Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: With Google
• Method 2 of 3: With other sites
• Method 3 of 3: Other ways
• Tips

Have you ever wondered what happened to that one person, that high school friend you lost sight of when he moved? Thanks to the Internet, it can be easy to find that person - if you know where to look.

To step

Method 1 of 3: With Google

1. Google them. Of all the ways you can find someone, Google is probably the simplest. But searching for a person means more than just typing in their name.
   • For example, we use Dave Wilson, the drummer for the Cascades in the 60s. In the Google search field, we just type "dave wilson," with quotes. Using quotation marks forces the search engine to use both words in that order, so we don't get results like "Dave Huppeldepup loves volleyball but only uses Wilson balls."
   • As we can be right away, we need to narrow down the choice. Google has found almost 900,000 results!
2. Refine your search. We do this by adding an important feature that is unique to Dave Wilson - his band, the Cascades. Now we find what we are looking for.
   • Now we know what happened to Dave Wilson - he passed away in 2000.
3. Use deeper search functions. Sometimes we don't like the easy way. The person you are looking for may have changed their name, be inactive on the Internet, or died before their name became known. When that happens, there are alternatives.
   • Google "search people," and you'll see a list of sites that will help you find the person you're looking for, many of which are free.
   • Note that "free" often means that you will have to pay at some point to find the actual contact information.

Method 2 of 3: With other sites

1. Find them on Facebook. With nearly 1 billion members on Facebook, your chances of finding someone alive are pretty good - although it's a bit trickier than with Google.
   • Start by searching by name. This time, let's see John Smith. Type John Smith in the search field, and a menu with the top results will immediately appear.
     • Facebook is smart enough to spot people near you and whether you have mutual friends. But we know that John Smith doesn't live here, so we need to expand our search a bit. Click the magnifying glass to the right of the search field, or select the "Show more results for John Smith" option at the bottom of the menu. This will take you to a more extensive search page.
2. Don't forget to use Facebook's search filters! If the global search didn't return anything, dig a little deeper. Here, in our search for John, we can narrow the choice down considerably, using the tools on the left side of the screen. If we click on the Pages filter, we find the John Smith we are looking for - so he has a band and lives in England.
3. Go professional. Sometimes the person you are looking for cannot be found. In that case, you can go to a site for information about public records and pay for the information you are looking for.
   • Professional sites usually charge a one-time fee for simple contact information or a background report - ideal if you're looking for the background of a potential employee or business partner.
   • The price and quality of people search services can vary enormously. Your experience may depend on what and who you are looking for. See the tips for ways to limit your choice.
4. Look in the online phone book. Remember that book that you always got on the mat with white and yellow pages with very fine print? With all that information about your neighbors and nearby stores? That's a phone book. Now we can find it online!
   • The Telefoongids & Gouden Gids has all kinds of search options. You can also search by phone number or address. If you enter the basic information, they will give you everything they know.

Method 3 of 3: Other ways

1. Get in touch with a mutual friend. Okay, but maybe your target is one of those people who is totally against social networks and proud of not being found in Google. What are you doing then?
   • Think carefully. Who do you know who could know anything? Did you both go to Edwin every Wednesday for beer and pizza during your studies? Maybe he knows where John is! You may need to reach out to an old friend you haven't spoken to in years, but it can be worth it.
2. Look them up yourself. Maybe you can't think of mutual friends who know where your mysterious person is. Now you have to do the dirty work. This works best if your target has stayed reasonably close.
   • Think about the last place you know they lived, worked, and often visited. If the government can track people down, you can give it a try too! See if you meet someone who knew them by checking their walks. They can steer you on the right track.
3. Hire a private investigator. Okay, that may sound like an exaggeration, but if you have the money, why not? A detective can do all your dirty work while you sit back and not have to go through all those Google results.
   • A private investigator can be very expensive, and some people don't particularly like being stalked by someone paid by you. This is only a legitimate option in extreme cases.

Tips

• If you are looking for a former classmate, try SchoolBANK.nl, where you can search by year.
• For reviews of people search companies, go to TopTenReviews.com.
• There is also a website that easily bundles all of these options and more to make searching simple: People Search