With the internet, it has brought about a new age of investigators known as "web sleuths".  

Web sleuths are not licensed private investigators and not bound by the license authorities rules and regulations in the states they reside. Some may be very talented, some may be scams.  It unfortunately is up to you as the client to make sure you are entering into an agreement with a reputable licensed investigator. Below is a checklist of items you may want to check off during the decision making process.  If in doubt, please seek out the advice of an attorney.

As a general rule, I would be very cautious of any private investigator that cold calls or private messages  families of missing persons and tries to pressure them into hiring him/them without a contract.