How to Find People Who Aren't Hiding

Ask any private investigator--finding people is an art. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it takes months or years.

This article is titled "How to Find People Who Aren't Hiding" because people who don't want to be found build a lot of road blocks, from assuming false identities to creating dead-end trails. Instead, this article focuses on a few, easy tips to finding people living in the public eye.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Type the person's name (and city if you know it) in Google (or other browser) and see what information displays. If you don't find any leads, but recall the name of the person's brother, for example, try typing his name to see if you get any leads. Keep in mind that women, through marriage, tend to change their last names so it's beneficial to search for male members of their family (brothers, fathers, uncles, etc.).

2. 

   Check the telephone books for the city the person lives in (the local library will have current phone books). If the person's name isn't listed, call listings with similar last names (one of these people might be a relative and know how to contact the person you're seeking).

3. 

   Mail the person a letter at their last known address. If the post office is still forwarding mail for this person, they'll receive the letter. Be sure to include your contact information.

4. 

   Visit the neighborhood the person used to live in. Talk to neighbors--sometimes people will remember the town where the person moved to, or friends/spouses of the person. Be sure to get neighbors' phone numbers so you can call them back if you have any questions.

5. 

   Contact alumni organizations for the high school or college the person attended. Often high schools have alumni contacts (check the high school's website for this information). Check out sites such as classmates.com, alumni.net, and others that let you search by name, year of graduation, major, etc.

6. Can't find a lead? Only have sparse information on the person? Hire a private investigator (PI). To find a qualified PI, check your state's professional private investigator organization, ask friends for a recommendation, or contact several attorneys' offices and ask who they recommend as a qualified PI with expertise finding people.