Tennessee Private Investigator Licensing Practice Exam

What does it mean when a subject has become aware of your surveillance?

1. Getting Burned

2. False Alarm

3. Detected

4. Operational Failure

The correct answer is: Getting Burned

When a subject has become aware of your surveillance, it is referred to as “Getting Burned.” This term captures the essence of a situation where the person being observed realizes they are under scrutiny, which can significantly impact the effectiveness of the investigation. When a subject knows they are being watched, they may modify their behavior, take steps to evade the investigator, or avoid activities that would be of interest, thus undermining the goals of the surveillance operation. Other choices, while they may have relevance in different contexts, do not accurately convey the idea of a subject's awareness of surveillance. “False Alarm” typically refers to a situation where a perceived threat was imagined rather than real, thus not applying to the actual scenario of detection. “Detected” is somewhat on the right track but lacks the nuanced implications associated with “Getting Burned,” as it doesn't convey the idea of awareness that leads to behavior change. "Operational Failure" is a broader concept encompassing a range of issues in conducting an operation but does not specifically address the scenario of a subject realizing they are under surveillance.