TRACING MADE SIMPLE--TRACK 'EM DOWN!!! by: Michael E. Enlow (C) Copyright 1993 Michael E. Enlow How To Get The "Goods" On Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime... ---------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER This document was written by an expert, quite knowledgeable in the methods and techniques of good, successful investigation. The author has based this material solely upon his discoveries and experiences in the trade but is not an attorney. Thus no legal advice is offered herein. Be cautioned therefore, that this document neither asserts the legality of any of the methods described herein, nor does it advocate any usage of techniques without first seeking competent legal advice and adherence to the law. The author, editor, and service providers, unequivocally disclaim any responsibility for damages resulting from the use of any of the techniques or the consequences of implementing anything contained herein. This writing is provided strictly for informational purposes only. --------------------------------------------------------------- Do you wanna get the "inside scoop" on some one you know? I mean... do you really want to find out about someone's background..... for whatever reason? * How `bout knowing things about your prospective partners' background before you even sit down at the bargaining table? (Imagine the look on his face when you ask about his wife and kids... calling them by name!) * Or maybe you want to find the jerk who put screws to you in your last business deal. * Do you want to find out if someone is holding out on you? Does he have hidden bank accounts? * Maybe you have a need for information about something else; like finding someone else that may have a "gadget" similar to yours on the market. * Maybe you'd like to locate a missing heir, or determine who's responsible for the theft of something you value? Would you really like that? Well... right here, right now I'm about to tell you how it can be done. Now... first of all let me make something very, very clear: I am quite proficient in the methods and techniques of effective investigation. The material I'm about to reveal to you is based solely on my discoveries and experiences in the trade. HOWEVER, I am not an attorney. Therefore, no legal advice is offered herein. Be cautioned--this document neither asserts the legality of any of the methods described in this writing, nor does it advocate any use of these techniques without first seeking competent legal advice and adherence to the law. My goals are to make you aware of the techniques; thus, helping you protect your own privacy. Having said that.... let's go to it! HOW TO FIND ANYONE-ANYWHERE-ANYTIME YOU WANT. . . The methods used to locate people outlined herein are the same strategies used for locating missing persons of both sorts; those missing on purpose, and those with whom you've simply lost touch. First, start with the known and work back towards the unknown. . . Like their last place of abode. STEP 1: Go to the property. Note the exact location by street number or exact number of the house. If the property in question is located in a rural area, measure the distance, in miles, from the nearest intersection back to the property. While you are at the property talk to the neighbors using a suitable pretext to gain their cooperation. (Perhaps you are doing a genealogy study and trying to locate the subject because he (or she) is entitled to a portion of their "poor great uncle's estate.") This will usually make the neighbors open up and tell you whatever they know about the whereabouts of your subject. On the other hand, you always feel it out. What if the neighbor you're talking with hated the subject? Wouldn't they be likely to give you all the "juicy goods" on your target? Even if the neighbors don't know exactly where the subject went, they may have noted a "U-haul" at the home on such and such a date. Using the right ruse the local U-Haul rental company can direct you to the subject. Usually people who attempt to disappear aren't clever enough to turn the moving van in, in another city. This will probably put you right on top of your subject. Note any vehicles, cars, boats, campers, write down the licence plate numbers or registration identification numbers. These may prove to be of value. Also look around for major appliances, (i.e. water heaters), write down the serial numbers of each item you find. (Using the right pretext you can find out the identity of the person who purchased the item by calling area stores.) STEP 2: EVERY PARCEL OF LAND IS TAXED! After visiting the property go to the TAX ASSESSORS OFFICE with the information you have gathered. Sometimes you will also need to visit the APPRAISAL DIVISION. Request to see the map and locate the property 's PARCEL NUMBER. Make sure to compare the maps from both