New York State Private Investigator Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Surveillance is the correct answer because it specifically involves the act of observing and monitoring an individual's activities without their knowledge. This method is often employed by private investigators to gather evidence or information about a person’s movements, associations, or behaviors. The goal of surveillance is typically to acquire insights that the subject is unaware are being collected, which is critical in various investigative contexts.

In contrast, while a background check can reveal much about an individual's past, it relies on public records and does not involve any secretive observation of the person. Missing persons investigations often focus on locating individuals who have disappeared, usually requiring interviews and searches based on known information rather than clandestine monitoring. Fraud investigations might entail various tactics, including surveillance, but they are more focused on uncovering deceptive practices rather than simply observing a person's daily activities. Surveillance stands out as it is fundamentally about the discreet observation required in many investigative scenarios.