Best Private Investigators in Winnipeg
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6 Best Private Investigators in Winnipeg

We’ve all seen it in movies―a fedora-wearing fellow in a trench coat shadowing an unsuspecting spouse or corporate rival.

But how true to life is it? Well, it turns out that people hire investigators all the time either to prove infidelity, locate a missing person, look into insurance fraud, and much more.

The name of the game is intel and if you need it, we’re letting you in on the best private investigators in Winnipeg. We’ll also discuss how much they charge, along with some FAQs about private investigation in the city.

How Much Do Private Investigations Cost in Winnipeg?

Because everyone’s situation is different, there’s no practical way to break down all the costs accurately. Some agencies offer more than 40 types of investigative services, and even those are case-to-case.

Instead, hiring a private investigator involves an hourly rate and an operation cost based on how complex the assignment is. This can entail anything from a simple records search to hotel bills, plane tickets, GPS tracking and more.

To make this more concrete, here are some quotes that have been published recently in Winnipeg. Note that these aren’t industry-standard rates (because there are none).

SERVICESAMPLE QUOTE 
Polygraph and Lie Detection$2200 – $3300
Adultery or Infidelity Investigations$1670 – $2510
Child Custody and Visitation Investigations$1320 – $2000
Activity Checks$1260 – $1890
Investigations of Slander and Defamation of Character$1040 – $1560

Some agencies offer free consultation. We suggest you use this opportunity to ask them what kind of resources your job for them might entail.

Best Private Investigators in Winnipeg

Now that we’ve uncovered the costs, here’s where to slip the cheque. These are our top picks for the best private investigation firms in Winnipeg.

1.   Duncan Investigations Inc.

Duncan Investigations Inc
SERVICESSurveillance, Countersurveillance, Personal and Corporate Investigation and Forensics
WEBSITEwww.duncaninvestigations.com
ADDRESS330 St Mary Ave Suite 300, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3Z5, Canada
CONTACT DETAILSPhone: 204-233-3439
Toll Free: 1-877-233-2002
Text: 204-918-4203
Email: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS24/7

Founded in 1989, Duncan Investigations Inc. is licensed and recognised by 11 different associations, including the Retail Council of Canada and BBB. They’re one of the more comprehensive options on this list because of their range.

They offer over 30 types of investigative services, from activity checks to corporate risk and everything in between. They’ve also done work in multiple sectors, from insurance agencies to unions and even Fortune 500 companies.

Behind their work are highly trained professionals with good tech and a proud human element to their service. Clients often say that they feel heard and supported by the firm in their time of need.

If you need to extract vital or sensitive information digitally, they can recover data from phones, computers, digital shredders and more. Additionally, if you have a sneaking suspicion that you’re being watched, their countersurveillance might appeal to you.

There are a lot of very specific services to choose from and it can either be reassuring or overwhelming. Nonetheless, they do a great job of conducting streamlined investigations to get you the information you need on time.

Pros

  • On-call 24/7
  • Wide range of services
  • Free phone consultations
  • BBB A+ accredited

Cons

  • Large selection of services may get overwhelming
  • In demand

Customer Reviews

Duncan Investigations has a lot of grateful clients and these are just a few:

“They performed everything they promised, in a timely fashion and in a very professional way. We have retained private investigators in multiple countries but were never treated like we were treated  by Duncan Investigations. They responded to all our calls and concerns, and made us feel like we were their only client. They are truly a breath of fresh air. We would highly recommend them at any time.”Frank C Pollara Group LLC

“We had reached out to this company to locate someone. The process was quick, Duncan Investigations was really professional and efficient. The person was located within a week of initial deposit. The subsequent and final fee was very reasonable. I would highly recommend their service.”Lingchen Shi

2.   Wilson Investigation Inc.

Wilson Investigation Inc
SERVICESMobile Surveillance, Service Audits, Accounting Audits, Background Checks, Employee Screening, Missing Persons, Computer Forensics, Statement Taking, Witnessing, Interviews
WEBSITEwww.wilsoninvestigations.ca
ADDRESS763 Henderson Hwy, Winnipeg, MB R2K 2M3, Canada
CONTACT DETAILSPhone: 204-996-5598
Email: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSMonday to Sunday, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Wilson Investigations is a local private investigation team with over 60 years of combined experience under their belt. You’ll likely benefit from their services if you need help with civil or criminal matters.

From mobile surveillance to interviews and audits, their investigation can be covert or confrontational depending on your needs. They also offer computer forensics and digital data recovery.

