Skip Tracing Basics: Finding Disappeared Debtors

When a debtor ghosts you—new phone number, moved, no forwarding address—you need skip tracing.

"Skip tracing" is the art and science of finding people who don't want to be found. After locating thousands of disappeared debtors, here's your complete guide to DIY skip tracing.

What is Skip Tracing?

Skip: Someone who "skipped town" (avoided creditors) Tracing: Finding their current location/contact info Legal uses:

Debt collection

Serving legal documents

Finding missing persons

Heir location

It's 100% legal when done correctly and used for legitimate purposes.

The 5-Tier Skip Tracing System

Tier 1: Free Online Tools (Start Here)

Time: 15-30 minutes Cost: $0 Success rate: 30-40% Tools: 1. Google Search

Search: "[Name] [City]" or "[Name] [Business Name]"

Also try:

"[Name] [Email]"

"[Name] [Phone Number]"

"[Name] [Old Address]"

Why it works: People leave digital breadcrumbs everywhere. 2. Facebook

Search by name, mutual friends, or old location. Check:

Current city listed

Recent check-ins

Tagged photos

Friends list (may have family members)

Why it works: Most people have Facebook and don't hide their location. 3. LinkedIn

Search by name and company. LinkedIn shows:

Current employer

Location

Contact info (sometimes)

Why it works: Professionals keep LinkedIn updated for job opportunities. 4. TruePeopleSearch.com (Free)

Enter name + last known city/state.

Provides:

Possible current addresses

Phone numbers

Relatives and associates

Age range

Why it works: Aggregates public records. Surprisingly accurate. 5. White Pages (whitepages.com)

Free basic info:

Phone numbers

Addresses (current and previous)

Relatives

Why it works: Phone directory data, updated regularly.

Tier 2: Low-Cost Online Tools ($5-50)

Time: 30-60 minutes Cost: $5-50 per search Success rate: 50-70% Tools: 1. BeenVerified ($26.89/month)

Provides:

Current and past addresses

Phone numbers

Email addresses

Social media profiles

Relatives and associates

Criminal records

Property records

2. Intelius ($19.95-34.95/month)

Similar to BeenVerified, slightly different database.

3. Spokeo ($19.95/month)

Focuses on email and phone searches. Good for reverse lookups.

4. PeopleFinders ($24.95/month)

Comprehensive people search with deep public records.

Pro tip: Use the trial period, cancel after you find your person.

Tier 3: Professional Skip Tracing Tools ($100-500)

Time: 15-30 minutes Cost: $100-500 per search Success rate: 70-90% Services: 1. TLOxp

Industry standard for professional skip tracers.

Requires license/credentials

Extremely comprehensive

Real-time data

2. Accurint (LexisNexis)

Used by law firms, investigators, and debt collectors.

Court records

Utility records

Credit headers

Employment history

3. IDI Data

Specialized in hard-to-find people.

Skip tracing specific

Asset searches

Business records

Note: These require business accounts and often background checks to access.

Tier 4: Public Records (Free but Time-Consuming)

Time: 1-3 hours Cost: $0 Success rate: 40-60% Sources: 1. County Property Records

Search by name at county assessor's website.

Property ownership

Mailing addresses

Sale records

2. Court Records

Search county/state court websites.

Lawsuits

Divorces

Bankruptcies

Criminal cases

All show addresses as of filing date.

3. Secretary of State (Business Records)

Search business entity databases.

Business owners

Registered agent addresses

Annual reports

4. Voter Registration

Some states allow public access to voter rolls (limited info).

5. DMV Records

Varies by state. Some allow searches with proper documentation.

Tier 5: Private Investigator ($500-2,000+)

Time: Days to weeks Cost: $500-2,000+ per case Success rate: 80-95% When to use:

All other methods failed

Debt is large (>$10,000)

Legal action planned

Debtor is intentionally hiding

What they can do:

Surveillance

Database access you can't get

Interviews with neighbors/family

Asset searches

Step-by-Step Skip Tracing Process

Step 1: Gather What You Know

Before you start searching, collect:

Full name (including middle name)

Last known address

Last known phone/email

Social Security Number (partial okay)

Date of birth (even approximate)

Spouse/family member names

Employer name

Bank name (from check if you have one)

The more you have, the easier it is.

