We all miss someone. We all have at least one person from our past that we haven’t seen in years. Their absence affects us deeply. We remember, and we wonder whatever happened to…
Maybe you’ve been looking for someone and had no luck. Finding people can be difficult. Sometimes people move frequently, change their phone number and forget to leave a trail of breadcrumbs to help you find them again.
And not *everyone* is on Facebook.
Ever wish you knew how to find people? PeopleFinders can help. Use these tips and our people search service to become a people finding pro.
Mix it up when you search for people by name
As you set out to become an expert people finder, the first thing you should know is how a people search works. When you run a people search, you’re looking for specific information about an individual, such as their current phone number or address. This information comes from public records – documents that are recorded by government agencies.
These documents are filled out by different people at different times, so they aren’t always consistent. One might include a first, middle and last name. Another might include a first name, middle initial and last name. A third might include an abbreviated first name and complete last name.
So when you run a people search, mix it up. Try every variation you can think of. Start with a first and last name, enter a commonly used nickname, include a middle initial and keep going until you get results.
Be a creative speller
Public records are created by humans, and therefore subject to human error. Sometimes names get spelled incorrectly, numbers get transposed and details get omitted. These minor mistakes make finding people even harder.
If you’re having trouble finding someone, get creative. Search for variations of a name (like John, Jonathan and Johnny), misspell the person’s name, and search until you strike gold. You might want to keep a list of all your searches so you don’t repeat them.
Find people with a common name
Only a few people of truly unique names. Most of us share our monikers with several other people. Finding someone with a common name tends to be tricky.
The key to finding the right person is adding extra details and watching for something familiar. Include all the details you know and check the results on PeopleFinders.com. Look for relatives, city names or anything else you can connect to the right person.
Find someone by maiden name
Looking for a woman, but don’t know her married name? PeopleFinders can help.
A background check is a comprehensive overview of anyone’s past. Use it to find a woman who has changed her name. Enter her first and maiden name, and order your report to get her most recent contact information.
Search by address
You may have visited someone so often that their old address is permanently burned into your memory. This might seem like useless information now, but it can come in handy. If you can’t find someone by name, then try a search by address.
Enter the person’s address and city. Include the state and zip if you know it. Run your search to find the person today. And come on – you always knew that information wasn’t just needlessly taking up space.
Search by phone number
At PeopleFinders, we like to give you options to help you find anyone, anywhere. If you need another great way to locate people, run a search by phone.
Enter all ten digits to get started. You’ll get a list of people who owned the number, past and present. Review the list to find the right person, and then learn how to get in touch today. It’s like recycling your old data!
Add more details to your people search
A people search by name is the perfect place to start, but sometimes you need to add a little more information to locate the right person. The more details you provide, the better your results will be.
After you run a people search, you’ll get a list of people who match your criteria. You’ll also have the option to include more information and search again. Try adding the person’s age, DOB, former city and anything else you know. Providing more data refines your results and helps you find people faster.
Find a friend – Find a relative
Despite your best efforts, some people just seem to be elusive. If you can’t find a person, it may be time to enlist help.
Try searching for a relative or close friend of the individual you hope to locate. Then reach out to that person and ask for help. They may be able to provide the contact information you need, or at least point you in the right direction. And remember, PeopleFinders.com adds public records all the time. If you can’t find someone now, try again later. As soon as new information is available, we’ll have it for you.
Start a people search membership
One of the best tricks for finding people is a People Search Membership. A membership gives you unlimited searches, so you can keep going until you find the right person.
Start your membership, and run people searches by name, address and phone number. Add more information for better results, and try all the people finding tips listed here.
Happy people finding
So whom are you missing? It’s time to reconnect. With a little patience and persistence, we’ll help you find anyone, anywhere.
Have questions or need more help with your people finding adventure? Leave a comment or question below, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.
