifestyle indicators.

When do we use online research?

Early in the process: It’s invaluable for preliminary assessments. Is there enough financial activity to warrant further, more costly investigations or litigation?

Preparation for deeper dives: Online findings can inform and focus other methods of asset investigations

Verification: After a direct investigation, online research can be used to cross-reference findings. Do the numbers match what’s publicly available?

The power of online research in asset investigations lies in its ability to uncover valuable leads and corroborating evidence, especially when direct access to financial records is limited. The purpose of online research isn’t to replace other techniques, but to inform and support the asset investigation as a whole. By using a strategic approach, investigators can leverage online sources to stay on track and get closer to the answers our clients need.

My recently-updated online course, Beyond the Balance Sheet: Strategies for Finding Assets Online, covers these topics and more. Take a look at my training page for a full list of all my course.

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Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common myths—and the reality behind them:

Myth #1: Public Records Are Enough

Public records are a great starting point, but they don’t tell the whole story. Many significant developments never make it into court filings or government databases. News articles can surface details about business deals, legal disputes, or regulatory issues that haven’t yet entered official records—or may never appear there at all. They help fill in the blanks and uncover leads you might otherwise miss.

Myth #2: News Sources Are Just Fluff

Some see news as too soft to be useful in an investigation. But solid reporting can reveal a lot—how someone responds to pressure, how they handle setbacks, and what others say about them. That kind of detail matters. You’ll also find images, graphics, and maps that add helpful context to your findings.

Myth #3: Online News Can’t Be Trusted

It’s true that misinformation is out there, but that doesn’t mean all online news is unreliable. The key is to evaluate your sources carefully. Ask yourself: Is this source reputable? Are the facts verifiable? Premium databases like LexisNexis and Factiva include vetted news sources with editorial oversight. And once you develop a system for evaluating what you find, online news becomes a powerful part of your toolbox.

Myth #4: Google Covers It All

Google is a great place to start, but it’s not the finish line. Many valuable articles—especially older content or trade publications—won’t show up in a basic search. That’s where news databases and specialized sources come in. A layered search strategy helps you catch what others miss.

Myth #5: Only Negative News Matters

Yes, red flags are important—but so is seeing the full picture. Positive coverage can highlight accomplishments, community involvement, and leadership qualities that matter just as much. Balanced reporting helps you avoid confirmation bias and make more informed decisions.

Myth #6: AI Can Do It for Me

GenAI tools like ChatGPT can help with brainstorming or analysis, but they don’t replace solid research. These tools aren’t built for real-time, comprehensive news searching. They can point you in a direction, but you still need to verify, cross-check, and dig into the details using multiple trusted sources.

Myth #7: News Research Takes Too Much Time

It doesn’t have to. A strategic approach to news searching—starting broad, refining keywords, and using filters—can actually save time. Tools like alerts and monitoring services also keep you updated without constant manual searching.

The reality: is that news sources help fill critical gaps in your investigations. When done right, news research:

• Reveals information you won’t find in public records
• Provides leads and helps with verification
• Adds personality, behavior, and context
• Keeps you current on trends and developments
• Strengthens your findings with another layer of intelligence

Don’t let these myths limit your investigations. With the right strategies and tools, news sources can add depth and insight that your clients will appreciate. The more complete the picture, the better the decisions—and that’s what due diligence is all about.

The post Top 7 myths about using news for due diligence appeared first on Marcy Phelps and Associates.

Here’s a breakdown of best practices to help you search online court records more efficiently and effectively:

Understand the Structure

Know your courts before starting the search. Federal courts handle civil and criminal cases that involve constitutional matters and federal statutes, interstate disputes, and specialized cases like bankruptcy or immigration. State courts manage criminal and civil cases involving state statutes, including family law, personal injury, and probate matters. And each system has multiple levels—from trial courts to appellate courts. To learn more about court structure, check out United States Courts and Understanding State Courts.

Use Multiple Databases

Relying on a single source is a common mistake. No database covers everything. Some top resources for court records include:

• PACER for federal cases
• United States Tax Court (U.S. tax court is not included in PACER)
• Judyrecords for extensive state and federal coverage
• CourtListener and Justia for opinions
• State, county, and municipal court websites for local cases
• Fee-based databases like LexisNexis CourtLink or Westlaw from Thomson Reuters, which cover multiple jurisdictions and include advanced search options

Know What a Docket Is

A docket, or docket sheet, is a list of actions and running summary of a court case. It generally includes party names, nature/cause of action, dates, outcome, court and judge, attorneys and addresses, and documents/motions filed. In many sources, you are only searching the docket and not full documents such as the complaint, motions, or orders.

Read and Use Disclaimers

Always check database disclaimers. These sections explain what’s included and excluded, lag times (time between creation of the record and when it appears online), and whether the record qualifies as the “official” version. Knowing the limitations will help you decide whether you need to verify the data offline. Also add some disclaimers to your reports indicating that these searches may not include all cases. It helps to manage expectations.

Ask the Right Questions

Before you begin your search, prepare by asking yourself or your client some important questions:

• What is the jurisdiction? Do I know all the places my subject has lived or worked?
• Am I looking for civil or criminal cases or both?
• Who are the parties involved and what are their full names?
• What is the time frame that needs to be covered?
• Do I need need all cases or just open cases?
• Do I need certified copies of the documents?

Having clear answers will streamline your search and help you focus on the most relevant sources.

