🕵️ Eight Tips for Locating an Individual (Skip Tracing)

The process of locating an individual, often referred to as skip tracing, can be complex. There are many reasons for needing to find someone, such as locating an old friend, identifying a runaway, or serving legal documents.

Crucial First Step: Before conducting your own research, especially in cases involving crimes (like child abduction or missing persons with suspicious circumstances), you must notify law enforcement.

While licensed private investigators have access to proprietary databases, non-investigators can still conduct effective due diligence using publicly available resources. Below are eight tips to get you started.

The Eight Tips for Locating an Individual

1. Utilize Online Database Websites

Access websites like Spokeo, BeenVerified, or Zabasearch to gather fundamental background information on the individual.

• Action: Obtain basic details (address, phone numbers, relatives, associates).
• Strategy: Run searches on their known relatives or associates, as the “skip” may be residing with them now.

2. Conduct a Comprehensive Social Media Search

Search all major social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn) using the individual’s full name, maiden name, or any known aliases.

• Constraint: The accessibility of information depends on the individual’s privacy settings.
• Hint: Many people share their current location in posts. If the individual’s profile is private, explore their publicly accessible “friends” or associates for leads.

3. Review Local Court Records

If you have identified specific cities or counties associated with the individual, search the local court records.

• Resource: Most state and county governments maintain websites allowing name-based searches.
• Information Gained: These records may reveal involvement in civil or criminal cases and list other parties involved, providing potential new leads.

4. Contact Prior Residences and Landlords

Reach out to the management or landlord of the individual’s prior residences.

• Inquiry Points: Ask if the individual left an emergency contact or a forwarding address (e.g., for a deposit refund).
• Alternative: New residents may be acquainted with or related to the individual.

5. Search Public Property Records

Most counties maintain public property records that can be accessed online.

• Search Method: While some records require an address, many allow searching by name.
• Strategy: Searching the individual’s family name can uncover property owned by family members, potentially revealing a current residence or a point of contact.

6. Verify Professional Licenses and Businesses

If you suspect the individual holds a professional license, search the corresponding state or local government entity.

• Outcome: These entities may disclose the business associated with the license.
• For Self-Employed: Verify their name and business on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and your state’s professional licensing records.

7. Check Incarceration Status

Locating an individual who may be incarcerated requires contacting the relevant jurisdiction.

• Federal Inmates: Use the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator: https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/
• State/Local Inmates: Check the specific jail or Department of Corrections website, or call them directly, as access to inmate rosters varies widely.

8. Leverage Vehicle Information (When Available)

While obtaining personal information from a license plate is restricted to law enforcement, other vehicle details can be useful.

• License Plates: Do not trust websites claiming to provide registration details. Law enforcement and investigators have access to “vehicle plate locator” systems that capture continuous license plate data.
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): If you possess the VIN, a CARFAX report can reveal locations where the vehicle has been serviced and registered.

Remember, the best advice is to be creative and think outside the box in your search.