He’s dead.
A statement like that, you would think, would be pretty much cut and dry. But oftentimes, that statement…is a lie.
Why would a person say someone is dead if they aren’t? The reasons are actually quite varied and often require the services of a private investigator to uncover. Here are just a few of the reasons as to why a PI may be hired for a death verification investigation:
- Life insurance claims-There is lots of money involved in life insurance. In some cases, a spouse or another individual will partner with someone who is insured and then fake that person’s death. They then try to claim the life insurance benefit and subsequently split the money. In other cases, someone may be dead, but if the body cannot be recovered and the death claim proven, no money will be paid out. In both cases, a PI will have to uncover the truth to prove the person dead, or alive.
- Someone is afraid for their life– This has been the subject of countless stories about an underground crime crew that is after an individual for some reason. That person then fakes their death to get the criminals off their trail. Guess what? It happens. Even though a person may fear for their safety, a PI may be called in to investigate by the family, or a financial institution that the “dead” person owes.
- Someone is hiding from their spouse or significant other– Sadly, some people fake their own death just to get away from their spouse or significant other. In some cases, children are involved, and a private investigator is called in to track the person down and again, either verify the death, or show proof they are alive.
- Someone is hiding from the law- A criminal who has law enforcement tracking them down may wish they could just disappear, which is what they try to do when attempting to fake their own death. If it is suspected that someone is still alive, a private investigator may be called in to track down the criminal and hand him or her over to the authorities.
- TAXES! – There is a saying that goes something like…” The only two certainties in life are DEATH and TAXES.” And an addendum could be “And one good thing about death is, you can stop paying taxes!” Well, this is exactly what some people have in mind when try to fake their own death to avoid paying taxes. The bill they owe can be significant and if so, it is the job of a private investigator to be pulled in for death verification investigation. IF that person paid the ultimate price and IS dead, then no taxes. If not, the bill is still due…
These are just a few of the reasons why someone may fake their death or why a person or company may hire a PI to verify if someone is really dead via a death verification investigation
