Getting Started

Claiming an imported listing

NearbySpy includes imported listings for many Private Investigators who have not yet created an account. If you are an Investigator and your firm appears on the marketplace without you, you can claim that listing and take control of how it is shown.

Updated April 22, 2026
2 min read

NearbySpy includes imported listings for many Private Investigators who have not yet created an account. If you are an Investigator and your firm appears on the marketplace without you, you can claim that listing and take control of how it is shown.

Why imported listings exist

Public information about licensed Investigators is collected from publicly available sources to make the marketplace useful from day one. An imported listing is a starting point, not a finished profile. It usually has your business name, your city, and a basic description. It does not have your reviews, your full specialty list, or any direct contact methods.

Why claim instead of creating a new profile

Claiming the existing listing is the right move because:

  • You inherit the URL and the public visibility the listing has already accumulated.
  • You avoid duplicate profiles for the same firm, which would otherwise hurt search ranking.
  • Once verified, you can update everything on the listing, including services, photos, and credentials.

What claiming gets you

After verification, your claimed listing becomes your live Investigator profile. You can:

  • Edit your name, business name, photo, and description.
  • Set your service area and specialties.
  • Add license details for the verification badge.
  • Receive Client inquiries and respond from your dashboard.
  • Upgrade to Elite if you want the full toolset.

Starting the claim

  1. Find your imported listing in the marketplace.
  2. Choose the option to claim it from the profile page.
  3. Create or sign in to a NearbySpy Investigator account.
  4. Confirm that the listing belongs to you and start verification.

Verification at a glance

Verification protects everyone. It prevents someone else from claiming a listing that is not theirs. The verification step uses a one-time code sent to a method tied to the business and may also ask for a verification document. The full walkthrough is in OTP and verification documents for claims.

You may also be asked to verify ownership of your business website. See Website verification in listing claim.

What happens to old data

Once you claim and verify, the listing becomes editable from your dashboard. The original imported description remains until you change it. Anything that is incorrect can be corrected immediately. Anything you would rather not display, such as an old phone number, can be removed.

If your claim is delayed

Most claims complete in a few minutes. If verification stalls, follow the troubleshooting steps in OTP and verification documents for claims or open a support ticket. See Contact form reasons and what to include.

All articles
Last updated April 22, 2026

Related in Getting Started

Need more help?

Still need help?

Didn't find the answer you were looking for? We're here for you.

Contact Us