Mobile Phone Forensics extracts and analyses data from a phone or tablet, such as messages, call logs, photos, location history and app data, with a record of how it was done. Send one request and independent examiners reply with availability and prices.
Tell us the phone model and what you need, and get mobile phone forensics quotes.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteWhat It Involves
- Extraction. Logical, file system or full extraction, depending on the model.
- Messages and calls. SMS, WhatsApp and other app chats, call logs and contacts.
- Media and location. Photos, videos and their metadata, plus location records.
- Preservation. A verified copy kept for later review.
Who It Helps
Phone owners preserving evidence of harassment or threats, employers examining company phones, and attorneys who need phone evidence for a case.
What to Send First
- The make and model of the phone.
- Who owns it and whether you have the passcode.
- What you are looking for and the date range.
Do not upload screenshots, intimate images, passwords or documents through the request form. The investigator will tell you what to keep and how to hand it over.
How It Works
- Consent. The owner signs consent, or a court order is provided.
- Handover. The phone is logged and isolated from networks.
- Extraction. Data is copied with forensic tools and hashed.
- Report. Relevant content is set out with dates and sources.
Findings and Reporting
A report or extraction file showing the relevant messages, calls and media, with timestamps and an account of the method.
Limits
Only phones you own, or have consent or legal authority to examine, can be extracted. Investigators cannot intercept calls or messages, or access someone else's phone or account. Newer locked phones may not be accessible at all, and deleted data is not always recoverable.
Mobile Phone Forensics Prices
Ballpark prices so you can sanity-check a quotation.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Basic logical extraction and report, per phone | R5,000 - R10,000 |
| Full extraction with deleted data analysis, per phone | R10,000 - R20,000 |
| WhatsApp or chat export with certified report | R3,500 - R8,000 |
| Examiner hourly rate | R800 - R2,500 per hour |
| Affidavit for court | R2,500 - R7,500 |
Prices JUST UPDATED. Indicative ballpark figures in rand, rounded. They are compiled from prices published by South African investigation firms and typical market rates. They are not our prices or quotations, and no investigator is bound by them. Confirm VAT, travel and what each quotation includes.
Get prices for your phone rather than a range. Send one request, with no obligation.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteWhat Affects the Price
- Phone model and security. Locked or newer devices need more advanced tools.
- Volume of data. Years of chats take longer to review.
- Scope. A specific chat costs less than a full review.
- Court use. Affidavits and testimony are extra.
Mobile Phone Forensics FAQs
Do I need to hand over the phone?
Usually yes, for a few hours to a few days. Some examiners can extract on site.
Can WhatsApp messages be recovered after deletion?
Sometimes, from the device or a backup. It is not guaranteed.
Can you get messages from someone else's phone?
Not without their consent or a court order.
Is a screenshot enough for court?
Screenshots can be challenged. A forensic extraction shows where the data came from.
Related Services
Request mobile phone forensics quotes through Private Investigators South Africa and compare each examiner's extraction method and reporting.
Private Investigators South Africa is a referral and quote service. We do not carry out investigations and we do not employ investigators. Work is quoted and carried out by independent investigators, and your agreement is with the one you choose. Ask for a written quotation and proof of PSIRA registration before you pay a deposit. No investigator can promise a particular result or that evidence will be accepted by a court.
Mobile Phone Forensics. Describe what you need once and get the best quote, fast.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteGet the Best Quote, Fast
Keep it brief. Do not send ID documents, passwords, intimate images or evidence through this form. Your enquiry is passed only to investigators suited to the job, and you decide whether to go ahead.
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