People who don’t want to be found usually know how to hide well. To track them down, you need to be well-prepared and leverage a skip tracing service. Make sure you have their address, vehicle details, and any information about their family members—like a spouse, children, or anyone else living at the same place. Every small piece of information can help.
1. Have a Clear Plan
Start by reviewing all the information you have. Confirm that the person you’re searching for is the right one. Go over the details, decide which ones will help in your search, begin the skip trace, and review the results. You can learn more about these steps in The Art of Skip Tracing (The Basics).
2. Look Into Vehicle Registrations
Many states ask for proof of where a person lives when they renew a vehicle registration. The DMV checks the documents provided to confirm the address. This can lead to helpful clues.
3. Search Through Family and Close Connections
Try searching using names of spouses, children, or people who shared the last known address. These connections might help you find out where the person is now. Some people even use a child’s Social Security number when applying to live somewhere new.
4. Use Phone Numbers That Are Still Active
Phone numbers and email addresses can point you to people they are staying with, where they work, businesses they are involved in, or even a local taxi driver who knows them.
5. Check Email Addresses
Even though people change emails often, these addresses are still often linked to social media, job listings, or city directories. An email address can reveal new clues and helpful details.
6. Do a Postal Search
Postal searches take time—sometimes over a week—but they can reveal old, current, and even new addresses, especially if the person recently moved.
Here’s what to do:
- Go to usps.com
- Enter the ZIP code
- Find the local post office information
- Call to ask who handles PCO (Postal Customer Orders)
- Fax your request with “URGENT: COURT DEADLINE PENDING” written at the top
- Follow up two days later
If you find more than one current address, it could mean the person moved back into a home they lost to foreclosure, used an old address to apply for credit, or set up temporary mail forwarding.
7. Contact Local Jails
If the postal search doesn’t give you new information or there’s nothing helpful in your database, check local jails. The person may have been arrested.
8. Send a Private Investigator to Talk to Neighbors
Hiring someone to speak with neighbors can be a good way to get new information. Neighbors might know who lives at the address or where the person moved. If approached in a respectful way, many people will be willing to help once they understand the reason.
9. Review Public Records
Look into criminal records or contact their parole officer if they have one. You might find the address where they were released to or the names of friends or family who helped them post bail.
10. Contact the County Assessor
The assessor’s office can tell you who owns a property and might show if a forwarding address was left. You may also be able to learn when the person moved out.
11. Use Your Databases
Many databases provide useful details such as the full Social Security number, date of birth, and driver’s license information. Review everything carefully.
12. Look Into Utility Accounts
Utility services like water, electric, internet, sewer, trash, and gas are usually updated when someone moves. Even if you can’t find a new address, a recent utility change could give you a lead.
These tips are based on real experiences from skilled skip tracers. Do you have a tip that has worked for you? Share it in the comments below.
