5 Signs an Undercover Cop is Watching You (2024)

You might think that only serious criminals are followed by undercover investigators, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, there are many reasons that a person may be the target of undercover surveillance. For example, in a competitive industry, one business owner may hire an investigator to “spy” on the practices of a competing company. Meanwhile, surveillance is often used in domestic and child-custody disputes in an effort to “dig dirt” on the target.

With more surveillance technology out there than ever before—and with seemingly endless possible reasons for targeted surveillance—it’s important to keep watch over your own shoulder. Even if you aren’t tangled up in any ongoing disputes or wrongdoings, being aware of the telltale signs of an undercover cop or investigator is a must.

So, what are some of the most common signs of an undercover cop to watch out for? While these are not a surefire guarantee that you’re being followed, you should exercise additional caution if any of these apply to you.

1. Strange Phone Interference

Wiretaps are commonly used as a means of listening in on a target’s phone conversations. Despite advancements in wiretap technology, however, it is still often possible to tell when a line has been wiretapped. Specifically, be on the lookout for things like:

2. Subtle Changes Around Your Home

Investigators may take things up a notch from wiretapping to actually installing physical surveillance equipment in and around your home, so be on the lookout for signs of this. You might notice, for example, that electrical wall plates may appear to be slightly moved or jarred; this could be a sign that one or more of your outlets has been swapped out for an eavesdropping device.

Likewise, watch for unexplained debris around your home, such as flakes of drywall on the ground. This may be present when a hidden camera or other equipment has been installed that requires drilling into the wall itself.

3. Unexplained Service Workers Near Your Home

Have you noticed an influx of service workers around your home in the recent days or weeks? Cable companies, utility vans, and other service “professionals” working around your home for an extended period of time could be a sign that you’re under surveillance. This may be especially true if you contact local utility companies and a representative is unable to confirm that there are any outages or issues in your area. Be on the lookout for empty service vehicles that stay parked near your house for extended periods of time, too, as these could be surveillance vans.

4. Receiving Strange Gifts

A common tactic some investigators will use is that of “gifting” you with a new device, such as a pen or even a desk clock from a local vendor. In reality, this gift could be loaded with an eavesdropping device (such as a camera and/or microphone) to carry out surveillance. If you can recall having received an unexplained gift recently, you may want to play it safe and get rid of the item for your own protection.

5. You Feel Like You’re Being Followed

We’ve all experienced that strange feeling of being followed. Gut instincts exist for a reason and are rarely wrong, so if you simply have a feeling that you’re being watched (even with no concrete evidence), this is not something you should overlook.

What Should You Do Next?

If any of these red flags apply to you, there’s a chance you’re being followed by an undercover investigator. So, what should you do? Your best course of action is to reach out to a trusted technical surveillance specialist who has specific experience with countermeasure services. At Barefoot Professional Investigations , we can help to find the source of your unwanted surveillance and handle any debugging that is necessary to give you peace of mind. In fact, we’ve been helping people with countermeasure services for more than 30 years. Reach out today for more information or to schedule your confidential consultation with our knowledgeable and experienced team.