Reconnecting: How to Locate Missing Persons
When attempting to reconnect with a missing person, a skiptrace, or locate search, is a process that can be used to help find them. Skiptracing is conducted by tracing a person’s personal information, such as their address, phone number, driver’s license, ancestry searches, financial records, and other identifying information. Skip tracing can be used to find lost family members, long-lost friends, debtors, or other individuals. The ultimate goal of a skiptrace is to reconnect loved ones and restore families.
The process involves combing through public and private databases, possibly conducting interviews, and utilizing investigative techniques to piece together information about the person. Skiptracing can help uncover the whereabouts of a missing person and in some cases, even reveal clues as to why they may have gone missing. With the help of a skiptrace, many individuals have been reunited with their loved ones, and families have been restored.
Are all missing persons cases the same?
No, not all missing persons cases are the same. In our line of work, we often have people call us regarding a missing persons investigation they want to have completed. In some cases, the person they are looking for is not actually missing but has become estranged from the client, and they are looking to reconnect with them.
Depending on the situation, the investigation may involve locating a missing person or helping to bring two parties back in contact with one another. In either case, it is important for us to understand the full scope of the situation before we can move forward with the investigation.
A missing person is someone whose whereabouts are unknown and who is not in a place where they would normally be expected to be. They may have been kidnapped, abducted, or gone missing for a variety of other reasons, such as running away, being the victim of a crime, being lost in a wilderness area, being lost at sea, or being the victim of foul play.
In some cases, a missing person may have had a physical or mental health episode that led to them going missing. When a person is missing, their family, friends, and community members may launch a search to find them. Law enforcement agencies may also be involved in the search and investigation.
Missing person database!
In Canada, you can visit the government of Canada, Canada’s missing, to learn more about cases in Canada.
How to locate a family member?
When conducting a locate or missing person investigation, we are attempting to trace the current whereabouts of the person in question. To do this, we use a variety of search strategies. This includes searching databases, conducting interviews, and utilizing other investigative resources.
We may also use surveillance techniques such as tracking phone numbers, monitoring social media, and or conducting physical surveillance. Ultimately, the goal is to find the person in question and determine their current location.
Contact us today!
If you are ready to take that next step into locating a missing family member or friend, call our office for a free consultation or complete an inquiry form below.
About the Author
Whitney Joy Smith
Founder of The Smith Investigation Agency in 2014, Whitney Joy Smith’s extensive background as a private investigator is matched only by her passion for the role. A graduate of several respected institutions, including Northwest Florida State College and George Brown College, her early years in life were spent between Canada and the United States. This education, along with her formative years as a private investigator in various agencies, informed much of her knowledge of private investigative laws, regulations, and operating standards in both countries.
The recipient of numerous industry awards and accolades, including the Consumers Choice Award, Best in Ottawa, and many others, Whitney takes pride in working closely with her ever-growing agency to raise the bar, maintain compliance, and meet the investigative needs of clients. Whitney is active in various membership and supporting roles, including the CPIRC, CBN, CAPI, Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and many others. Her experience-driven, thought-provoking articles have been featured in everything from Readers Digest to Business News Daily, and she strives to continually redefine standards for those in the private investigative and security fields. Learn more about Whitney and the team at The Smith Investigation Agency today.
