How to Reunite with a Long-lost Friend or Relative

Reconnecting with friends or relatives you haven't seen in over two decades can be a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. With the vast amount of tools and information available online, you can increase your chances of success. Let's explore how to track down someone you haven't seen in over 20 years, given limited information about them.

What Information You Have

In your case, you have the maiden name of the person, the college you both attended together, a relative age, high school attended, and an old picture. Additionally, you know she might have married and possibly moved to your hometown. These clues can be your starting point for a reunion.

Leveraging Public Records and Web Scraping Services

Several websites use web crawling bots to scrape public records in their attempts to locate people. These sites gather an array of data including marriage records, voter registrations, tax records, school records, and business licenses. They often build comprehensive databases that can help reveal valuable information:

Voter registrations Business licenses Tax records School records Marriage licenses Divorce filings Relatives' cross-linked names Phone numbers (landline and cell phone) Email addresses Past addresses Whether they were owners or renters

Companies like WhitePages, Spokeo, and FastPeopleSearch offer both free and paid services. While the free searches may contain erroneous information, the paid services can be more accurate and helpful in finding your contact. Private detectives commonly use these sites as a starting point.

Using Social Media and Online Platforms

Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can serve as a powerful tool in reconnecting with individuals. Posting on these sites with your query can lead to unexpected results. Many people are willing to share information or help connect you with the person you are trying to find.

Hack Facebook for finding people Instagram for tracking down old friends and relatives

The college alumni association might also have valuable information, especially if you were both students there. They can connect you with people who know the individual and might have updated contact details.

Hiring a Private Detective

If you exhaust all other methods and still need to find this person, consider hiring a private detective. These professionals can utilize their expertise and tools to uncover a multitude of information, including phone numbers, addresses, and even new contact details.

Data Privacy Considerations

While there are data privacy laws that allow individuals to request removal from certain database search services, not many people opt out. Therefore, if you find someone's personal information online, they may still have access to it.

Conclusion

Reconnecting with a long-lost friend or relative can be an exciting journey. By leveraging public records, web scraping services, social media, and even a private detective, you can increase your chances of success. Remember, your effort and persistence are key to finding the person you seek.