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.

[Maeb]

dittany - I know. He was nuts, but surely 20 years is long enough to find another stalkee. I mean I'm good but that good? :o But why would they start off at my parents?

Thanks for all your messages I feel a lot more in control than I did this morning.
I've changed our home phone number and am waiting for Experian Credit Check to see if anyone has used my details for a loan or bank account.

My parents are also worried and I just hope they don't contact them again.

[MorrisZapp]

Definitely not heir hunters. Scratch that one - sorry!

[Maeb]

Just to update, I received 5 calls from an unknown/withheld number on Monday evening within 45mins and they didn't leave a message.

On Wednesday morning I had 6 calls from a Manchester number, again no messages.

My Experian report came through and there were no surprises or anomalies.

I bought a PayAsYouGo sim and have used it to call the Manchester number (it just rings and rings) and the porn playing mobile number (straight to voicemail).

So I have no idea what this is about.

[PositiveAttitude]

Are they calling your mobile or your home number? Could you contact your provider and get the number blocked? I am pretty sure they can do it for a month free of charge. (they did this for me) But I suppose you still want to know who and why????? If it was anyone legit the phone number would have someone answering their phone, surely.

[suburbandweller]

Make sure you continue to keep a record of these calls - they could collectively amount to harrassment which is of course a criminal offence of which the police should take notice, particularly if you are feeling threatened.

Just a thought, could there be someone looking to make some kind of claim against you? The person turning up at your parents' house with a package they wanted to give you sounds like it could perhaps be court papers which they are trying to serve but don't have your current address.

[CheeseandPickledOnion]

Wow, that's a bit strange.

So you know the phone calls are coming that FBI company, have you tried calling the office numbers?

[SucksToBeMe]

If somebody has hired a PI to find you then they succeeded. Why are the just hassling you and not getting in contact? Not nice people that's certain.

I hired a PI a few years ago, he was great and would not resort to such tactics. I hope they just go away and leave you in peace.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

Sorry to be blunt but maybe your husband has had an affair and it's a pissed off OW?

[Pooka]

Yes - think answering the phone is the way to go in terms of finding out what they want. Then you know what you're dealing with.

[PissyDust]

How are you op?

[southeastmum]

really sounds like Credit Recovery Agency
They often use parents address and the delivery parcel line
There are loads of stories like this on money forums ;-)