offices. Once you have the parcel number they will tell you who is paying the taxes. Next, go to the County Clerks Office of Public County Deed Records with the owners name and ask for the GRANTEE INDEXES. Search and find the property owners name and make a list of all properties by volume and page. Then the index will refer you to the Volume number and Page number of the GRANTEE RECORDS. Then determine which property by locating the parcel on your map. Obtain a non-certified copy that deed with a legal description of the property. PUBLIC RECORDS County Tax Records: Real Property Files list the owner, the address the tax bill is mailed to and a legal description of the property. County Map Book contains the location of real property from the legal description. Grantor Files (County Recorder files) lists information on all recorded documents of the buyer, (grantee), and the seller, (grantor), such as loans, deeds or leases. Usually these items are cross indexed under both grantee and grantor. * Registrar of Voters Records: The voter's registration files will usually contain name, address, occupation, description, state of birth, registration date, and the signature of the target. * Marriage Records: Marriage records will provide the name and address information of the spouse and information about their birth place and date and other information about their parents. In the "Marriage license" files, you will also find names a and addresses of witnesses to weddings. These people are often close contacts of your target. HOW ABOUT THE EASY WAY? Finding people can be very easy, provided you "know the ropes". There are usually two basic kinds of missing persons. They are people who are missing on purpose (they wanted to disappear), and people with whom you have simply lost touch. Those missing on purpose may be escaped cons, husbands who are tired of paying child support or alimony, and debt skippers. The second type are people who have lost touch over a period of time. The techniques for finding people will usually work on either of these two types of missing persons, although the first type are usually somewhat harder to find. Almost every trace I do can usually be done by telephone, IF you have the right information--and know what you're doing. There's a common mistake among "skippers", he or she will not detach themselves from there previous life or their old acquaintances, (i. e. family and friends). Additionally, the often will keep their old habits. When I am tracing, I first ask myself, "Who knows, now?" "Who are they in touch with?" If someone else already knows where they are, why should you go to the expense and headache of finding them yourself. Just ask whoever knows! I guess you think I'm off my rocker don't you? NO! You just ask! Want to know how? First, determine with whom your subject may be in touch. Then design a suitable guise for a pretext call. You may assume the identity of a car salesman, insurance adjustor, pizza delivery man, or whatever is suitable for your specific situation. Then design a pretext. Always write down exact details of who you are, what your business is about, who you will name as being involved in your "make believe story" and as many other details as it takes to make your story believable. Now you will need to study your pretext before making the call! Whatever you do. . . DON'T SOUND PARANOID! Act normal. Talk slow and with authority. Then throw your pitch, using as many details as you can. Remember you want this person to co me out and tell you where your subject is. (Beware of impersonating an officer, this can get you in serious trouble.) Another major rule of thumb in pretext is to never use the exact name of the party you are looking for. Use a name that sounds near the same. For example, if you are trying to find Dave Jenkins, ask for Dale Jenkins. There is a psychological effect that lends credibility to your pretext and often triggers the release of the information you are after. Think about it, if someone (a bill collector) were trying to find you, wouldn't you think they would get your name right? You bet! And the effect of not calling the exact name lends credibility to your pretext. They will almost always give you what you are looking for. Another effective way is again by pretext, but this time you look in the phone book of the subject's place of origin. You will be looking for people with the same surname. But you will particularly be looking for those names that sound like the "old-timers" in the community--names like Fannie, Suzie Mae, or any old names. As a whole, people today seldom name their kids Fannie of Suzie Mae. In today's society that's like naming a boy Sue. It simply doesn't happen or if it does it's vary rare. Once you find the name of someone that sounds to be one of the "old-timers" they will know your subject and almost