Key takeaways
- Create one group per case so evidence and notes never mix between clients.
- Share photos, videos, files up to 25 MB, voice notes and your location from the field.
- Owners and admins can audit and export case groups; direct messages between people are private.
- Invite a client or attorney as a guest to a single case group only.
- Encryption: TLS in transit plus AES-256 at rest with a key per organization.
Investigation work generates a stream of sensitive material: subject descriptions, plate numbers, timestamps, photographs and client instructions. In small agencies that stream usually flows through personal phones and consumer chat apps, mixed with family messages, and it leaves the agency when an investigator does.
Communication challenges for private investigators
Agencies and independent investigators describe the same pressures:
- Confidentiality. Clients expect discretion, and a misdirected photo in the wrong chat can damage a case and the agency’s reputation.
- Field coordination. Two investigators tailing a subject need quick text, voice and location updates without making calls.
- Evidence handling. Media scattered across camera rolls is hard to collect into a report.
- Staff changes. Contract investigators work a few cases and move on; their access needs to end with the job.
How investigation teams use C Chat
Most agencies settle on a simple pattern: one group per active case, plus a few internal groups.
During fieldwork, investigators post short timestamped notes, send photo documentation straight from the scene and record a voice note when typing would attract attention. When the team needs to know where someone is, the investigator shares their location in the case group. The lone-worker pattern from security, described in lone guard check-ins with location, adapts well to solo surveillance shifts: agree a check-in interval and post a brief status each time.
Case managers assign tasks in the group, much like the flow described in dispatch and job assignment. The general principles of field team communication apply here too: short messages, clear owners, and photos instead of long descriptions.
Recommended group structure
| Group | Members | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case [code] | Assigned investigators, case manager | Use a case code, not the subject’s name |
| Case [code] – Client | Case manager, client or attorney as guest | Curated updates only |
| Field ops | All investigators | Availability, equipment, vehicles |
| Management | Owner, case managers | Billing, sensitive decisions |
Naming groups with case codes keeps sensitive names out of notification previews. Pin the case brief at the top of each group so anyone joining mid-case reads it first.
Guests: clients, attorneys and subcontractors
Clients and their attorneys often want progress updates. Instead of sending them raw field chatter, create a separate client group per case and invite them as guests by link, QR, SMS, WhatsApp or email. They see that group only, and you decide what reaches it.
The same approach works for subcontracted investigators in another city: invite them to one case group and remove them when the job closes. Other sectors with sensitive client work, such as accounting firms, use a similar split between internal and client-facing groups.
Security, privacy and audit
C Chat encrypts messages in transit with TLS and at rest with AES-256, using a key dedicated to your organization. It is not end-to-end encrypted; it uses auditable encryption, so owners and admins can audit and export the agency’s group conversations when compiling reports or responding to a dispute. Direct messages between people stay private, which matters when investigators discuss personal matters. Read more about confidential direct messages.
The platform accesses content only to moderate reported messages or for legal requirements, and that access is logged. Rules on surveillance, recording and evidence vary by jurisdiction, so confirm your procedures with counsel.
Teams that document jobs visually in other trades follow related practices, for example before-and-after job photos for technicians and construction daily logs.
Getting started
Sign up at getcchat.com/c with your phone or email, create your agency team and open your first case group with a code name. Invite investigators by link and pin the case brief. The free plan currently covers up to 50 members per team; see pricing for the limits.
Frequently asked questions
What messaging app do private investigators use?
Many solo investigators use consumer apps like WhatsApp or Signal. Agencies with several investigators often prefer a business messenger like C Chat so case groups belong to the agency, former staff can be removed and group records can be exported.
Can I share surveillance photos and videos securely?
Yes. Photos, videos and files up to 25 MB are sent over TLS and stored encrypted at rest with AES-256 using your organization's key. For evidence that may go to court, also keep the original files according to your chain-of-custody procedure.
Are my direct messages with a client visible to the agency owner?
No. Direct messages between people are private and are not part of the team audit. Owners and admins can audit and export group conversations, so put case work you want on record in the case group.
Is C Chat end-to-end encrypted like Signal?
No. C Chat uses auditable encryption: TLS in transit and AES-256 at rest with per-organization keys. Signal is end-to-end encrypted. If you need the agency to keep a reviewable record of case groups, auditable encryption fits better; for maximum secrecy between two individuals, an E2EE app may suit you.
Can I share my location with the office during surveillance?
Yes, you can share your location in a group or direct message so the office knows where you are. C Chat does not track investigators continuously; location is shared only when you choose to send it.