| The popularity of reverse lookup searches and | | | | Information located--click here to subscribe |
| the like has led to much assumption of the | | | | and access data.At this point the customer |
| part of the consumer. Web-based companies | | | | can't pay fast enough--his cell phone trace |
| are all-too happy to reach out to web surfers | | | | information is just the other side of a |
| blinded by the desire for instant | | | | credit card approval. He pays, is approved |
| gratification. Normally all they have to | | | | and enters the cell phone number for the |
| show for their impulsiveness is an empty | | | | lookup again. This time one of two things |
| wallet and a useless subscription to | | | | happens: either no info is located (which it |
| "unlimited" nonsense.The need for information | | | | can't be as there is not cellular number |
| was both filled and created by the Internet. | | | | database, directory or phonebook) or the site |
| The closely held belief that everything is | | | | that just took the man's money actually |
| available in cyberspace is a dangerous wave | | | | forwards him to a legitimate provider of such |
| that many web firms ride all the way to | | | | records. This not only pawns the customer |
| shore. And they are not going to let | | | | off on someone else, it also slanders the |
| concepts like honesty and integrity stand in | | | | honest reverse lookup vendor by making it |
| their way. The worst offenders are | | | | appear he it affiliated with the con man's |
| unscrupulous purveyors of so-called reverse | | | | site.While space does not permit a listing |
| lookup searches.Let's look at the customer's | | | | and description of the scam sites currently |
| situation, followed by the grift.A young, | | | | operating, a foolproof rule of thumb is to |
| single mother begins to get harassing and | | | | never order phone tracing, reverse lookup, |
| threatening phone calls from a cell phone | | | | phone number searches, or even click on sites |
| number, made by parties unknown. The local | | | | offering to locate information via |
| police cannot do much as the call originated | | | | subscription or database access. The only |
| out-of-state, and the FBI is too busy bugging | | | | legitimate source of skip tracing and reverse |
| the phones of anyone who disapproves of | | | | lookup info is sites that provide info from |
| anything the FBI has done to bother with | | | | manual searches by real investigators. When |
| her.In desperation, she searches the web for | | | | you see terms like database, cellular phone |
| a data source that can ID the phone number. | | | | directory, and unlimited searches, put away |
| It doesn't take her long to find a long list | | | | your credit card and close all browser |
| of skip tracing "experts" and "researchers" | | | | windows.Legitimate sources for reverse lookup |
| who promise to obtain all the info she wants | | | | information, are those that come |
| and then some.After a long period of perusing | | | | well-recommended and, as mentioned, perform |
| the many cloned ads for "web detective" | | | | number searches manually. While there are a |
| software, database access, and "unlimited | | | | few legitimate databases that only PIs and |
| searches" to "find anyone," our destitute | | | | research professionals can access that |
| subject chooses a legitimate-sounding company | | | | sometimes contain landline phone info, a |
| and slams the MasterCard for $49.95 with a | | | | legitimate service will never rely on the |
| sense of relief that her crisis is nearing | | | | number being available from such a source. |
| the end.In reality, only a couple of things | | | | Cellular numbers are always searched manually |
| have changed:1. Her net-worth has decreased | | | | as no real databases exist.I can easily |
| by $49.95.2. She now has links to a lot of | | | | recommend two no-nonsense providers of |
| websites whose information is of no interest | | | | reverse lookup phone number data.For |
| to her.The company whose info would allegedly | | | | landlines: for cell number searches: have |
| enable her to "find anyone" simply sold her a | | | | used both services many times and been |
| list of links to investigative websites and a | | | | completely satisfied with the results, |
| few online reverse lookup databases such as | | | | response time and communication. There are |
| Despite a bewildering array of promises on | | | | many legitimate sources on the web; my |
| the company's homepage, the information she | | | | recommendations above are my personal |
| received is absolutely useless.This is the | | | | choices, gleaned from experience. If you |
| way such software "solutions" work, or | | | | choose to find your own source, please |
| rather, don't work. The other popular scam is | | | | remember how to pick a legitimate company and |
| sites offering database access of their own. | | | | avoid the scams and gimmicks.Happy |
| In similar fashion, a company advertises a | | | | searching!Esther Sinclaire is an |
| price lower than those who actually obtain | | | | investigative journalist with over 20 years |
| results, promising information on any phone | | | | of research experience uncovering corruption |
| number, or access to a "reverse lookup | | | | and fraud. Her investigative conclusions have |
| cellular directory."Unaware that no such | | | | been used in many high-profile legal and |
| thing exists, the consumer eagerly enters the | | | | political cases. |
| number to be searched in a teaser box and | | | | |
| clicks "search." After a dramatic pause | | | | She currently resides in Omaha, NE with her |
| indicated by a fake "Searching" icon complete | | | | husband, a licensed investigator, and their |
| with a lengthening status bar, the screen | | | | two champion Rhodesian Ridgeback hounds. |
| flashes something like Reverse Lookup | | | | |