anyone else with their surname. Their leads are sometimes invaluable. Give them a call, they will most likely know the subject or at least who you should call. One of the best pretexts for this type call is the "adjuster seeking a witness". This one will put most people at ease to share whatever they know. "IDENTIFIER NUMBER" A HELPFUL USE OF THE SS# That's right. Your Social Security number, that mom and dad so graciously applied for, is the number one "identifier" used by record keepers. Almost every document you fill out includes this key number to aide "record keepers" in filing the stockpiles of information they are gathering each and every day. In many states your Social Security number is the same number as your driver's license number. The National Crime Information Center maintains criminal record information on persons convicted of a felony. Their files are referenced by Social Security number and date of birth. Credit Bureaus use your Social Security number as the identifier when accessing or filing information in your file. The I.R.S. uses your Social Security number as your "tax- payor I.D. number". Government programs, like welfare, HUD, WIC, and hundreds more, maintain their records by using your "identifier number". The Social Security number escorted the computer information age into existence. If it weren't for the use of this key source that identifies us as individuals across this nation. On the average, there are at least 50 government files on each and every U.S. citizen that are tagged to our Social Security number. And, that's assuming we are not a "player". While it is possible that a person could be born in one state and later apply for a Social Security number in another, you should be able to determine the state which is your subject's "place of birth". Here are the number designations for the various states in the U.S. I would recommend you copy these and refer to them as needed: 000 Not Assigned or Issued 478-485 Iowa 001-003 New Hampshire 486-500 Missouri 004-007 Maine 501-502 North Dakota 008-009 Vermont 503-504 South Dakota 010-034 Massachusetts 505-508 Nebraska 035-039 Rhode Island 509-515 Kansas 040-049 Connecticut 516-517 Montana 050-134 New York 518-519 Idaho 135-158 New Jersey 520 Wyoming 159-211 Pennsylvania 521-524 Colorado 212-220 Maryland 525 & 585 New Mexico 221-222 Delaware 526-527 & 600-601 Arizona 223-231 Virginia 528-529 Utah 232 North Carolina 530 Nevada 232-236 West Virginia 531-539 Washington 237-246 North Carolina 540-544 Oregon 247-251 South Carolina 545-573 & 602-626 California 252-260 Georgia 261-267 & 589-595 Florida 574 Alaska (Includes some Asian refuges from 1/75 through 11/79) 268-302 Ohio 303-317 Indiana 318-361 Illinois 575-576 Hawaii 362-386 Michigan 577-579 Dist. of Columbia 387-399 Wisconsin 580 Puerto Rico 400-407 Kentucky 408-415 Tennessee 416-424 Alabama 425-428 & 587-588 Mississippi 580 Virgin Isle (also) 429-432 Arkansas 581-584 & 596-599 Puerto Rico 433-439 Louisiana 586 Amer. Somoa, N. Marina Is. & Philippines 440-448 Oklahoma 449-467 Texas 627-699 Not assigned or issued 468-477 Minnesota 700-728 Railroad Retirement 729-799 Not assigned or issued HOW TO GET FORWARDING ADDRESSES ... FAST! Would you like to know a fast and easy way to get exact forwarding address information? It's simple. What you do is address a standard envelope to the target you are trying to find, and insert a blank piece of paper. This will make it look like a standard letter. (The P.O. may get P.O.'d about you using this one if you do it too often.) Then you proceed, addressing the letter using the last known address. BUT...in the left hand bottom corner of the envelope write: DO NOT FORWARD ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Guess, what will happen? You will have your target's current address back in the mail in a matter of only a day or so. The best part of all is that he or she doesn't even know you're on their trail. If you get a P.O. Box and need a street address, what then? To get the current street address of someone who has a P.O. Box, in a business deal you may file a "Request for Box-Holder's Address." You will need to send a letter to your postmaster as follows: REQUEST FOR BOXHOLDER STREET ADDRESS Pursuant to provisions of Postal Service Regulations-- (Administrative Support Manual, Section 352.44) I, the undersigned, request that the address of the following holder of P.O. Box________in ________________________(City) (State) (Zip) be provided. The reason for this request is that said boxholder is conducting a business known as________________________ through said post office box, and as a customer require his street address in order to pursue a complaint regarding service or (quality) (Non- delivery) (other)___________________________________________ Dated:________________________________Signature______________ Printed