What Investigators Can Learn From People Who Want to Disappear

Skip tracing is the art of finding people who are trying to hide. Collection agencies, law enforcement, bounty hunters, and private detectives use skip tracing.

One tool used by law enforcement agencies is the CLEAR system from Thomson Reuters.

Social Media

Social media is often one of the most valuable sources of information when searching for someone. If accounts are not deleted or set to private, public records tools can scan social media activity to find useful details. These platforms may also reveal connections such as friends and family, which can provide additional leads to locating the person in question.

Image Search

Photos posted online can contain hidden clues that point to a person’s location. By using image recognition and reverse search tools, it is sometimes possible to identify landmarks, businesses, or even small background details in a picture that reveal where the individual has been.

Aliases (AKAs)

Many people who are hiding may adopt another name, commonly referred to as an alias or “also known as” (AKA). Advanced data searches can identify unusual or repeating patterns that suggest a person is using more than one name. Uncovering these false identities can often be a key step in locating the individual.

Synthetic Identities

Some individuals try to stay hidden by creating synthetic identities. This involves mixing real information with false details. For example, a person might use a valid address but intentionally misspell their own name. Such minor alterations may seem small, but they are a common tactic for those attempting to avoid detection. Data comparison can uncover these inconsistencies and link them back to the same individual.

Mail Forwarding Services

Another method of hiding is the use of a post office box or mail-forwarding service instead of a physical address. While this can make tracing more difficult, physical address information can sometimes be obtained through legal means, such as a court order, making it possible to find where a person actually lives.

Voter Registration

When a person registers to vote, their basic details such as name, date of birth, and address are often part of the public record. These records can then be used to trace someone’s whereabouts. Even if other methods fail, registration records can provide valuable information that leads to a current location.

Motor Vehicle Registration

Vehicle registration data is another source used to track down individuals. With millions of records stored in archives, it becomes possible to find links between names, addresses, and vehicles, giving another pathway to locate someone who is attempting to remain hidden.

Challenges During the Pandemic

The pandemic created new difficulties for finding people who had disappeared, mainly because fewer individuals were outside their homes. With limited CCTV footage and reduced activity in public spaces, opportunities for tracking through movement were greatly reduced. Bank card transactions and location tracking also declined when people stayed home, limiting traditional tracing methods.

On the other hand, because so many people spent more time indoors, it was sometimes easier to confirm their presence at home. Mobile phone tracking and signal triangulation became useful tools for identifying individuals who continued to use their personal devices while remaining in one place.

Fewer Witnesses

The reduced number of people in public during lockdowns also meant fewer witnesses were available when incidents occurred. This lack of public presence made investigations more difficult and contributed to challenges in solving certain cases. With fewer eyes on the streets, many events went unseen, creating gaps in valuable information.

Mental Health and Missing Persons

Another challenge involved missing persons related to mental health issues. Authorities often advise reporting cases of missing individuals with mental illness right away, as their safety may be at risk. However, if the person is legally an adult and not considered a danger to themselves or others, they cannot be forced to return once located. In many cases, such individuals remain missing, with some eventually living without stable housing.

Homelessness and Disappearance

Homelessness is closely connected to missing person cases. The number of homeless individuals rose significantly during the pandemic, making it harder to find those who had disappeared. A large portion of the homeless population is concentrated in major cities, so searches often begin in these areas. Unfortunately, many people who vanish under these circumstances remain untraceable for long periods of time.

Conclusion

Skip tracing combines a wide variety of methods to locate individuals who do not want to be found. From digital footprints left on social media to public records such as voter registration or motor vehicle data, each technique provides clues that can piece together someone’s whereabouts. Even small details, such as a misspelled name or a background object in a photo, can play a major role in uncovering hidden locations.

Despite advancements in technology, challenges still exist, especially in times of crisis like the pandemic or when dealing with individuals who are homeless or struggling with mental illness. While these cases are complex, the persistence of investigative methods shows that hiding completely is often far more difficult than it may seem. Skip tracing continues to be a vital tool in reconnecting people with the information needed to bring closure to difficult situations.