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