Have you ever wondered how people find missing persons or debtors? Or maybe you’ve seen a movie or TV show where someone is hired to find someone who doesn’t want to be found. This process is called skip tracing, and it’s a real thing that people do for a living.
There are different reasons why someone might need to be found. Maybe they skipped out on a debt, or they’re a witness in a criminal case. Sometimes, people just want to find long-lost friends or family members. Regardless of the reason, skip tracers use a variety of methods to find people who don’t want to be found.
In this article, you’ll know more about what skip tracing is and the different ways on how it’s performed.
What Is Skip Tracing?
Skip tracing is the process of finding a person who is missing or hiding. This can be done for many reasons, such as to collect on a debt, find a witness in a criminal case, or locate a long-lost friend or family member.
You can usually find a skip tracer by searching online or in the phone book. There are also databases that keep track of people’s addresses and phone numbers, which can be useful in skip tracing.
There are many ways to find someone who is missing or hiding. Skip tracers might use the person’s Social Security number, date of birth, or driver’s license number to find them. They might also look up the person’s address or phone number in a public records database.
Some skip tracers use more high-tech methods, such as GPS tracking devices or spyware. These methods are usually only used if the person is wanted for a serious crime and the skip tracer is working for the government.
How Is Skip Tracing Performed?
There are many ways to find someone who is missing or hiding. The methods used depend on the amount of information known about the person and how much money the client is willing to spend.
Depending on the situation whether you are a business or individual, the first step might be to search social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. On the other hand, professional skip tracers have access to databases that contain people’s addresses and phone numbers.
Here are different ways skip tracers find people:
Social media search
This is the most basic method and can be done by anyone. You just need to have an account on the social media site and know the person’s name or username. Once you find the person’s profile, you can try to look for clues on their current whereabouts.
The good thing about this method is that it’s free. However, it can be time-consuming, and you might not find anything if the person is good at hiding their tracks.
Public records search
This method is more reliable than a social media search because you’re looking up the person’s information in a database. The bad news is that it can be expensive, and you might not find what you’re looking for if the person’s information is not in the database.
A public records search can be done by going to the courthouse and asking for the person’s file. If you’re looking for someone’s address or phone number, you can search for it in a public records database.
Professional skip tracers have access to many different databases, which makes it more likely that they’ll find the person you’re looking for.
GPS tracking device
A GPS tracking device can be placed on a car or piece of property to track the person’s movements. This method is usually used by law enforcement to track a suspect’s whereabouts.
Usually, private investigators and bail bondsmen use GPS tracking devices to find people who have skipped bail. The device must be placed on the person’s car without their knowledge, which can be difficult to do.
Spyware
Spyware is a type of software that can be installed on a person’s computer or phone without their knowledge. Once installed, the spyware can track the person’s movements and record their activity.
This method is usually only used by law enforcement to track a suspect’s whereabouts. However, some private investigators and bail bondsmen use spyware to find people who have skipped bail.
Spyware is illegal in many states, so it’s important to check the laws in your state before using this method.
These are only some of the most common methods used by skip tracers. There are many other methods, such as using aerial surveillance or hiring a private investigator.
Which method is used depends on the situation and the amount of information known about the person.
Hire A Private Investigator Today!
If you’re looking for someone who is missing or hiding, the best thing to do is to hire a professional skip tracer or a private investigator. Searching for someone on your own can be time-consuming and expensive, and you might not find anything.
A professional skip tracer or private investigator will have access to databases that contain people’s addresses and phone numbers. You can find professional skip tracers and private investigators here at Sydney Private Investigators. Contact us today and we’ll help you find the person you’re looking for.