What Does A Skiptracer Do?

Skiptracing, or skip tracing, is a term used by those in the debt collection industry to refer to the process of determining a debtors whereabouts so that they can be contacted in an attempt to collect. The person who does this task is referred to as the skiptracer, and this may be their main occupation. Originally, the phrase skip tracer breaks down to someone who “traces” the location of a “skip,” or the person being searched for. They are referred to as a skip as slang from the phrase to “skip town,” or depart while leaving little clues behind for someone to find them.

Other people who may use skiptracers are bail bond enforcers, private investigators, police detectives, attorneys, journalists, or really as a part of any search that include locating a person who doesn’t have contact information that can be easily accessed. On the other side of the law, criminals may utilize skiptrace techniques to find witnesses in criminal trials with the purpose of intimidating them into not testifying, creating the need of witness protection programs.

A skiptracer does her job by gathering as much information as possible about her subject and analyzing it, reducing it, and verifying that it is true. Sometimes the subject’s current contact information can be found in the data, but have been lost due to the huge volume of information collected or misinformation in the report. However, most often, the information will be utilized to track down third parties that may be able to help locate the subject. A skiptracer will often call or visit former employers, neighbors or other contacts that the subject knows to inquire about the whereabouts of the subject. Skiptracing gets sticky here because a good skiptracer must ferret out the information without compromising a delicate situation.

A skiptracer may utilize credit reports, phone number databases, criminal backgrounds, job application information, social security, disability, utility bills and public tax information in their attempt to find the skip. Many of these records can be made available publicly, while some can only be accessed with a search warrant.

When no specific data can be obtained, a skiptracer will build a public database that cross-references data with other people the subject may have lived with in the recent past. For example, if the information indicates that the subject the skiptracer is searching for resided in the same house as a third party, this third party could also be skiptraced in an effort to locate the subject. As of late, skiptracers have turned to social networking sites with phony names and attractive pictures attached to fake profiles. Because so many people volunteer private information on these sites, it is fairly easy to get a hold of key information about a skip with a simple click of a mouse.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution and writes articles on medical collection agencies.