What do you do when you need to find someone in the US? It could be a missing wife, an absconding clerk or a long-lost brother. In each case, the easiest way to find them is to use an SSN trace or run a SSN Search before if it is required inside the SSN records database.
An SSN trace makes use of a person’s social security number (SSN) to get a current address and other information to search people by SSN. However, when you go to an online site to have an SSN trace done, watch out for sites that claim they can get you any information they want. In most cases, these are scam artists who are out to get an SSN trace fee from you and leave you hanging.
Illegal access to information
The problem with the former type of provider is that since they are unethical, they may be giving inaccurate information or fail to live up to their guarantees in the SSN trace commission. Moreover, you are encouraging the proliferation of these companies, who may at some point be illegally accessing information about you!
Unless you have an overwhelming, but ineligible purpose for needing an SSN trace for a particular person, it is best to go to investigative companies that comply with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for accessing confidential information in an SSN trace such as LocatePeople.org. Under the Graham-Leach Act, an SSN trace can only be authorized when permissible purpose is provided. Since these are ethical entities, you are protected in your SSN trace from scams and sleazy business practices.
Credit bureaus
The favored reference for an accurate SSN trace is using the header files of the three national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union, collectively known as the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA). The information the credit bureaus collect come from the courts, debt collectors, creditors, lenders and utilities companies. These are the entities that are most likely to have updated information about any particular person, making it a valuable repository for an SSN trace. An alternative national credit bureau incorporated in 2002 that lets consumers self-report is the Payment Reporting Builds Credit, Inc.
The header files mentioned earlier includes data such as the name, address history, phone numbers if available, sometimes employment history and spouse information. Credit ratings are not specified, but can be derived. The value of the header file is the same for a reverse SSN trace, in which an SSN is not known but can be accessed from a person’s name and last address. However, a reverse SSN trace is also covered under the restrictions of the FCRA for an SSN trace.
The scope of an SSN trace
When the information available in an SSN trace is not enough, you might have to turn to other types of searches. Data such as professional licenses, property ownership, criminal and civil convictions, names and addresses of family, liens, business affiliations and so on will need to employ more in-depth investigation, such as a background check. Because the accuracy of the SSN trace information depends on the speed of updating, recent changes in a person’s SSN records may not yet be reflected in the SSN trace source.