You may be a journalist trying to track down a lead for a sorry, a genealogist looking to connect with distant relatives, or just nostalgic and looking to connect with old friends. Whatever the reason you're looking to find someone, the internet has simplified the process. Rather than spending days huddled over microfiche in the public library, almost all the information you'll need is available at the click of a mouse. Although some information is only available by paid subscription, there's lots you can learn for free. This page will help you learn how to find people, whether they are strangers or old friends.
Introduction
- Finding people has become easier with the advent of online tools, but there are so many ways to find people online that you may be mystified where to begin. Determining who you're looking for, and what type of information you need will help you be able to focus your search.
Step 1: Who Are You Looking For?
- The first step in any search is to determine who you're looking for, and exactly what information you need. If you're researching a public figure, doing a simple Google News search may get you started. If you want to connect with an old college classmate, a quick look up of the phone number of your school's alumni office may be all you need to connect. Thing about the specifics you already know about the person, and use them to make connections with people or institutions that may be able to connect you.
Step 2: How to Find Phone Numbers and Addresses
- If you know the person's name and state, you can use an online white pages, such as WhitePages.com, AnyWho, and InfoSpace to look up phone numbers and street addresses. If you only have a name, a comprehensive search engine such as Pipl may be able to provide you more information.
Step 3: How to Find Public Records
- LexisNexis is the most comprehensive public records database online, but it is fee-based. If you don't need a general search, and know what type of records you're looking for, Virtual Gumshoe can help you locate all sorts of public records, including adoption records, court cases, and lists of sex offenders.
Step 4: How to Find Email Addresses
E-Mail Addresses are more difficult to find than phone numbers, as ISP's don't register their customer's e-mail addresses publicly. You can check for publicly registered e-mail addresses on sites such as Reunion.com or MySite, or use a search engine that searches several directories at once, such as Addresses.com. You can also search social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, which may provide e-mail details, or a way to contact the individual through the social networking site itself.