What we also like is that they have a clearly stated privacy policy that tells you exactly how they use and protect your information. Whether or not you retain their services from that initial consultation, the policy applies and they safeguard whatever info you’ve given.

If you do sign on, your records will be kept physically under lock and key for up to 7 years. You can choose to have them destroyed yourself or wait until they notify you when it’s time.

Investigators at Wilson are also trained to be testimonial assets in court. Not only can they get you written evidence in court-ready formats, they also do well on the stand if need be.

Pros

  • Clear privacy policy
  • Work submitted in court-ready formats

Cons

  • No 24/7 service
  • Not highly specialised in corporate intel

Customer Reviews

Here’s what one of their clients have to say about his experience with Wilson Investigations:

“Mr. Wilson was a pleasure to deal with. He was polite, considerate and genuinely interested in my situation.  He was compassionate and understanding of what I needed help with. He was professional and provided the sympathy and help I needed.  He provided me with everything I needed without judgement. His service was timely and accurate.  I am now at ease with my situation and know Mr. Wilson is a gentleman that will provide the best service in his industry. Thank you.  I would definitely recommend this agency and would not hesitate to contact him if I ever require his exceptional service.”―A Lm

3.   Chase Investigations Inc.

Chase Investigations Inc
SERVICESSurveillance, Activity Checks, Reference Checks, Accident Reconstruction, Scene Investigations, Witness Interviews and Statements, Neighbourhood Inquiries, Theft and Fire Loss, Cheating Spouses and Infidelity
WEBSITEwww.chaseinvestigations.ca
CONTACT DETAILSPhone: 204-294-0005
Email: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSMonday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

A lot of the investigative services offered by Chase Investigations Inc. are similar to ones conducted by the police. The difference is that you can have these investigations conducted in your own time with or without criminal cause.

If for some reason you’re dissatisfied with the pace or progress of an ongoing police investigation, hiring a private sleuth of your own is fair game. Obviously, you’re not allowed to replace the police, but you can still call in extra support.

In fact, a good majority of the Chase division are individuals with experience in law enforcement. They’re also knowledgeable when it comes to insurance fraud and proving spousal infidelity.

Other services within their expertise are personal, corporate, and workplace surveillance. This can include covert video and aerial surveillance for when you want publicly observable intel.

Chase Investigations also has a detailed privacy policy already published on their site. You can also contact them to ask questions about said policy in case some terms are still unclear.

Be sure to call on a weekday, though. Compared to their competition, their hours are shorter but still serviceable.

Pros

  • Experience with law enforcement
  • Detailed privacy policy

Cons

  • Unavailable on weekends
  • Mixed reviews 

Customer Reviews

Here are some good reviews we found on Chase Investigations:

“Received great service. Excellent results”―Donald McLean

“Very professional service and knowledgeable staff”―Roberto Taronno

4.   Independent Investigators Inc.

Independent Investigators Inc
SERVICESChild Custody Issues, Infidelity Investigations, Surveillance, Fraud Investigation
WEBSITEwww.independentinvestigators.net
CONTACT DETAILSToll free: 1-877-751-3488
Email: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS24/7

Independent Investigations is a Winnipeg-based private investigation company offering intelligence for civil issues and felonies.

They work swiftly to obtain proof of custody violations, infidelity, and fraudsaving you time, money, and emotional headspace. For surveillance services, their team uses high-precision GPS tracking and the latest tech.

If you want to play the spy yourself, you have the option to rent their equipment at fairly decent rates. Just be sure to familiarise yourself first with the Federal Privacy Act and the PIPEDA, because you have to abide by those!

It goes without saying that they’ve disclaimed liability for anything you do with their gear. So don’t start peeping into people’s homes without consent, because you’re the only one who’ll be liable if someone catches you.

Speaking of straight-out-of-a-movie, ever wanted to hire that person who’ll walk up to someone and say, “You’ve just been served”? Well they’re called service processors and are up for hire at Independent Investigators as well.

In addition, that job is a bit more complicated than walking up to someone and handing them an envelope. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts and if that person’s whereabouts are unknown, your processor will have to locate them.

Fortunately, you can leave it all up to Independent Investigators if you hire them for that sort of thing.

Overall, we think this is a solid service. Our only real qualm with them is that their website needs some work: it’s not nearly as descriptive of their services and terms as we’d like.

