Can I post about my business or blog here?
Yes, but only if they contribute to the community, you have already contributed to this community, and you make it clear in the post or comment that you are promoting something you are part of.
Subreddit guides
r/trueprivinv rules, stats, and what to post
A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/trueprivinv: public rules, community context, posting fit, and startup-promotion risk before you publish.
By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.
Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.
Current public stats
- Members
- 10,065
- Verified
- September 26, 2026
- Category
- Freelancers and independent service operators
Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and the original public Reddit sources visible.
Rule summary
- Nonsense Posts: Long-winded, rambling nonsense posts about some pointless "investigation" you want done will be deleted. This also includes any requests for pro-bono work. Most of us are busy, working investigators, and we get enough of these calls to our respective offices. Note that this is different from questions about what one should look for in hiring a PI, or the appropriateness of same.
- Unverified Offers: Offers to conduct any sort of investigative work (including "DM me" or "I can look in to this"), even pro-bono, from unverified members may result in a permanent ban. For legitimate investigators, it is unclear to me if connecting with clients on Reddit breaks site-wide rules about offering personal information, so proceed with caution here. Being professionals, presumably you would all vet clients with a proper screening phone call at a minimum anyway.
- Verification Photos: Verification photos must include your credentials and your username written out somewhere (i.e. on paper), not digitally added to the photo. I have no way of knowing if someone found a picture of a PI license on the web and just added a username to it in MS Paint or whatever the kids are in to these days. Message the mods using modmail ONLY. Upload the photo to a site like imgur or google drive and include the link in your message. Include your username in the photo.
- Verification Flair: Verification flair is based on what is allowed in your jurisdiction to the best of my personal understanding. For example, California BSIS does not allow persons working under a QM licensee to refer to themselves as a private investigator --- we have an appropriate flair for these circumstances.
- Multiple Accounts: Pick the account you want verified before making a request so I don't have to go through the process again when you've decided to use your alt instead.
- Self-Promotion: Posts about your business or from your blog are only allowed if they contribute to the community, and you have contributed to this community. It is up to members to make spam reports, but more than "this is spam" is needed in many cases. Please make it clear when you're promoting something you're part of in the post or comment.
- No Stalkers: We will not entertain requests to enable stalker behaviour: Please read this post on why private investigators won’t help you find that “last piece of the puzzle” you’re looking for.
- Gangstalking Posts: Any gangstalking posts that have not been submitted in full to the mods and approved by the mods will be removed by the mods as soon as it's reported or detected. Gangstalking is a mental health disorder, and we are not equipped to deal with it. https://www.jmir.org/2021/3/e25722/ https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/vio.2017.0022 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359178921000069
- Ridiculousness Posts Unwelcomed: Not in the Spirit of r/Trueprivinv
- No Spam: Behavior that may be considered spam and are subject to removal/ban: *Repeatedly posting the same or similar comments in a thread, subreddit or across subreddits. *Repeatedly posting unrelated/off-topic/link-farmed content. *Posting content that includes link redirects as a way to circumvent an existing domain block and/or to disguise a link’s source (excluding subreddit sidebars). https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043504051-What-constitutes-spam-Am-I-a-spammer
- While Reddit permits satire and parody, This community isn't one.: Reddit does not allow content that impersonates individuals or entities in a misleading or deceptive manner. This not only includes using a Reddit account to impersonate someone, but also encompasses things such as domains that mimic others, as well as deepfakes or other manipulated content presented to mislead, or falsely attributed to an individual or entity. https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043075032-Do-not-impersonate-an-individual-or-entity
Works well
- Share a field-tested investigation strategy or resource that other licensed private investigators would find genuinely useful.
- Ask a focused question about what to look for when hiring a PI, which the rules explicitly allow.
- Post about your business or blog only after you have contributed to the community, and disclose clearly in the post or comment that you are part of what you are promoting.
- Get verified first by messaging the mods with a photo of your credentials and your username written on paper, so the community knows you are a legitimate professional.
Avoid
- Do not post long-winded, rambling nonsense posts about some pointless investigation you want done, including requests for pro-bono work.
- Do not offer to conduct any sort of investigative work, even pro-bono, unless you are a verified member, as this may result in a permanent ban.
- Do not post requests that enable stalker behaviour.
- Do not post gangstalking posts without first submitting them to the mods and receiving approval.
- Do not post content that is not in the spirit of r/Trueprivinv.
- Do not repeatedly post the same or similar comments, post unrelated or link-farmed content, or use link redirects to circumvent domain blocks or disguise a link's source.
What r/trueprivinv Is For
This community is for licensed private investigators, where required by law, to talk shop, share strategies and resources, and be students of the game. It is a professional space for working investigators, not a place for people to request free investigations or ask someone to solve a personal mystery.
Rules That Matter Before Posting
The rule called Nonsense Posts matters because it tells you not to bring pointless investigation requests or pro-bono requests, though questions about hiring a PI are fine. The rule called Unverified Offers matters because offering investigative work without verification can get you permanently banned. The rule called Verification Photos matters because it sets the bar for trust in this community. The rule called Self-Promotion matters because posts about your business or blog are only allowed if they contribute to the community and you have contributed already, and you must make it clear when you are promoting something you are part of. The rule called No Spam matters because repeated similar comments, off-topic link-farmed content, and link redirects to disguise a source are all subject to removal or a ban.
What To Post
A good post here is one that helps working investigators do their jobs better, such as sharing a strategy, a resource, or a lesson learned in the field. If you are a licensed private investigator, you can contribute by discussing methods, tools, or experiences that other professionals would find useful. If you want to promote your business or blog, make sure you have already contributed to the community, make sure the post genuinely contributes to the community, and make it clear in the post or comment that you are promoting something you are part of.
What To Avoid
Avoid posting long-winded, rambling nonsense posts about some pointless investigation you want done, including requests for pro-bono work. Avoid offering to conduct any sort of investigative work, including saying DM me or I can look in to this, if you are not verified, because it may result in a permanent ban. Avoid any request that enables stalker behaviour. Avoid posting gangstalking posts unless you have submitted them to the mods and received approval. Avoid posting content that is not in the spirit of r/Trueprivinv. Avoid spam behavior like repeatedly posting the same or similar comments, posting unrelated or link-farmed content, or using link redirects to circumvent a domain block or disguise a link's source. Avoid impersonation, including using an account to impersonate someone or using domains that mimic others, because this community is not one that permits satire and parody.
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Common questions about r/trueprivinv
How do I get verified?
You must message the mods using modmail only, upload a photo of your credentials with your username written out on paper to a site like imgur or google drive, and include the link and your username in your message.
Can I offer to do investigative work for someone here?
No, offers to conduct investigative work from unverified members, including DM me or I can look in to this, may result in a permanent ban.
Can I post about gangstalking?
No, you must submit any gangstalking post to the moderators and receive approval before posting it.
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