Step 2: Start with Free Tools

Spend 30 minutes on:

Google (all variations of their name)

Facebook

LinkedIn

TruePeopleSearch.com

WhitePages.com

Document everything you find.

Step 3: Reverse Lookups

If you found a phone number or email, search it:

Google the number/email

Spokeo reverse phone lookup

TrueCaller (phone)

Why: Phone numbers often link to new addresses.

Step 4: Contact Known Associates

If free tools failed, try contacting:

Previous employer

Family members (be careful here)

Old neighbors (be vague: "I'm trying to reach [Name], do you know how I can contact them?")

Legal note: Don't disclose the debt to third parties. That's an FDCPA violation.

Step 5: Paid Tools

If free methods failed and the debt is >$1,000, invest in a paid tool:

BeenVerified or Intelius (first try)

Professional tools if you're a business

Step 6: Public Records Dive

Still nothing? Manual public records search:

County property tax records

Court records (divorce, lawsuit, bankruptcy)

Business entity filings

This is tedious but sometimes the only way.

Step 7: Hire a Pro

If the debt is >$5,000 and you've exhausted everything, hire a licensed private investigator.

Legal Considerations

What you CAN do:

✅ Search public databases

✅ Call previous employers (don't mention debt)

✅ Contact family (don't mention debt)

✅ Use paid skip tracing services

✅ Hire a private investigator

What you CANNOT do:

❌ Lie about who you are

❌ Pretend to be law enforcement

❌ Tell third parties about the debt

❌ Harass or threaten anyone

❌ Use pretexting (lying to get info)

Consequences: FDCPA violations = $1,000+ fines per incident

Skip Tracing Red Flags

If you find:

🚩 Bankruptcy filing → Stop collection immediately, file proof of claim

🚩 Death records → Can only contact estate executor

🚩 Prison records → They're not paying anytime soon

🚩 Restraining order → Consult attorney before contact

🚩 Military service → SCRA protections apply

Success Stories

Case 1: The Facebook Find

Debtor owed $12,000, disappeared.

Found on Facebook (different last name = married)

Tagged in photos at a restaurant (location tag)

Searched restaurant's city on TruePeopleSearch

Found current address in 20 minutes

Case 2: The Relative Route

Debtor owed $8,500, ghosted us.

Found mother's address (public records)

Sent certified letter to mother

Mother forwarded it to debtor

Debtor called within 3 days

Case 3: The Employer Play

Debtor owed $15,000, new phone, moved.

LinkedIn showed current employer

Called employer (didn't mention debt): "I'm trying to reach [Name], is this still the right company?"

Receptionist: "Yes, let me transfer you."

Connected, set up payment plan

Tools Comparison

Free (TruePeopleSearch):

Best for: Initial searches, common names

Accuracy: 60-70%

Low-Cost (BeenVerified/Intelius):

Best for: Most searches, good balance

Accuracy: 75-85%

Professional (TLOxp/Accurint):

Best for: High-value debts, hard-to-find people

Accuracy: 85-95%

Private Investigator:

Best for: When all else fails, large debts

Accuracy: 90-98%

DIY Skip Tracing Checklist

Before hiring a pro, make sure you've tried:

[ ] Google (all name variations)

[ ] Facebook search

[ ] LinkedIn search

[ ] TruePeopleSearch.com

[ ] WhitePages.com

[ ] Reverse phone/email lookup

[ ] County property records

[ ] Court records search

[ ] Business entity search

[ ] Contact previous employer (no debt mention)

[ ] Paid service (BeenVerified/Intelius)

If all fail: Time to hire a professional.

The Collection Kings Approach

We locate 85% of disappeared debtors within 48 hours.

Our system:

Access to professional databases (TLOxp, Accurint)

Trained skip tracing specialists

Network of private investigators for tough cases

20+ years of experience

Result: We find people you can't. Need help locating a debtor? Contact us or get a free assessment.

Key Takeaways

📍 Start with free tools (Google, Facebook, TruePeopleSearch)

💰 Paid tools ($20-50) for better accuracy

🔍 Professional tools for large debts (>$5,000)

👤 Private investigator as last resort

📝 Document everything you find

⚖️ Never violate FDCPA (don't tell third parties about debt)

⏰ Act fast—the longer they're missing, the harder to find

Remember: 90% of "disappeared" debtors are easily findable with the right tools and persistence. Start with free, escalate to paid, and don't give up. Stop losing money to ghosts. Start finding them today.