Pros

  • BBB A+ accredited
  • Process servers for hire
  • Surveillance equipment rental

Cons

  • Poor website interface
  • Limited staff

Customer Reviews

Here’s a handful of positive feedback from clients of Independent Investigators:

“I hired this company to track down and serve a former tenant and I was impressed with how fast they were. I had called other companies but found Independent Investigators was very reasonably priced compared to the others. I would definitely use them again!”―Carole Robertson

“Great experience working with this team. Professional and expert personnel. The investigators were successful in achieving my intended goals. Plus, they offered further assistance after the fact. Thank you Independent Investigators for helping me with case.”―Elise Reid

5.  Discreet Services

SERVICESSurveillance, Countersurveillance, Personal and Corporate Investigation and Forensics
WEBSITEhttps://discreetpi.com/
ADDRESSWinnipeg, MB, Canada
CONTACT DETAILS(1) 480-304-9210
[email protected]
OPERATING HOURS24/7

At Discreet Services, we found their private investigation services to be highly efficient. They responded promptly to our inquiries and swiftly initiated our case. Our experience with their team was professional and discreet. They maintained confidentiality throughout the investigation process.

In terms of quality, we were impressed by the thoroughness of their work. They utilized advanced techniques and resources to gather information effectively. Our assigned investigator demonstrated keen attention to detail, ensuring no stone was left unturned. We felt confident in the accuracy of their findings.

When it comes to cost, we found Discreet Services to offer competitive rates. They provided transparent pricing upfront, eliminating any surprises or hidden fees. Despite the affordable pricing, we did not perceive any compromise in the quality or dedication of their service. We appreciated their commitment to delivering value to their clients.

Throughout our engagement with Discreet Services, we were consistently kept informed of the progress of our case. They maintained open communication channels, promptly updating us on any developments or findings. This level of transparency fostered trust and confidence in their abilities.

We were particularly impressed by the professionalism displayed by Discreet Services’ team. From our initial consultation to the conclusion of our case, they exhibited a high level of professionalism and integrity. Their courteous and respectful demeanor enhanced our overall experience with the company.

In conclusion, our experience with Discreet Services was overwhelmingly positive. Their efficient, high-quality, and cost-effective private investigation services exceeded our expectations. We would not hesitate to recommend Discreet Services to anyone in need of reliable investigative assistance.

Pros

  • Affordable pricing
  • Process servers for hire
  • Surveillance equipment rental

Cons

  • No promos at the present

6. Investigative Risk Management

Investigative Risk Management
SERVICESInsurance, Legal, Corporate, and Workplace Investigations, Government & Regulatory Investigations, Open Source and Social Media Intelligence, Geo-fencing
WEBSITEwww.theirmsolution.com
ADDRESS300 – 330 St. Mary Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3Z5, Canada
CONTACT DETAILSToll-Free: 1 (855) 384 4764
OPERATING HOURSMonday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

If you want to dive deep into analytics and corporate investigation, The IRM Solution team is trained and well-equipped for just that.  

IRM (Investigative Risk Management) is a private investigation firm based in Ontario with locations throughout Canada. Their Winnipeg branch offers the same range of services, from legal support to corporate intel.

It’s a long list to choose from, and can fit jobs on both the small and large scale. Again, skimming through all of it can be a bit daunting, but having variety in service offerings here is usually more beneficial than not.

Another thing to wrap your head around is their internet surveillance software. IRM uses their own proprietary system called Merlin to scan billions of posts on the Internet and social media for any alerts of your preference.

It’s particularly useful for companies that want to monitor the word traffic of their brand, or clients who want to track public posts of a certain individual. It’s a bit scary what this thing can do, but that’s what it takes to keep pace with social media nowadays.

A lot of their offerings are on the techy side of things, so there is a learning curve for the average person. Still, they’ve retained some of the simpler things like document services and background checks.

Pros

  • Equipped for big data analytics
  • High-end software
  • Wide range of services

Cons

  • Email and contact details needed to access live chat
  • Their full range of services is a lot to take in
  • Closed on weekends

Customer Reviews

Here are some reviews on IRM and their services:

“They provided me with several innovative solutions to assist with my file. Communication was incredible and they stayed within budget returning my complete report and video within 14 days of my request. Looking forward to working with them again.”―Jennifer Kolaski

“Extraordinary depth of experience. I have used others but they are the best.”―William Moore

FAQs About Private Investigation


And that’s the case closed (for now). If you’d like to open it up again by telling us who else fits this list, be sure to drop us a message.

We hope this guide has helped to find proof to build your case. If you’re ready for court now and also need legal representation, check out our law service lists; for instance, we’ve also written reviews of the best family lawyers in Winnipeg.