In the movies, finding a missing person usually involves a dramatic hacking scene where a location magically blinks onto a giant screen. In reality, locating someone who has “skipped” town—whether they are evading a debt, dodging a lawsuit, or have simply lost touch with their family—is a much more intricate, gritty process.
It is less about magic and more about methodology.
At Blue Falcons Investigation, we view Skip Tracing as modern-day hunting. It requires a specific mindset: the patience to sift through digital noise, the analytical skills to spot patterns, and the tenacity to follow a trail even when it seems to go cold.
What Exactly is “Skip Tracing”?
The term comes from the phrase “to skip town.” The “skip” is the person being sought, and “tracing” is the act of finding them. While it is often associated with bounty hunters or debt collectors, skip tracing is a vital tool for:
- Legal Proceedings: Locating witnesses or defendants for process serving.
- Estate Law: Finding missing heirs to settle wills and trusts.
- Family Matters: Reconnecting with estranged relatives or runaway teens.
- Financial Recovery: Locating debtors who have defaulted on significant loans or judgments.
The Myth of the “People Finder” Website
We often hear from clients who have already tried to find someone using those $19.99 online background check sites. They usually come to us frustrated because the information they bought was outdated, inaccurate, or led them to an empty lot in a different state.
Here is the reality: Data is not intelligence.
Anyone can buy a list of addresses. A professional Private Investigator (PI) knows how to verify that data. We have access to proprietary databases that are legally restricted to law enforcement and licensed investigators. These databases pull from credit headers, utility bills, and vehicular records in real-time.
But a database alone won’t solve the case. That’s where the human element comes in.
The “Art” Behind the Science
Successful skip tracing requires reading between the lines of a person’s life. When a subject goes off the grid, they almost always leave “digital breadcrumbs.” Here is how we follow them:
1. Social Network Analysis (SNA) People might delete their Facebook profile, but they rarely convince their mother, high school best friend, or ex-spouse to delete theirs. We analyze the network around the subject. Often, a person’s location is revealed not by what they post, but by who they interact with.
2. Asset and Lifestyle Tracking Does the subject have a boat license? A hunting permit? A professional certification? People are creatures of habit. Even when hiding, they tend to cling to their hobbies and professions. We track the lifestyle to find the life.
3. The Boots-on-the-Ground Verification This is the Blue Falcons difference. We don’t just sit behind a computer. If the data points to an address in Wilmington or Fayetteville, we have the capability to put eyes on the location. We verify presence through physical surveillance—confirming the subject’s vehicle is in the driveway or that they are picking up mail.
The Veteran Advantage
As a team owned and operated by Combat Veterans, we apply military-grade discipline to our investigations. In the military, intelligence gathering is about survival and mission success. We bring that same “T.R.U.T.H.” mindset—Tenacious, Reliable, Unrelenting—to finding your person.
We understand that time is often of the essence. Whether you are an attorney needing to serve papers before a court date, or a landlord trying to recover thousands in unpaid rent, a cold trail helps no one.
When You Need to Know
If you have hit a brick wall in trying to locate someone, it’s time to stop guessing and start investigating.
At Blue Falcons Investigation, we combine high-level database access with old-fashioned detective work to provide you with a confirmed location, not just a “maybe.” We serve clients across North Carolina and Georgia with the discretion and professionalism the situation demands.
Don’t let them disappear. Contact us today to start the search.
