Skip Tracing: The Art of Locating the Untraceable
Skip tracing, at its core, is the practice of finding individuals who have deliberately or unintentionally gone off the grid. It can involve locating missing persons, tracking down people who are hiding from authorities, finding debtors who have skipped out on obligations, or even reuniting family members. As technology has evolved, so has the art of skip tracing, and few individuals embody the mastery of this craft like Kevin Faler. The likelyhood of me not being able to find someone is slim. Yes, some cases are years old and it would appear the person just vanished. My own father vanished about 20 years ago…poof! Nowhere to be found, so yes some cases we will never know what’s up. We have to leave it in Gods hands.
A former sheriff’s deputy, Kevin Faler uses every tool available to locate individuals in all kinds of circumstances: missing persons, fugitives on the run, victims of kidnapping, or even those wrongly imprisoned. With years of experience in law enforcement and investigations, Kevin has developed a unique approach to skip tracing that fuses traditional investigative techniques with modern technology. Kevin works for several licensed private investigations companies throughout CA and other states.
The Tools of the Trade
1. Database Mining and Online Investigations
At the heart of skip tracing is data. Kevin uses access to a variety of databases, both public and proprietary, to collect information about his targets. These databases often include credit reports, phone records, address histories, utility bills, social media profiles, and more. By connecting the dots between these data points, Kevin can begin to paint a picture of an individual’s habits, known associates, and potential hideouts.
Websites like LexisNexis, TLOxp, and software programs for investigators which provide invaluable information on individuals. These databases aggregate everything from DMV records to social security information, voter registrations, property ownership, and beyond. In the hands of someone like Kevin, who knows how to cross-reference and verify information, these tools are incredibly powerful. Credit information cannot be gleaned from any software program online, nor can any banking information with any substance be found online but may give you the name of the bank where business may have been condiucted.
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2. Social Media and Digital Footprints
In the modern era, it’s difficult for anyone to disappear completely without leaving behind a digital footprint. Kevin uses his skills in navigating social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn—to track down persons of interest. Even if individuals themselves are not posting, their friends, family, or associates often provide crucial leads through tagged photos, comments, and location check-ins.
A deep dive into social media networks can reveal new addresses, relationships, recent activities, and even upcoming plans. With tools like Geofeedia, Kevin can monitor social media activity in real-time to detect potential sightings or posts that provide clues to the target’s whereabouts.
3. Phone and Email Tracing
Phone and email records are invaluable in skip tracing. Kevin leverages advanced tracing techniques such as cell tower triangulation and GPS tracking, if the person is registered to the vehicle and the owner of the vehicle they can place a GPS device on their own property. . If a person is still using a mobile device, cell towers can provide location data by triangulating the signal of their device. In many cases, people don’t realize how much personal information can be gleaned from their phone’s metadata.
Emails, on the other hand, can provide IP addresses that allow Kevin to narrow down the location of a person’s last known login or internet activity. With today’s mobile lifestyle, people often check their email on the go, leaving behind crucial digital breadcrumbs for an experienced investigator like Kevin to follow.
4. Surveillance and Fieldwork
While technology plays a significant role in skip tracing, there are times when boots on the ground are still necessary. Kevin’s experience in law enforcement gives him a sharp eye for surveillance techniques. Whether it’s staking out a location, monitoring an individual’s known hangouts, or using drones for aerial surveillance, Kevin is adept at gathering intelligence in the field. Surveillance, when done properly, helps to verify leads from digital sources and build a case for the target’s location. Kevin has learned how to blend into the environment, employing disguise or covert surveillance methods to remain unnoticed while gathering critical information.
5. Interview and Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
Often, locating someone comes down to the people they know. Kevin uses his investigative interviewing skills to extract information from family members, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. By asking the right questions and reading body language, he can determine who is being truthful and who might be protecting the individual he’s looking for.
HUMINT—the use of human sources to gather information—is a key element in any successful skip tracing operation. Kevin knows how to build rapport with sources and coax out the details that might seem trivial but could be the key to locating someone.
6. Forensic Accounting
Financial records provide some of the most reliable leads in locating individuals. By following money trails, Kevin can often discover a fugitive’s safehouse or track down a kidnap victim’s last known location. This process involves scrutinizing bank transactions, credit card records, loan applications, and even looking into cryptocurrency when necessary.
Even in cases of those attempting to live off the grid, there are often purchases or financial decisions that can leave a trace. As Investigator Faler puts it, “Money leaves a trail, even when people try to hide it.”
7. Collaboration with Law Enforcement and Other Agencies
As a former sheriff’s deputy, Kevin understands the value of collaboration. He regularly works with local law enforcement, federal agencies, and others to gather intelligence and leverage additional resources. Whether it’s obtaining warrants for cell phone tracking, accessing government databases, or coordinating with international agencies for cross-border searches, teamwork plays a critical role in high-stakes skip tracing operations. And of course, that is the aformentioned agencies are involved and have reason to believe to share information would beneficial to them.
8. Understanding Psychology
Skip tracing isn’t just about tracking data—it’s about understanding the psychology of human behavior. Kevin uses his knowledge of criminal behavior and human nature to anticipate where a person might go. This skill is especially useful in cases involving fugitives or kidnapping victims. By studying patterns in their past decisions, personal relationships, or emotional triggers, Kevin can predict future actions and home in on the individual’s location.
Necessary Skills to Locate Human Beings
Skip tracing is a multi-faceted discipline that requires a unique set of skills and expertise, including:
– Attention to Detail: The ability to comb through large amounts of data, focusing on small but crucial details.
– Persistence: Many leads will turn out to be dead ends, but a good investigator never gives up easily.
– Problem Solving: Being creative in approaching problems, especially when standard methods don’t work.
– Interviewing Skills: Knowing how to ask the right questions and extract information from people.
– Digital Literacy: Navigating and exploiting online platforms, databases, and digital records.
– Surveillance Skills: Using fieldwork to gather evidence while remaining unnoticed.
– Collaboration: Knowing when and how to work with others to pool resources and gather additional intelligence.
For Kevin Faler, skip tracing is not just about finding someone—it’s about bringing closure to families, justice to victims, and answers to complex questions. With the right combination of technology, skill, and intuition, Kevin embodies the pinnacle of investigative excellence in the ever-evolving world of skip tracing.
