Identity Theft Investigations
Identity theft destroys credit, drains accounts, and can take years to unravel — if you know where to look. Insite Investigations locates the source, documents the fraud, and builds the evidentiary record you need to pursue criminal charges, civil remedies, and credit restoration.
Identity Theft Is a Crime. Treat It Like One.
Most identity theft victims spend months filing disputes with credit bureaus and banks — and never find out who did it or how. A licensed private investigator approaches identity theft as a criminal investigation: tracing the fraud to its source, identifying the perpetrator, documenting the chain of events, and producing evidence that law enforcement and courts can act on. Insite Investigations has the tools, databases, and investigative experience to go further than any credit monitoring service ever will.
Warning Signs You May Be a Victim
Identity Theft Investigation Services
Fraud Source Identification
We trace fraudulent accounts, unauthorized credit inquiries, and financial transactions back to their origin — identifying how your information was obtained and who used it.
Perpetrator Investigation
Using licensed investigative databases and surveillance techniques, we identify the individual or organization responsible for the theft and document their activities.
Financial Fraud Documentation
We compile a complete record of fraudulent accounts opened, charges made, and financial damage caused — formatted for use in criminal complaints, civil litigation, and insurance claims.
Social Security Number Misuse
We investigate unauthorized use of your Social Security number for employment, tax fraud, government benefits, and financial accounts — and document every instance for law enforcement.
Medical Identity Theft
Someone using your identity to obtain medical care or prescription drugs creates a dangerous record under your name. We investigate medical identity theft and document the fraudulent activity for healthcare providers and insurers.
Business Identity Theft
Fraudsters target business identities to open credit lines, file false tax returns, and impersonate companies. We investigate business identity theft and produce evidence for corporate legal action.
Evidence Package for Law Enforcement
Police and prosecutors need more than a victim's statement. We prepare a complete investigative report — with documented evidence, identified suspects, and a clear chain of events — that gives law enforcement what they need to act.
Civil Litigation Support
When criminal prosecution is not pursued or is insufficient, civil remedies may be available. We support attorneys with investigative findings, witness identification, and expert testimony.
Why Hire a Private Investigator for Identity Theft
We Find the Perpetrator
Credit bureaus and banks dispute charges — they do not investigate crimes. A licensed PI uses investigative databases, surveillance, and legal process to identify who stole your identity.
We Build a Criminal Case
Law enforcement needs evidence, not just a complaint. Our documented investigative findings give prosecutors and detectives the foundation to pursue charges.
We Support Civil Recovery
Identity theft victims may have civil remedies against perpetrators and negligent institutions. Our evidence supports attorneys pursuing damages on your behalf.
We Work Confidentially
Your case is handled with complete discretion. We do not share your information with third parties, and our findings are delivered directly to you and your legal counsel.
Rental Fraud Investigations
Michigan renters and landlords are targeted by rental fraud schemes every day. Whether you are a victim who lost a deposit on a property that was never available, or a landlord whose identity was used to post fraudulent listings, Insite Investigations has the investigative tools to identify the perpetrator and build a case.
For Landlords
Fraudsters steal your property photos, address, and contact information to post fake rental listings — collecting deposits and first month's rent from multiple victims before disappearing. Your reputation suffers, your tenants are victimized, and you may face legal exposure. We investigate who is running the scheme, document the fraudulent listings, and produce evidence for law enforcement and civil action.
For Renters
You found the perfect rental, paid the deposit, and showed up to move in — only to find the property was never available and the landlord has vanished with your money. We trace the fraud back to the perpetrator, identify where the money went, and document the scheme for criminal prosecution and civil recovery.
Common Rental Fraud Red Flags
How We Investigate Rental Fraud
Document the Scheme
We collect and preserve all communications, listings, payment records, and identifying information associated with the fraud.
Trace the Perpetrator
Using licensed investigative databases and digital tracing techniques, we identify the individual or group behind the fraudulent listings.
Identify Additional Victims
Rental fraud schemes typically target multiple victims. We identify others who were defrauded, which strengthens the criminal case and civil recovery.
Deliver Evidence Package
We produce a complete investigative report formatted for law enforcement, prosecutors, and civil attorneys — giving them what they need to act.
How a Rental Identity-Theft Scheme Cost a Michigan Property Owner Tens of Thousands of Dollars
A Michigan homeowner retained Insite Investigations, LLC after discovering that a tenant had used another person's identity to rent her Farmington Hills townhome. The fraudulent tenancy resulted in significant losses involving unpaid rent, damage to the property, legal expenses, and investigative fees. The investigation ultimately resulted in a criminal prosecution. The defendant has pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in September 2026. The plea agreement includes full restitution — including reimbursement for the homeowner's lost rent, damage to the townhome, legal expenses, and the full cost of the investigation conducted by Insite Investigations. To protect the privacy of the victims and other individuals involved, identifying information has been removed or changed.
The Rental Application
The property owner received an application from a prospective tenant who presented herself under the identity of another woman. The application included what appeared to be a Michigan driver's license, employment records, financial documents, prior addresses, and a Social Security number. The application was approved, and the lease began in December 2023. After problems developed during the tenancy, questions arose regarding the applicant's true identity. The investigation determined that the name, Social Security number, and address history used on the application belonged to a real woman living in another state. The true identity holder had never rented the Michigan townhome and had no connection to the property owner.
