To survive in the trade of private investigation, it is important for private investigators to have a strong sense of integrity. First, you must convince clients who are prepared to engage you and part with their money to trust that you would within reasonable means do an honest job in working on their cases. I have always make it a point to ensure and double-check on the investigation reports submitted by my investigators to make sure they do not fabricate information on the ground. For example, some investigation services would lie that they were at the scene monitoring targets where in actual fact they were resting somewhere, probably enjoying themselves. Besides scrutinising their investigation diaries, I often make surprise spot checks on them.Lawyers have actually complimented me on the thoroughness and reliability of my investigation reports. They assured their clients who engaged us that even though in cases where we were not successful in securing the desired results but we had given our utmost effort as reflected in our detailed investigation diaries and comprehensive summary reports.In the profession of private investigators, like any other trades, there is also a fair share of black sheep who not only lie but also would not hesitate to sell information they gathered for Client to other interested parties. (Eg: the cheating husbands/wives). Once I handled a matrimonial case for a business lady who came to me through recommendation from a friend. It is always prudent to hire a PI through referrals or reliable recommendations, instead of relying on advertisements. As per my normal practice, as precaution I did not give my private investigator’s name card to her but substituted with handing her an innocuous looking calling card bearing no relevance to my trade.I recall in this case of cheating husband, the target owned a company in Aljunied Road, and he drove a high powered BMW. Initially, we were unable to tail Target successfully as he was a dare-devil driver speeding along the highway; it would appear that he was surveillance conscious too. To counter him, I deployed operatives at strategic points along the highway, his route of travelling, especially those locations we had lost his trail. Finally, after days of stake out, we spotted him driving his car and turning into Emerald Hill which has a common entrance and exit into the area housing both residential houses and shops. And, we finally caught him visiting his mistress in one of the walk-up apartments, spending his evenings there, and going out meals with her in the vicinity. To reinforce proof of opportunity for committing adultery, we actually visited the apartment after both left, and confirmed that there was no one else inside besides both of them. It would appear that after I had briefed Client on the results, the lady shifted out unexpectedly. Fortunately, we visited the vacated apartment and retrieved a utility bill from the closed gate. With the help of information in the bill, using social engineering skill, we were able to trace the new address of Target’s mistress, and also successfully housed Target and his girl friend there.As I was finishing the final report for Client who had been orally briefed by me, I received a sudden call from Target, pestering me to sell to him whatever information I had obtained. I turned him down flatly and cautioned him not to contact me further as I would lodge a report of harassment to the authorities. In this instance, I found out that Client confronted her husband on my findings, and perhaps even disclosed to him my identity and contact number, probably in a fit of anger during their quarrels, despite the fact I had cautioned her. (Probably her unintentional tip off had led to the mistress moving out suddenly during our surveillance.) To maintain my professional integrity, I stalwartly refused to succumb to the temptation of getting more money to betray my Client.