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 Why PI?
"You would be surprised with the number of calls I receive on daily basis; most of them center around infidelity," says private investigator Mark Chauppetta. "Boston in one of the busier cities, and both men and woman alike hire my services to see if [their partners] are with another person other than them. I would say that in 9 out of every 10 cases, the client has suspected something, done some snooping of their own, and just wants to get that confirmation or video confirmation with us. Other cases that we handle are criminal defense, domestic relations, backgrounds, asset searches, security, debugging, and much more." Affording a snoop?
"Hiring a PI can be pricey: most charge $75-$100 an hour," says private investigator Mark Chauppetta. "I always recommend leaving it up to a professional for various reasons, like safety and admissibility — although in today's day we are all computer-savvy, and that is usually where most people begin on their own." The Secret Stash
"Covert PI equipment can be found just by a simple Google, and anyone can purchase them," says private investigator Mark Chauppetta. But he cautions against doing your own investigation work. "[We can all buy] a football and baseball, and that doesn't mean we should be starting for the next football game for the Patriots. If you are going to purchase your own equipment, pay attention to certain laws because just because it is offered doesn't mean it is legal. For example, Massachusetts has two-party consent when it comes to audio recording. You can also purchase software to spy on someone’s cell phone, although you are looking at wiretapping violations. See why I suggest a pro?" R U A PI?
"Anyone that is not convicted felon can attempt to become a PI," says private investigator Mark Chauppetta. "If interested, there are two ways: one, coming off a police force with detective hours, and two, working as an apprentice for a licensed PI firm like I did 20-plus years ago. I suggest checking in with the Massachusetts Department of State Police Licensing Division for further details. I teach PI 101 at Massasoit Community College, on both the Brockton and Canton campuses. Next classes begin February 2012."
Investigting by the Book
"Log onto www.mydriveinc.com and purchase my first PI book, Happens All the Time: Cheating in the Good Ol’ U.S.A.," says private investigator Mark Chauppetta. "A percentage of the purchase price helps fight Duchenne MD, a terminal disease that has affected my twin 16-year-old sons." |
Now you see him, now you don't
Keywords: Entrepreneur
He hears your telephone conversations. He reads your email. He knows where you are. Right. This. Minute. He's Mark Chauppetta, private investigator. And he's watching you. Or not. Come on, he's not GOD, for heaven's sake! He needs to be hired, first of all. And he needs a case. (By the way, he doesn't listen to phone conversations or read emails 'cause that's illegal.) It's usually not the pretty side of life — cheating spouses, murders, and rapes have all figured in his investigations. In fact, read the headlining court cases in the paper, and chances are, Mark Chauppetta and his stealthy ways have been involved. (Shhhhh...don't tell!) The Whitman, Massachusetts native has pounded the policing path since he dropped out of college at the age of 19 to work as a prison guard on the graveyard shift at MCI Bridgewater, a medium-security prison that locked up every type of offender under the sun. While Mark was often fascinated by the psyche of an inmate, he quickly learned to always keep his distance emotionally. "Fair but firm" became Mark's mantra. Then, in a random encounter with a movie producer, he was asked to join an acting program in Hollywood, where he lived in a mansion and studied the craft. But after two years without a big break, selling wheatgrass on Sunset Boulevard was starting to look like a plausible career. So Mark returned to his roots and joined a private investigation agency. The Hollywood lights were enticing for sure, but snooping was his true calling. Now back in Boston, Mark has run his own private investigation agency for 23 years. The limelight still has a thing for him: he's been involved with two reality PI programs and is currently pursuing a third in the United Kingdom. But Mark is really devoted to his clients, his students (he teaches a class at Massasoit Community College), and his publisher (he's written a book about cheating)...and, maybe, to watching you. Don't turn around...
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