Three Skip Tracing Tips to Help You Locate a Missing Person

We’ve all typed the name of someone we once knew in the search bar of Facebook or Instagram from time to time, curious as to what they are up to these days. While mostly harmless, what if you needed to find that person? Perhaps they skipped town because of a debt, maybe they need to be contacted for an important legal matter, or who knows? They could be a long-lost member of your family. This is called Skip tracing.

Skip tracing is simply defined as the process of finding a person’s whereabouts. With plenty of online resources, it can be difficult to know where to start when you are looking for someone. So, what are some skip tracing techniques? Try following these three tips to help you get your search started.

Have A Plan

While it might be easy to type a name into a search bar and hit enter, finding a missing person is not going to be that easy. Start by identifying the most recent information you know about them, like their name or address, and ensuring the spelling is correct. Ensure you have a couple of search options available in case your initial search does not come back with optimal results or concrete findings.

Start Broad

There are plenty of free online resources to help you find a person. Be certain that you are using them to the best of your ability, like narrowing your search results on Google by using punctuation in the search bar. Try looking for leads on various databases like genealogy websites or white pages.

Verify Your Results

Once you’ve found a lead, maybe even the person you are looking for, be sure to verify your results through the other databases you have been using. Accuracy is key, especially when you first reach out to connect or are sending a notice in the mail.

While skip tracing on your own is possible, it can be a lengthy process with dead ends and inaccurate results. At O’Brien & Associates, we pride ourselves on the ability to find those who don’t want to be found. Using our years of experience and cutting-edge techniques, we can get you accurate results in a timely manner. Our process is completely legal, and our private investigators are certified professionals prepared to help you find who you are looking for. Ready to start skip tracing for a missing person? Contact us at 800-225-9947 or fill out the online form.

Source: Smith Investigation Agency