Find Someone

At some point, you might want to find someone--perhaps a person that you once knew, but lost contact with, or maybe even someone you've never met. It could be a biological parent, a debtor, an old friend, a past love, or someone who just touched your life briefly and you never had the chance to thank them. The less you know about where they've been, the harder it'll be to track them down, but fortunately this is the Information Age and everybody leaves a digital trail. Here's how to follow it back to the person you've been looking for.

Steps

 * 1)  Make a detailed profile of the person you're looking for containing information such as:
 * 2) * Name (first, middle, last, maiden, married, nicknames).
 * 3) * Age/date of birth.
 * 4) * All old addresses.
 * 5) * Past jobs, schools.
 * 6) * Habits, likes, dislikes.
 * 7) * Anyone and anything that has crossed or walked that same path as this person (friends, neighbors).
 * 8) * Anything else you can think of, no matter how small or how unimportant you may think it is, put it in.
 * 9) Search the name. Every time you find a page or clue that suggests other parts of the profile, write it down in the profile. For example, you might find "Jane Mane" mentioned in a newspaper in Albany, NY and in a brochure in Dallas, TX. Write down both of those locations in the profile with question marks. If you find another indication that the person with that name is in one of those locations, put a tick next to that location every time.
 * 10) *Put quotation marks around each version of their name and plug it into major search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc). The more variations and engines you try, the more info you're likely to find (although it can get tedious).
 * 11) *If you suspect that the person has gone to another country, especially one where a different language is spoken. Many major search engines have different versions for different countries (Australia, China, etc.) Try those.
 * 12) *When searching for a woman who might have gotten married and changed her name, try adding "née" in the search box with every variation (née is a word used to indicate that the person is using their maiden name).
 * 13) *Next try websites that exist specifically for finding people, as well as social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn).
 * 14) Search the zip code in the US. There are websites which will allow you to enter a zip code (you may have to enter a last name as well) and get the city or town and the state. If you have a 9 digit zip code, it can be tracked to the exact block within a city or town. Now you can search in directories in that area for this person. If they are not in that directory, call directory assistance for that area.  Many times people will have an unlisted number--while not in the book, it's often in directory assistance.
 * 15) Free People Search Engines are also available. These allow anyone to make free people searches. An example of this would be http://find-people-free-search.com/.
 * 16) Some very useful information can be gained from this free search facility. Friend-finder forums are also available and are moderated by "search angels" or volunteers who use special people search tools. An example of this would be http://consumer-warning.org/lost-friends-board.
 * 17) Check out the phone number. You can try plugging the person's phone number into search engines. If they've listed or advertised their phone number anywhere on the Internet, it's likely to turn up. Put the entire phone number in quotes. Experiment with hyphens, periods, and parentheses used to separate the numbers.
 * 18) *In the US, the area code can be tracked back to sections of the state in which it is used. The next three digits are the exchange area; most exchange areas cover a small town, or a section inside a city, say a 10 x 10 block area. You can contact the phone companies in that area, or get a phone book from the area, and make a map of the exchange area, based on like exchanges in the book. Even most cell phones, the number carries the exchange where it was issued. If you have a phone number and zip code, you can cross over the maps and get an even smaller area to search.
 * 19) Look into organizations that the person might've joined or been associated with. It could be a hobby, church, non-profit, or professional organization. Ask for a copy of their membership directory, if available, and check for the person's name there.
 * 20) Start talking to people if you come up with "cold trails". Get in contact with other people that knew the specific person you're searching for. Ask them questions about when they've last seen them, talked to them, or any personal information like last known email addresses or phone numbers. Explain why you're looking for this person. They may not tell you anything to protect the person's privacy, but they'll probably tell the person that you're looking for them, and the person might want to get in touch with you. Leave your name and phone number behind for that purpose.
 * 21) Post an ad. If you know where the person is located, post an ad in the local online bulletin board (e.g. Crageslist). Explain who you're looking for and why. Leave your contact information. If you want a long-term ad, build a simple website that uses their name as a keyword. If they ever search their own name, your site might turn up. If you don't know the person's location but you do know which schools they went to, what their career is, or what hobbies/interests they pursue, try posting on forums and e-mail lists ("listservs"). Keep the person's privacy in mind; don't reveal any incriminating information that you know about them.
 * 22) Hire a private investigator. If you're not having luck, or you don't have enough time to track this person down, it may be better to pay a professional to do this.

Tips

 * Change your thinking. This may no longer be the person you once knew. Their appearance, preferences, lifestyle, and habits may have changed dramatically, even within a short time. All the information you have may be outdated. Don't rule out new information because "She would never have moved there" or "He would never have done that". You must also accept the possibility that the person has died or gone to jail.
 * Be honest if you find the person. If you do manage to track someone down, don't pretend you just happened to be in town. Be up-front about your search efforts. It may be embarrassing, but the person might be flattered. If it makes them uncomfortable, be understanding and do not contact them again. The worst thing will be if you resume your interactions with this person and later on, they discover that you searched for them high and low--that can be very alarming and disturbing, especially since you hid something from them.

Warnings

 * These same steps can also be used for someone to find you.
 * Doing this with the intention of stalking someone (which includes even just watching them) can get you a restraining order and eventually arrested.
 * Do not lie to people in order to get them to give you information. Not only is it unethical, but the person you're looking for may find out what you're doing and become suspicious of you, resulting in legal action.
 * Web Search is not a free service. Be prepared to pay for it.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Find a Person With an Unlisted Phone Number
 * How to Find a Current Address for Someone
 * How to Find a Person That Was Put up for Adoption
 * How to Find an Old Friend
 * How to Search for Classmates Online
 * How to Find Old Friends Online