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Skiptracing is the process of locating a person's whereabouts. Skiptracing tactics may be employed by a skip tracer, Contact tracing (in a public health context), debt collection, process server, bail bondsman or bail agency enforcer (bounty hunter), repossession agent, private investigator, lawyer, police detective, journalist, stalker or by any person attempting to locate a subject whose contact information is not immediately known. Similar techniques have also been used by investigators to locate in .
Then the skip tracer will start collecting as much information as possible about the subject using Internet searches, databases, public records, and their network of contacts. Often, the job becomes more than research since one must usually employ methods of social engineering, which involves calling or visiting former neighbors or other known contacts to ask about the person, sometimes under false or misleading pretenses. (2013). 9780398088569, Charles C Thomas. ISBN 9780398088569
Records or Information that skip tracers use may include phone number databases, (including information provided on a loan application, credit card application, and in other debt collector databases), job application information, criminal background checks, utility bills, social security, disability, and public tax information. While some of these records may be publicly available, some cannot be accessed without an appropriate search warrant, or a specific permissible purpose, which is generally only available to financial institutions, their contracted third-party vendors, law enforcement or licensed private investigators.
Even when no specific information is returned, public and private databases exist that cross-reference skiptracing information with others the skip may have lived with in the recent past. For instance, if previous records show a skip lived in the same house as a third party, the third party may also be skiptraced in an effort to locate the primary target.
The next step is to verify the information. The information is then analyzed and verified, eliminating some leads as outdated or associated with the wrong person. Sometimes the person's current whereabouts are in the data, but are obfuscated by the sheer amount of information or disinformation.
In the past, skiptracing included such things as dumpster diving and pretexting calls to utility companies. Currently, skiptracing is largely conducted online using paid databases and phone calls to gather and verify information. (2009). 9780470555408, John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780470555408 Modern social media platforms such as Facebook have greatly simplified skiptracing work.
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