Locating the Identity-Theft Victim
Insite Investigations located and contacted the woman whose identity had been used. She confirmed that she had not completed the rental application, authorized anyone to use her personal information, or lived at the Farmington Hills property. She subsequently filed an identity-theft report with law enforcement in her home state. Additional evidence indicated that her personal information had been connected to a telephone number belonging to the person suspected of occupying the Michigan residence. This was a critical step in the investigation because it established that the applicant was not simply using an alias — a real person's name, Social Security number, address history, and credit information had allegedly been used without permission.
Following the Rent Payments
The homeowner received rent payments through Zelle from several different sources. Investigative research connected certain payments to the suspected occupant and to a limited liability company for which that person was listed as the registered agent. Other payments originated from additional individuals whose possible involvement required further examination. Payment records can be particularly important in rental-fraud investigations — they may help establish who controlled the property, who benefited from the fraudulent lease, and whether additional people or business entities assisted with the tenancy. In this matter, the payment history helped connect the person occupying the townhome to the identity used on the application.
The Fraudulent Driver's License
The rental file contained what appeared to be a Michigan driver's license bearing the identity-theft victim's name and personal information. However, the photograph on the license did not appear to depict the true identity holder. A comparison with publicly available photographs indicated that the person pictured on the license matched the individual who had allegedly occupied the property. A fraudulent or altered driver's license can make a false identity appear legitimate during the application process. It may also be used to support fabricated employment, tax, banking, and credit documents.
Questionable Employment Records
The application also included pay stubs and employment information intended to establish the applicant's income and employment. When the property owner contacted the listed employer, she was informed that no employee existed under the tenant's stated name. The employee identification number shown on the pay stub reportedly belonged to the real estate professional involved in the rental transaction. The tenant's name and address also appeared in a different font from the remaining information on the pay records, suggesting that portions of the documents may have been altered. The telephone number provided for the applicant's purported supervisor did not lead to the person identified on the application — instead, the number was associated with an apartment community where the real estate professional had previously worked or maintained professional connections.
Financial Records That Did Not Add Up
The rental application included a bank ledger that appeared to document income, expenses, and deposits from government benefits. A review of the ledger identified entries that appeared inconsistent and, in some instances, mathematically questionable. The financial institution was contacted regarding the authenticity of the records, and its response became part of the investigative file. Fraudulent bank statements and altered account ledgers are increasingly used in rental applications. Property owners and property managers should independently verify financial records rather than relying solely on documents supplied by an applicant.
A Connection Through a Prior Rental
The suspected occupant had previously rented another townhome in the same residential complex. The investigation examined whether the occupant and the real estate professional became acquainted during the earlier tenancy and whether that relationship played a role in the later application. The investigation also considered whether the supporting documents had been jointly prepared or altered to help the applicant obtain possession of the property under the stolen identity. These connections were important because they helped establish how the parties may have known one another and how the fraudulent application may have been assembled.
Losses Suffered by the Property Owner
The homeowner's damages were estimated to range from approximately $25,000 to $30,000. Those losses included:
- Lost rental income
- Damage to the townhome
- Legal and court-related expenses
- Investigative fees
- Costs associated with identifying the tenant
- Expenses connected with recovering possession of the property
- Costs incurred while pursuing civil and criminal remedies
Rental identity theft does not affect only the person whose identity was stolen. It can also create substantial losses for landlords, property managers, lenders, employers, insurers, and other innocent parties.
The Guilty Plea and Full Restitution
Following the investigation, criminal charges were filed against the individual responsible for the fraudulent tenancy. The defendant has since pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in September 2026. The plea agreement includes full restitution to the homeowner — covering lost rental income, damage to the townhome, legal expenses, and investigative costs incurred through Insite Investigations, LLC. This outcome is particularly significant because it recognizes not only the direct damage caused by the fraudulent tenancy, but also the professional expenses the homeowner incurred to uncover the scheme, identify the true parties involved, organize the evidence, and assist law enforcement. This case also demonstrates that investigative fees may be recoverable when they are properly documented and included as part of a criminal restitution agreement.
Investigative Steps Used in This Matter
- Identifying and contacting the true identity holder
- Confirming that the identity holder had not rented the property
- Comparing application information with public and proprietary records
- Reviewing telephone-number ownership
- Examining Zelle payments and business affiliations
- Researching current and prior addresses
- Comparing photographs with the image on the fraudulent identification
- Verifying employment information and reviewing pay stubs for alterations
- Examining bank records and tax-related documents
- Contacting employers, property managers, attorneys, and financial institutions
- Preparing an organized timeline and supporting exhibits
- Providing investigative findings for use by counsel and law enforcement
Warning Signs of Rental Identity Theft
Property owners should exercise caution when an applicant:
- Pressures the landlord to approve the application quickly
- Provides financial documents that cannot be independently verified
- Uses telephone numbers that do not match the listed employer
- Submits identification with inconsistent photographs or formatting
- Provides pay stubs containing unusual fonts, spacing, or altered fields
- Claims employment that the employer cannot confirm
- Pays rent through unrelated individuals or business entities
- Uses an identity connected to another state
- Avoids in-person or video identity verification
- Provides tax or banking documents that contain inconsistent information
This article is based on a criminal matter in which the defendant entered a guilty plea. Sentencing is scheduled for September 2026. The plea agreement includes full restitution for lost rent, damage to the townhome, legal expenses, and investigative fees incurred through Insite Investigations, LLC. The final restitution amount and enforcement remain subject to the sentencing court's order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about identity theft investigations in Michigan.
Your Identity Was Stolen. Find Out Who Did It.
Don't spend years filing disputes and never getting answers. Insite Investigations conducts identity theft investigations that identify perpetrators, document fraud, and produce evidence that law enforcement and courts can act on.