Name________________________ Ok....I want to go a step further. Suppose all you have is the last known address or just the phone number? How about I show you how to use this information to get address, phone number, neighbors names and even "the full scoop" on your target? Would you like to be able to pick up the phone and get someone's current address or phone number in a matter of minutes? Ok, it's simple. What you will do is access a little known database operated by Cole Publishers, which has statistical information on almost everyone in America! (This includes you and me.) There is a charge of $2.00 per minute billed to your phone, but the average call is only a few minutes and you'll usually get more information from these people in ten minutes than with most private investigators in hours. Private Investigators charge anywhere from $35 to $50 an hour, here you can get your answers for as little as $5 to $20. (I am in no way whatsoever affiliated with the people who operate this service.) To get the best service, you will need the last known address or the telephone number of the person you are trying to find. Then dial 1-900-288-3020 and shoot away! That's it! In a matter of minutes you will usually get the exact address or phone number. If you really want to get serious... They will also provide you with the three nearest neighbors names, phone numbers and addresses! With this information and a slight amount of creativity you could design and use a suitable pretext to interview the neighbors. This may provide the leads you need to find your target, in the event they have moved from the address you have. It's amazing how many trails of information we leave behind us. SKIP TRACING * Social Locators searches nationwide using the Social Security number only. With this number only, an individual and his address can be found. * National Address Update searches by using former address information and gives updated address information on the person. * Real Property Records can be done alpha/situs with an emphasis on alpha for skip tracing or asset location. * Surname Scan searches for individuals by zip code, city, state, or nationwide by NAME ONLY! * NCOA Database Search uses the U.S. Post Office computer records and goes back two years to update an individual's address. * Descendent Trace uses the SSA's records to verify a retired SS#. * Neighborhood Scan gives names, telephone numbers, and addresses of the occupants near the address you are investigating. This can be of tremendous help in background investigations. (Especially with the right pretext!) MOTOR VEHICLE REPORTS * Motor Vehicle Registration by VIN provides owner, owner address, lien holder, Plate #, etc. * Motor Vehicle Registration by Plate # provides owner, owner address, lien holder, VIN, etc. * Motor Vehicle Registration by NAME is a unique service that list the vehicles registered under a certain name or business. This search makes an excellent asset check. * Pleasure Craft Registration searches information on boats, campers, etc., in a particular state. * FAA Registration locates information on airplanes on a federal level. MORE ABOUT THE PAPER TRAIL. . . Almost everything you do or say has some recorded trail. Thousands of companies and government agencies are spending millions of dollars every year gathering and maintaining records on each and every one of us. It would BLOW YOUR MIND to know just how much information you can get from PUBLIC RECORDS alone! And you would be dumbfounded at the vast number of private companies that keep tabs on us, it is unreal. Think about your visits to the doctor's office, for example. There are some interesting things you should know about medical records. I'm sure you have gone to a new doctor before. What was the first thing they asked you to do? My guess is that the receptionist handed you a clipboard with a long questionnaire attached, and said, "Would you fill this out right quick?" Did you notice that this questionnaire requests information that is often totally irrelevant to your medical condition? WHAT DOES YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER HAVE TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE APPENDICITIS? Over and above the information we willfully provide, there is a data bank of medical and personal information who is gathering and storing additional information into our "file" everyday. Hospitals, insurance companies, and many others I suspect input medical information about you into this huge, well maintained computer data bank called the Medical Information Bureau (M.I.B). M.I.B. maintains medical records information on almost every human being in the United States. If you have ever filled out an application for life or health insurance you're in M.I.B.'s data bank. But, you never hear about it. Why? I'll tell you, it's because this