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Skip Tracing: Finding the Unfindable

By Ian Pierce, Risk Management Analyst


According to the U.S. Census Bureau a person in the United States can expect to move 11.7 times in their lifetime. This constant mobility can make it incredibly challenging to locate individuals especially those who may not wish to be found. The process of tracking down these individuals is known as skip tracing.


Common Reasons for Skip Tracing


Skip tracing is often employed for a variety of reasons, including:


  • Debt Collection: Creditors often seek to locate debtors who have relocated or gone off the grid to evade financial obligations.

  • Missing Persons: This includes efforts to find missing family members, friends, or fugitives suspected of criminal activity.

  • Job Applications: Employers may conduct background checks to verify the identity and history of potential hires.

  • Real Estate Opportunities: Property owners might wish to sell homes that aren’t publicly listed, and skip tracing can uncover these hidden opportunities.

  • Witness Investigations: Legal professionals may need to locate witnesses or defendants relevant to ongoing cases.

  • Insurance Claims: Investigators may seek to uncover fraud or locate policyholders, claimants, or beneficiaries.


Effective Skip Tracing


To successfully locate an individual, it's essential to gather Personally Identifiable Information (PII), which includes the person's full name, last known address, date of birth, and, if available, their Social Security number.


The next step involves utilizing search engines and social media to discover connections and recent activities. Public records—such as property deeds and court documents—can also provide valuable insights. Additionally, reaching out to known contacts or associates may yield current contact information that can aid in the search.


For challenging cases, professional services like CSI utilize specialized skip tracing tools and comprehensive databases to enhance their search capabilities.


CSI's Role in Locating Individuals


One of the core services offered by CSI is locating individuals on behalf of law firms, local and state governments, and estates searching for missing heirs. Our expertise also extends to healthcare settings, where hospitals often need to identify next-of-kin for patients unable to make decisions about their care.


Typically, hospital social workers and discharge managers are tasked with finding family members. However, challenges arise when a patient is unresponsive, a foreign national, or lacks publicly available information. This is where CSI comes in, utilizing specialized skip tracing techniques to locate next-of-kin using a combination of public databases and social media.



A Case Study: Navigating Social Media


Recently, CSI faced a challenging case involving a Canadian patient whose only available information was a name and date of birth. Initial searches yielded no relatives in the U.S., prompting the investigator to turn to social media for clues.


Through diligent research, the investigator discovered the patient’s public Facebook profile. By examining the connections listed, several individuals with the same last name caught their attention. After reaching out with private messages, one relative—a first cousin—responded, confirming their relationship to the patient. This connection allowed the investigator to promptly facilitate communication between the relative and the hospital social worker, enabling crucial decision-making support.



The Power of Social Media in Skip Tracing

Social media often emerges as one of the quickest and most effective tools for locating individuals and their loved ones. In cases where patients lack online profiles, CSI's investigators tap into public databases and proprietary programs to uncover next-of-kin.


Conclusion

In a world where people frequently relocate and maintain minimal public presence, skip tracing serves as an invaluable resource for various sectors. Whether for debt collection, real estate opportunities, or critical medical decisions, the art of finding the unfindable has never been more essential. Through innovative techniques and a commitment to ethical practices, CSI continues to bridge the gap between uncertainty and resolution, ensuring that no one is truly lost.


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