When dealing with a personal matter, always begin with facts instead of assumptions. Emotions can cloud judgment, but accurate information guides confident decisions. Before reaching out to an investigator, note every verifiable fact you already have.
Start with a timeline. Write down the sequence of events that led to your concern. Dates, times, locations, names — anything concrete. This exercise alone often reveals gaps you hadn't noticed, questions you haven't asked, and sometimes even answers you already had.
The most common mistake people make when entering an investigation process is bringing emotional conclusions before factual foundations. “I know he is lying” is not a fact. “He told me he was at work on Thursday the 14th, but I have a receipt showing his card was used in Johannesburg at 13:00” — that is a fact.
A professional investigator works with facts. The more organised and accurate the information you provide at briefing, the more precisely the investigation can be scoped, the shorter it needs to run, and the more cost-effective the outcome.
Before your first consultation with ISS, prepare a brief written summary: who the matter involves, what specific concerns you have, what facts support those concerns, and what outcome you are hoping to achieve. This preparation sets every investigation up for success.
Remember: the goal of an investigation is not to confirm what you believe. It is to discover what is true. That distinction matters, and it protects both you and the integrity of any evidence gathered.
ISS Investigations offers confidential, POPIA-compliant investigations across South Africa. Submit a secure briefing at no obligation.