bureau is used primarily by insurance underwriters as they process applications for life and health insurance. And guess what? Should you neglect to tell your insurer of prior medical conditions, you lose! Yes, you may get the policy issued, but do you think you will get paid when you file a claim? Insurance companies can access this information at any time. When it comes pay-up time, the insurer punches a few buttons and accesses the M.I.B. to determine what, if any, previous medical conditions you have had. Then, they decide whether or not to pay your claim. They like to pull up information you provided on other applications for insurance to determine if you falsified answers on their company's application. On this basis, you wouldn't believe how many insurance companies get out of paying claims. Pretty interesting, huh? THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY! Perhaps your target has a criminal record. . . These files will usually list the names of acquaintances and locations where you may pick up leads. * Criminal Files: While criminal records are available via data-base research, they are also available on a state wide basis in many states, simply for the asking. Criminal record searches are the heart of good background investigations. These records can dramatically diminish your risk in almost any venture. They are accessible through state and county repositories. Write and request information from one of the following offices which maintain the respective "state" criminal conviction records. Most states will charge a fee of $5 to $10 to do a criminal records search in their state database. Some states rule that these records should only be provided to law enforcement agencies, but it's worth a try. . . What could you lose. . . 29 cents? In those states where criminal records are maintained only on a county basis, the state office personnel will be able to provide the county address information you would need to request the information. Here is a listing of all 50 states criminal records databases. You may write or call to determine their procedures and requirements, and what fees, if any, they require for providing criminal information on your target. Alabama: Alabama Department of Public Safety, Attention: A. B. I. P. O. Box 1511, Montgomery, Ala. 36192. (205) 261-4372 Alaska: Records and Identification, P. O. Box 19, Juneau, AK 99802-0019. (907) 465-4343. Arizona: Department of Public Safety, Attention: Criminal Records, P. O. Box 6638, Phoenix, AZ 85005. (602) 262-8011. Arkansas: Identification Bureau, Criminal Investigation Div., P. O. Box 5901, 3 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, AR 72203. (501) 224-3088. California: Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Identification, Record Control Section, P. O. Box 903417, Sacramento, CA 94203-4170. (916) 739-5510 Colorado: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Attn: Identification Unit, 690 Kiping Street, Denver, Co. 80215 (303) 759-1100. Connecticut: State Police, Bureau of Identification, 294 Colony Street, Bldg. 3, Meridian, CT 06450. (203) 238-6151. Delaware: Delaware State Police Headquarters, Attn: Criminal Records Section, P. O. Box 430, Dover, DE 19903 (302) 736-5900. District of Columbia: Criminal Records, 500 Indiana Ave., N.W., Criminal Division, Room 4003, Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 879-1373. Florida: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Attn: Criminal Record Inquiry Section, P. O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL. 32302. (904) 488-6236. Georgia: Georgia Crime Information Center, Identification Division, P. O. Box 370748, Decatur, GA 30037-0748. (404) 244-2601. Hawaii: Department of Attorney General, Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, Kehuanao'a Building, 1st Floor, 465 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813. (808) 548-5398. Idaho: Department of Law Enforcement, Police Services Div., Criminal Identification Bureau, 6062 Corporal Lane, Boise, ID 83704. (208) 334-2537. Illinois: Department of State Police, Forensic Services and Identification, 515 Woodruff Road, Joliet, IL 60432. (217) 727-5301. Indiana: Indiana State Police, Central Repository, Room 312, 100 N. Senate Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204. (317) 232-8262. Iowa: Mr. Gene Shepard, Commissioner of Iowa D.P.S., Wallace State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319. (515) 281-5138. Kansas: Kansas Bureau of Investigation, 1620 SW Tyler, Topeka, KS 66612. (913) 232-6000. Kentucky: Records Section, Kentucky State Police, 1250 Louisville Rd., Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 227-8717. Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Public Safety, Attn: Criminal Identification, P. O. Box 66614, Baton Rouge, LA 70896. (504) 925-6095. Maine: State Bureau of Investigation, Maine State Police, 36 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME 04330. (207) 289-2297. Maryland: Secretary, Department of Public Safety, 6776 Reistertown, Room 310, Baltimore, MD 21215-2341. (301) 764- 4000. or Criminal Records Central Repository, Maryland State Police, 1201 Reistertown, Pikesville, MD 21208-3899. (301) 653-4355. Massachusetts: Criminal History Systems Board, 1010 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215 (617) 727-0090. Michigan: Michigan State Police, Central Records Division, 7150 Harris Dr., Lansing, MI 48913. (517) 322-1952. Minnesota: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, C.S.I.S. Section, 1246 University Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 (612) 642-0672 Mississippi: Records Department, P. O. Box 880, Parchman, MS 38738. (601) 745-6611. Missouri: Missouri State Highway Patrol, Criminal Record Division, P. O. Box 568, Jefferson City, MO 65102. (314) 751-3313. Montana: Montana Identification Bureau, Department of Justice, 303 N. Roberts, Helena, MT 59620. (406) 444-3000. Nebraska: Nebraska State Patrol, Attn: C.I.D., P. O. Box 94907, Lincoln, NE 68509-4907 (402) 471-4545 Nevada: (Nevada does not have a centralized data base, each search would be located on a county wide basis) New Hampshire: State Police Headquarters, Attn: Criminal Records, Hazen Dr., Concord, N.H. 03301 (603) 271-2535 New Jersey: Division of State Police, Records and I.D. Section, P. O. Box 7068, West Trenton, NJ 08625 (609) 882-2000 New Mexico: New Mexico State Police, Records Bureau, P. O. Box 1628, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1628 (505) 827-7501 New York: N.Y. State Division of Criminal Justice Service, Executive Park Tower, Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, NY 12203, Attn: Director of Identification, (518) 457-6050 North Carolina: William Corely, Asst. Director of Criminal Records, 407 N. Blount Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-1009 (919) 733-3171 North Dakota: State Bureau of Investigation, P.O. Box 1054, Bismarck, ND 58502 (701) 221-6180 Ohio: Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, P.O. Box 365, London, OH 43140, Attn: Paul Ferrara (614) 466-2660 Oklahoma: OK State Bureau of Investigation, Criminal History Information, P.O. Box 11497, Oklahoma City, OK 73136 (405) 427-5421 Oregon: Oregon State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, 107 Public Service Building, Salem, OR 97310 (503) 378-3070 Pennsylvania: Director, Records & Identification, Attn: Central Depository, 1800 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110 (717) 783-5592 Rhode Island: Depart. of Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, 72 Pine St., Providence, RI 02903 (401) 277- 2994 South Carolina: SC Law Enforcement Division, Attn: Criminal Records Section, P.O. Box 21398, Columbia, SC 29221 (803) 737-9000 South Dakota: Div, of Criminal Investigation, Office of Attorney General, 500 East Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501 (605) 773-3331 Tennessee: TN Bureau of Investigation, c/o Criminal Records Unit, P.O. Box 100940, Nashville, TN 37210-0940 (615) 741- 0430 Texas: Chief H.A. Albert, c/o Crime Records Division, P.O. Box 4143, Austin, TX 78765 (512) 465-2077 Utah: Richard Townsend, Bureau Chief, Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification, 4501 S. 2700 West, Salt Lke City, UT 84119 (801) 965-4518 Vermont: VT Criminal Information Center, P.O. Box 189, Waterbury, VT 05676-0850 (802) 244-8727 Virginia: VA State Police, Records Management Division, P.O. Box 27472, Richmond, VA 23261-7472 (804) 323-2000 Washington: Captain Bill Keller, WA State Patrol, P.O. Box 2527, QE-02, Olympia, WA 98504-6502 (206) 753-6858 West Virginia: WV State Police, Criminal Identification Bureau, Records Section, 725 Jefferson Road, S. Charleston, WV 25309 (304) 746-2100 Wisconsin: Crime Information Bureau, Attn: Records, P.O. Box 2718, Madison, WI 53701 (608) 266-7314 Wyoming: Div. of Criminal Investigation, Criminal Justice Information Section, Boyd Building, 4th Floor, 1720 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82002 If you are a business person who needs frequent background information on prospective employees, I would recommend you obtain a copy of A Guide To Background Investigations, published by Financial Control Publishing, Inc., 1820 South Boulder Place, Tulsa, OK 74119, or ask your local book store to order ISBN # 0-941233-14-6. This manual will provide you with the addresses of state and county criminal repositories, as well as the names and addresses of other record compilers, such as, Workman's Compensation Records, Driving Records, College and University records for education verification, etc. ANOTHER WAY. . . Let me reveal a secret of how to get facts fast--it is by these bits and pieces that you