Know When to Go Offline

Not everything is online. If you suspect that the online information is missing, incomplete, or not the official record, don’t hesitate to call the courthouse or use the services of court runners. Court records are often fragmented, and phone verification can save hours of digital frustration. In some cases, the client may require hard copies of court documents and not the online record.

Searching online court records takes time, patience, and a careful strategy. With the right tools and best practices, you can unlock critical insights that you might otherwise miss.

Check out the latest online courses on my training page, including Mastering Online Public Records: Court Documents. 

The post Mastering the Maze: Best Practices for Searching Online Court Records appeared first on Marcy Phelps and Associates.

Since starting my business in 2000, I’ve had the honor of mentoring with some of the top people in the business, including Amelia Kassel, Mary Ellen Bates, and Kim Dority. They all gave me the same advice: Speak to many, instead of just one.

As solopreneurs, they said, we don’t have time to meet each prospective client individually or schedule presentations with corporate executives in order to get business. Every hour out of the the office is time not spent on actual client work, so make sure you’re talking with a group. Sending out mailers or taking out ads won’t help you make connections, and our business is all about relationships. Instead, each of these mentors encouraged me to get involved in speaking and writing. That way I can share my expertise with a wider audience, and showing, not telling, is always the best approach.

It scared me at first, but I took their advice to heart, and—25 years later—speaking and writing are the only ways I market. And, thanks to social media, it’s easier than ever. No chasing clients. No “filling the pipeline.” Just attracting clients and referrers with my knowledge and willingness to share.

Is it hard? Yes. Honestly, I’d rather spend my time at the beach on any given day instead of working on upcoming presentations and blog posts, but it works. It’s easier than spending a small fortune on direct mail, leads lists, ads, or any other broadcast medium. I’ve tried them all, with little to show for it.

Was there a learning curve? Yes. Degrees in mathematics and library/information science didn’t turn me into a writer. I learned by doing, and I made it my goal to become better at writing informatively and concisely every time I sat down to write and to discover what topics resonate most with my audience.

Did I get instant results? Definitely not. Building a profile, making connections, and getting people to the point of know, like, and trust takes time, so speaking and writing are long-term marketing tactics. After a while, the hard work starts paying off, though, and it snowballs.

Does it take a lot of time? Yes and no. At first, it took a lot of time to create consistent content and realize I had something to offer. I started small and built from there. Eventually, I developed systems and become more efficient at generating ideas and turning them into blogs posts, presentations, and social media updates.

Aren’t you giving away your trade secrets? I do share specific tips and techniques, but I don’t consider any of it a secret. I’m not doing anything that’s different from what any other qualified professional would do. I just talk about it more, and if it helps another investigator get to the truth, we all win.

Is it worth it? Definitely yes. Prospective clients already know that I’m the right person for the job, since they’ve seen my work or they’ve been referred by someone who has. Through my years of speaking and writing, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with so many kind and generous people who’ve shared their knowledge with me. I learn something new everyday, and I’ve made lasting friendships.

Show your expertise—instead of talking about it—through writing, social media posts, and presentations. And always remember that it’s easier for solopreneurs to speak to many instead of just one. Thank you, Amelia, Mary Ellen, and Kim for that great advice.

Check out my latest online courses at my website.

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But sometimes we expect too much from these records, so it’s important to understand that they have their limits. Here’s a look at some of the things that you typically won’t find in a business registration filing:

The answers to all your questions

Business registrations can provide clues and perhaps answers to some of your questions, such as where a company is registered, the names of the registered agent, and other bits of data, but think of them as more of a starting point for additional research rather than having THE answer.

Future plans

Business registrations cover the past and the present—incorporation date, director changes, status, and the like. You won’t find strategic plans, expansion goals, or projections for future performance. These forward-looking statements are typically found in separate business plans or investor presentations.

Internal disputes or litigation history

While major legal events might be disclosed in SEC filings, court records, news reports, or other public channels, routine internal disputes or minor litigation cases are not typically found within standard business registration documents.

Day-to-day operational details

Business filings primarily focus on legal structure and compliance. You won’t find granular information about daily operations, such as marketing strategies, supply chain logistics, or internal management practices. These details are considered internal affairs and are generally not public information.

Comprehensive financial data

You definitely won’t find detailed financials like income statements, balance sheets, or cash flow reports. These private documents are usually for internal use, tax purposes, or reporting to specific regulatory bodies in certain industries.

Trade secrets and intellectual property

Businesses often rely on proprietary information, such as formulas, processes, and customer lists to maintain a competitive edge, and you’ll never find that in registration filings. Also, details about patents and trademarks are are registered separately with intellectual property offices, not within general business filings.

Detailed ownership breakdown

While filings generally identify the owners or key members of a business (but not always!), the exact percentage of ownership or equity distribution is not usually included. You might be able to uncover this information through other sources, though.

Specific business locations

In most jurisdictions the registered business address is included in the registration record, but filings may not list all the locations where a business operates. This is especially true for companies with multiple branches or facilities.

Employee information

Business registration filings do not include details about employees beyond perhaps listing the directors or registered agents. Employee salaries, positions, or personal data is often confidential, but might be found through competitive intelligence.

Management biographies

Filings might list the names and addresses of directors and officers, but you won’t find detailed biographies or employment histories. This information could be available through other sources like LinkedIn or company websites, but it’s not a standard component of registration filings.

If you’re relying on business registrations for your research or investigations, it’s important to understand their limitations. Remember that they’re a great starting point and will offer clues for additional research and analysis.

Learn more about what business registrations do include, their challenges, and tips for research through one of my online courses.

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