Skip Tracing and the Internet
If you're picturing an investigator sitting at a computer all day, finding everything he needs to locate skips, you're wrong. The Internet is a wonderful tool for skip tracers, but it won't give you everything you need all the time. There are still many records that aren't online or show information only for recent years. Some types of information may never be collected and distributed in an online database. Therefore, you must know where to look.
Where to Search
With all the sophisticated tools available, don't forget that, depending on the type of skip, it could actually take less time to use old-fashioned techniques. After having narrowed your search to a specific area, look in the phone book; you may find your skip there. For example, as you use your profile information to interview everyone the skip knew, someone may mention, “Yeah, I think I heard him say that he was moving to Minneapolis.” Look in the Minneapolis phone book first. Not every skip is a master at hiding. Another method of narrowing your search is to send your skip a letter at his last-known address. If you write “address requested” on the envelope, the post office will send the letter back to you with the skip's new address if he has forwarding service. Of course, a hardcore skip isn't likely to do this, but you never know who will. Even people who use everything they can think of to erase their steps still make mistakes.
If you have a phone number without an address or vice versa, you may not have to use a reverse-lookup site. Many times, it's quicker and easier to call the phone company, provide them a phone number, and obtain the address. This won't work if the number is unlisted, but you'll be surprised at how many people don't have unlisted numbers.
While it's possible to do an Internet search to obtain information about the skip, it's not likely to yield any results. As anyone who has employed this technique knows, the information can be there one day and gone the next. Why this happens is complicated, but basically, if your skip hasn't been listed somewhere on the Internet recently, you're not likely to find her this way.
Of course, you can search in pay databases, as listed in Appendix A, but many free sources exist that may provide what you need. Among these are property appraiser's Web sites, including
The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is a database of most people with a social security number who have died since 1963 and who have been reported as deceased to the social security administration. You can find it, free, from many genealogy Web sites such as
Be aware that the death index isn't the Social Security Administration's master death file, which is available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. If you're relying on information from the master file, get it directly from Social Security. Otherwise you can't be sure the information is up to date.
The People Connection
When you've searched for the skip and have found no indication that he's anywhere on the planet, you may become discouraged. Many investigators stop at this point. Don't be one of them. You're looking to gain a reputation for finding the unfindable, so you must persevere. If your skip is so deeply hidden he doesn't even cause a blip on the radar screen, look for someone close to him instead.
Maybe his wife, girlfriend, or even his child is easily located. In the case that he isn't living with any of them, he may make contact or even visit eventually. Setting up surveillance at the most likely party's home or business is time-consuming and costly, but it may be your last resort — if your client has the resources.
At the point you hit a dead end, you'll be very happy you've created a skip profile and have asked all those tedious questions about family members, friends, and associates. If you haven't asked enough questions, go back to the client and ask more. Soon you'll have a feel for the types of questions that are essential and will help later.
Call or interview profile people in person. Many times, they either know where the skip is hiding or provide leads which can help you locate her. If they know her location, don't expect them to divulge it, unless you're lucky enough to be searching for someone who has left a path of scorched earth and angry people in her wake. Even if she hasn't, and her associates and relatives remain close-mouthed, there may still be clues. For example, it's not unusual for an investigator to spot something in the relative's or associate's house or location (once again, thanks to the profile) that tells him the skip is staying there or has been there.
In some cases, the skip is actually on the premises. Often, those hiding him aren't aware of the hints they give out, such as being unable to stop glancing nervously in the direction of his hiding place or attempting to cover something belonging to him. It's less usual that the skip has answered the phone when the PI called or opened the door to her knock. Because of this, it's good policy to take another investigator with you. You can never know how a skip will react to finding you at his door.
If no relatives or known associates can be found or will talk, canvas the areas where the skip was last known to be. Check with her landlord (if she rented) and with neighbors. Neighbors will often know where the subject has moved — maybe not an exact address, but enough information to aid in locating her. Also, check with former coworkers and bosses. You might present yourself as an old high school friend, but if you do, be sure you have enough details to pull it off.
Using Cell Phone Records
Unless you're working on a case with law enforcement or an attorney, don't attempt to gain access to your skip's phone records; it's now illegal without a subpoena. In the past, investigators were notorious for obtaining these records by developing relationships with phone company personnel and paying them for these private records. Another technique was masquerading as the skip and requesting that phone records be sent to a new address (usually a P.O. Box). Investigators lumped these actions under the heading of pretexting. Yet, there's a right and a wrong way to pretext, and this is the wrong way. You don't need to lie or steal other people's property in order to get the information you need.
If you are working with law enforcement or an attorney, have the skip's cell phone records subpoenaed. These records may reflect the subject's new billing address. If he's erasing his tracks, he'll probably have changed service providers; however, the records may reveal phone numbers of people who are new to you. Call them; you may get lucky.
Many believe that cell phones are untraceable. Not only is this untrue, but prepaid phone cards can also be traced. Phone Validator (
In the case of professional skips, finding their paper trail is more challenging. However, it's almost impossible for people to exist without leaving some kind of paper trail. Even those who guard against putting anything in their names can forget something and leave a trail — or they may make their trail using the names of others.
You may also find your skip through public records, which keep files of payment for things that most people cannot avoid using, such as gas, water, power, or other utility bills. Many skips forget that cable television bills identify their location. Ownership of homes or vehicles, possession and use of credit cards, and voting records leave a paper trail that can be picked up and followed.
Chapter 10 provides a description of the profile that should be created before you begin your search for a skip. Ignore this step at your peril. Profiling your subject at the outset of a case can save hours and even days of searching. Your client is the first source of info, of course, but you'll find that the subject's friends, associates and co-workers can often provide information of which the client is ignorant or has incorrect or incomplete knowledge.
Knowing as much as possible about your skip will help you find his trail. Does he need medicine or a specific type of medical treatment or rehab? Does he collect government assistance, workers compensation, unemployment, or food stamps? What are his hobbies, likes, and dislikes? Checking records, you may find that he's been arrested, spent time in jail, or checked into a rehab program. Checking newspapers (some of the better search databases have news searches now) may reveal an article about him winning a blue ribbon at the annual rose growers association in Wheresit, Arizona. Any of these things may also turn up information about someone close to him. The more you know about him and those around him, the more you'll know where to look.
