| There is so much confusion online today regarding | | | | doing background checks. |
| unlisted telephone numbers, including cell phone | | | | These same agencies that supply the data to private |
| numbers, and whether or not you can trace them | | | | investigators are now private labeling the data and |
| using online databases. Some articles you read will talk | | | | selling them to online background check, reverse phone |
| about the simplicity of finding the owner of any phone | | | | directory and people search services who sell them to |
| number, even if it is not listed, using a search engine like | | | | the general public. Why do they do this? The answer |
| Google, Yahoo or MSN. Although this technique | | | | is simple. There is a huge demand for it and there is |
| certainly can work (I was the first one online to | | | | money to be made. |
| document its effectiveness nearly three years ago), it | | | | Just because you tell your phone company that you |
| is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. The | | | | want your number to be unlisted does not prevent |
| critics claim this technique does not work at all, I beg to | | | | other companies from compiling and reselling the data. |
| differ. I and many other people have been able to | | | | Most likely, you actually agreed to have your private |
| successfully trace telephone numbers using search | | | | number shared with other companies when you filled |
| engines. | | | | out a loan or credit card application or tried to win a |
| These same critics and naysayers claim that all online | | | | drawing. When it comes to loans, it is usually included in |
| reverse phone services which claim to provide user | | | | the disclosures you sign when you close a loan. |
| data from non-listed numbers and cellular numbers are | | | | Now back to the databases of unlisted numbers and |
| scams. Again, this is simply untrue. Truth be told, there | | | | cell numbers. These databases are often a couple of |
| are many databases available that contain millions of | | | | years old so the accuracy is not always there. Some |
| numbers not publicly listed in telephone books and | | | | time ago, I did a random test of five cellular numbers of |
| directories. The same is true with mobile phone | | | | people I know using an online phone lookup service. |
| numbers. | | | | Each search cost me about $10. Each number was |
| How can this be you ask? Let's explain now. | | | | contained in the database and four of the five |
| Every time you fill out a contest form or survey at the | | | | numbers had the correct name of the owner, one of |
| grocery store, state fair, or other public place and you | | | | the the listing had an old address and one of the listings |
| input your name and phone number on it, those get | | | | was wrong altogether. To me, 80 percent odds is not |
| sold to data supplier companies. Each time you fill out a | | | | bad. |
| loan application or credit card application and supply | | | | So to sum up this article, do not believe naysayers |
| your cell phone number or home phone number to the | | | | who say it is impossible to trace non-listed phones. This |
| financial institution, they inturn share this information with | | | | is simply untrue. Private investigators have been doing |
| the credit reporting agencies (also called credit | | | | it for years and now in the age of the Internet we all |
| bureaus). These services then pool their data to have | | | | have access to these data sources if you are willing |
| a phonebook available in case people do not pay their | | | | to pay the price. Just remember, not every number is |
| debt. These credit agencies then have either sold their | | | | listed in these databases and sometimes the data can |
| data or partnered with other companies to resell this | | | | be wrong, but the majority of the time it should be |
| data to companies in the private investigation industry | | | | correct. Good luck with your search! |
| for private eyes to use when tracking people and | | | | |