will often find or trace a target. This is a great plan to use in emergency situations. Start with a plan as I instructed. Quickly review the information on your target. Verify the data by name, address, and phone number. Once you ascertain the address, go to your local library and review the various "Criss-Cross" directories to match name with telephone number. Next, refer to the "City Directory" usually published by R. L. Polk Co., and/or Cole Directories. Here you will be able to determine the names, addresses, employment status, etc., of all the nearby neighbors. Most of the directories are published annually and are updated with new information. This leaves a great paper trail that can help you get "history" on your target. Use the older directories (usually maintained for years prior) and go back from year to year checking out your target. You may discover previous information from years past, i.e., spouses names, previous addresses, prior telephone numbers, prior employers, etc. With all this new information and a little creativity in designing a suitable pretext you could really get the inside scoop, particularly from neighbors who didn't like the target. Trust me, people will rattle off anything about your target if you are prepared with the right pretext. Another thing about pretext--it is just as important to plan your pretext as it is to plan your investigation. A seasoned private investigator has mastered the art of "little white lies" that we call pretext. You, on the other hand, will need to design and carefully write out your pretext. There's nothing that will destroy the effectiveness of a pretext quicker than stuttering, trying to remember the details of who you are and why you are calling. Always design a pretext that will allow you to go either way with regard to "liking" or "disliking" your target. This will allow you the flexibility to "share" the emotional feelings of the person you are questioning. Have you ever noticed how no-one will say anything bad about someone until they realize that you too don't like the person in question? Then they will open up and man . . . talk about a "low-down piece of scum." Let's Move On If your target is a "high-profile" subject, you may dig up articles from newspapers (local, state, and national) Most libraries maintain what is called a "newspaper morgue" or micro-film of the past issues of newspapers. The New York Times Index, the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, The Business Periodicals Index, the General Science Index, etc., are great references for this kind of research. You mean big time P.I.'s actually refer to such references. You bet they do. Knowing what reference to go to can help you get information fast. A QUICK WAY TO LOCATE OR GET INFO ON ALMOST ANY AMERICAN BUSINESS WHO HAS A TELEPHONE! How would you like to get immediate information on over 9.3 million businesses nationwide? Well, the American Business Phone Book by American Business Information has it. This Phone Book is on a single CD-ROM disk. You simply insert it into your computer and with a few key-strokes, you can quickly locate any business phone number and/or address in the U. S. This new "weapon" will allow you to search and find info on any company in seconds. You can search by company name, state, city, zip code, or area code. You can even "reverse search" to find the Company and address by entering the phone number . If you don't have a CD-ROM drive in your computer, you can get one for as low as $399 through DAK Industries. You can reach them at 1-800-325-0800; they'll ship you a catalog. By the way, if you buy their external CD-ROM, you'll receive a lot of really neat software as a bonus! It amazes me just how much data they can put on just one of these disk. If I'm correct, and I'm pretty sure I am, they tell me the volume of information on one CD-ROM disk, if provided on 8 1/2 X 11" sheets, would be a stack 3 stories high! Imagine that. And there are lots of other CD-ROM disks that can help almost anyone in any kind of business. Remember, information is power . . . but you have to use it! Ok. Here's another little known source that will help you to get those really hot leads--or get in touch with whatever experts you may need. Suppose you need the name of a "Mercedes Dealer" in Tucson, or the names of "Plastic Surgeons" in Beverly Hills, or 30 "Hardware Dealers" in Houston, no problem! Maybe you need information on the "Puritan Company," like their telephone number, address, number of employees, sales volume, etc. Piece of cake! We've found a little known source that will allow you to get this kind of information, inexpensively, with a single telephone call! This source will provide rapid results, just give them a call, they'll fax the names right away! There are two ways you can access the system; 900 number billed to your telephone