Why would somebody hire a Private Investigator to find me?

[Maeb]

This is a strange one I think a private investigator is tracking me and I have no idea why.

I'm sorry to put this in two threads but I didn't know where to place it and I'm so worried as to why someone would be trying to find me. I'm not into anything shady and never have been, and apart from a weird stalker boyfriend when I was 14 am pretty much trouble free.

This is what has happened so far:

On Thusday my parents received a call from a man claiming to be a courier and that he needed to know when I was in to sign for a package. I moved away 20 years ago so my mum said I wasn't around but she could sign for it, but the man insisted it had to be me. My mum took his mobile number and gave it to me later on.

I phoned the number which went into voicemail with a man with Manchester accent saying 'A1 Couriers' so I left my name and number. I rang again later, and a man answered, I told him I was returning a call regarding the courier and he sounded confused, and didn't know what I was on about. It felt like he was stalling me (after all a wrong number is a wrong number) and after a minute or so he suddenly remembered his BIL has a courier company. He repeated my home phone number back to me as I was hanging up.

Nobody called back and something felt fishy as I'm not expecting any deliveries, and don't use my parents address so I googled the number and an advert for a private investigation company was the only result.

Yesterday I received 3 missed calls from a mobile number (which I have saved). When I called the number back, nobody spoke but it sounded like there was a porn film playing in the background.

This morning my landline rang and when I picked up I said hello 3 times before a man (who sounded like the courier voicemail message and the 'brother-in-law') said he must have the wrong number. When I 1471'd the number had been withheld.

My partner rang the courier company number and when the man answered 'A1 Couriers' DP asked him if this was MobileTraceUK...the man answered yes so DP hung up.

I am really paranoid and somewhat scared. I don't like the fact that somebody is calling my elderly parents. Why would somebody choose this route to find me? I've had the same mobile number and email address for 13 years so it can't be anyone I know well.

If anyone has any advice on how to handle it, can I ask them to back off or reveal why, any legal avenues I would so appreciate it.

[PissyDust]

Make sure you make a note of any calls made and received and write down a note on what was said.

Could your DH call to enquiry about tracing someone on a different number and see what is said?

[TodaysAGoodDay]

Wow, I'd be terrified!

Are you on benefits? Do you have an ex-partner or were you married? Sounds like someone wants to find you. Do you have a common name? Maybe there are a few of 'you' so to speak, and they're trying to eliminate people by their faces? I can't think of anything else, it sounds a bit bizarre

[Maeb]

No I haven't. I'm not sure I would have enough to show them without looking totally paranoid. But I'm really quite freaked out.

[Maeb]

TodaysAGoodDay, no I'm not on benefits, no children or ex-hubbies. I've had a few ex-boyfriends who were bonkers but not for years. My name is not too common. My parents are still at the family home.

Toughasoldboots, damn right. Seriously, I could track somebody through the electoral roll and 192.com and just a-googling!

PissyDust, I have made a record of the calls with times, etc.

What could the police do?

[Maeb]

Toughasoldboots, I have an ex-boyf who is kind of famous and there was a (big) scandal in his family, which blew over pretty quick and is out in the open. But I haven't spoken to him in at least 13 years.

Surely tabloids would use a better PI company though?

[TodaysAGoodDay]

Ok, have you got any outstanding debts? Or if someone's stolen your identity you could have bailiffs after 'you'? Just a thought...

[Maeb]

I've just spoken with the police. There is nothing they can do as no laws have been broken.

I don't have any outstanding debts. How would I find out if someone has stolen my identity?

[AnyoneForTennis]

Experian credit check?

[Maeb]

www.fbiinternational.co.uk/

[Maeb]

Toughasoldboots ta! I need some fury. I'm going to check out Experian. I hope nobody has bought a boat in my name...

Wouldn't it be lovely if someone just wanted to give me a load of cash!

[ASillyPhaseIAmGoingThrough]

If it was inheritance they would have been honnest with your folks.

[Maeb]

Toughasoldboots - I wish I had the balls to do that but I'm worried they'll send the heavies around. I wondered whether to buy a PAYG sim and start leaving really annoying messages on their VM.

[Maeb]

All they'd find is me moaning about my DP's family! I don't belong to any social media either.

[PissyDust]

Maybe you have a brother or sister that you haven't met before.

[starfishmummy]

Unlikely to be heir hunters as someone suggested. If someone was tracing heirs then it's normally "family" so the op's mother or father would probably be an heir too.

[TheMonster]

I'd be scared too. Keep us informed.

[Maeb]

PissyDust - now that would be funny! But surely why me, if they've got my parents details that's all they'd need. I'm still holding out for the theory that it is Keanu Reeves come to take me away from all this...

BodyofEeyor - I will keep everyone informed...if only so when I stop posting you can call the police and reporting me missing!