or you can call their 800 number and bill it to your credit card. The fees are $3.00 the first minute and $2.00 for each additional minute. You can reach them at 1-900-896-0000 or if you prefer to use American Express, Visa or MC, call 1-800-638-7171. What? You WANT MORE??? Hmmmm. Ok. Try this. Say you have your targets last known address and want to get the new address really quick, along with a new phone number. . . Mail a post-card from another area besides where "Quack" is from. You may write something like this on the card: "Bill! You and I must get together. Someone's going to lose their ass! What does it take to get you to return your damn calls? Call me ASAP! at the office: 800-277-6037. Kelsey McEllen Now. Who is Kelsey McEllen, well, she's your helper. She's going to get a call within the next couple of days, and since Kelsey is your code name, you will make either a mental or written note of the exact time and date of the call. In a few weeks when you receive your "in-bound" 800 toll bill, you will usually have the exact phone number, and on top to all that, you can call with the new phone number to the 900 service, either, 900-288-3020, or another that I've heard good reports about is 900-884-1212. . . Now. That's it. If you still can't find 'em, by all means hire a private detective or use the computers at our office through the Fax-Cess company. I've made arrangements for you to gain almost any information you want using our in-house sources through this service. Fax-Cess is almost like having a full time investigator in your office. . . I certainly hope I have served you well. Please feel free to contact my operators if you want additional information about my products and services. . . And no, you're not alone. Everyone thinks I'm strange. . . Gifted? Cursed? Something mysterious. . . Thanks but I don't know either. Michael E. Enlow Private Investigator/ Legal Investigator/ Consultant TRACE GUIDELINE EXACT LOCATION OF LAST KNOWN ADDRESS; PROPERTY:__________________________________________________ VEHICLES:_______________________YEAR:___________MAKE:______ COLOR:__________LAST YEAR OF REGISTRATION:____VIN#:________ PLEASURE VEHICLES:__________________VIN#____________________________ MAJOR APPLIANCES:________________________________________________ SERIAL #:________________________OTHER:___________________________ CONTACT NEIGHBORS:_________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR: LOCATION OF PROPERTY:___________________________PARCEL#____ NAME OF TAX PAYOR:______________________ADDRESS________________________ NAME ON DEED:________________OBTAIN NON-CERTIFIED COPY:____ LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ LEIN HOLDER:____________________________________________________ BACKGROUND INFORMATION:_______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ NAME:____________________BIRTH PLACE:______________________ DATE OF BIRTH:________SS#_________________OCCUPATION:______________ PARENTS:_______________________MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME:_______ PARENTS PRESENT ADDRESS:___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ MARITAL STATUS:____________SPOUSE'S NAME:__________________ SPOUSE'S PARENTS:___________________________________________________ ADDRESS:___________________________________________________ WITNESSES TO THE WEDDING:___________________________________________________ WITNESSES ADDRESSES:_________________________________________________ CHILDREN'S NAMES:________________________D.O.B._______________________ ______________________________D.O.B._______________________ ______________________________D.O.B._______________________ SCHOOL ATTENDED:__________________________________________________ ADDRESS NOW:_______________________________________________ BROTHER'S & SISTER'S:__________________________________________________ (ADDRESSES, D.O.B., OCCUPATION)________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ OTHER RELATIVES(NAMES, RELATIONSHIP,ADDRESS)______________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ASSOCIATES & FRIENDS:___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ FORMER EMPLOYERS(ADDRESS & PHONE #)______________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ NOTES: ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ============================================================== NOTE: To retrieve a copy of our complete "insider" catalog of books, newsletters, special reports, and the famous John Wilson catalog of high-tech, electronic surveillance and countermeasure gadgetry, along with schematics and very simple construction plans, send e-mail to catalog@enlow.com. The catalog will be automatically e-mailed back to you. INTEC Investigative Technology voice: (601) 783-6037 fax: (601) 783-2111 Internet: info@enlow.com Anonymous FTP: enlow.com (198.92.134.50)