1. Be an OnlineBe an Online
Detective!Detective!
Finding People and MoreFinding People and More
Using Online SourcesUsing Online Sources

2. Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda
 The World of Online Public RecordsThe World of Online Public Records
 Searching for People Using Online ToolsSearching for People Using Online Tools
 Protecting Your Personal Information Online?Protecting Your Personal Information Online?

3. Where DoesWhere Does FREEFREE OnlineOnline
Personal Info Come From?Personal Info Come From?
 Public RecordsPublic Records
 Drivers license records, campaign contributions . . .Drivers license records, campaign contributions . . .
 Publicly Available InformationPublicly Available Information
 Phone listings, professional directories . . .Phone listings, professional directories . . .
 Published InformationPublished Information
 Newspaper articles, death and wedding notices . . .Newspaper articles, death and wedding notices . . .
 Personally Provided InformationPersonally Provided Information
 Blog postings, social network sites . . .Blog postings, social network sites . . .

4. What Are Public Records?What Are Public Records?
 PublicPublic recordsrecords are maintained by governmentare maintained by government
agencies (federal, state, or local) as directed byagencies (federal, state, or local) as directed by
law and made available to the public (e.g.,law and made available to the public (e.g.,
occupational licenses)occupational licenses)
 Publicly availablePublicly available recordsrecords are maintained byare maintained by
private agencies and made available to the publicprivate agencies and made available to the public
without restrictions (e.g., telephone listings)without restrictions (e.g., telephone listings)

5. Myths about Public RecordsMyths about Public Records
 All government records are public recordsAll government records are public records
 Certain categories of government records areCertain categories of government records are
always public recordsalways public records
 All public records are freely and readily availableAll public records are freely and readily available
to anyoneto anyone
 All public records are available onlineAll public records are available online

6. Finding Illinois PublicFinding Illinois Public
RecordsRecords
 Few Illinois public records are available for freeFew Illinois public records are available for free
onlineonline
 Private companies buy public records in bulkPrivate companies buy public records in bulk
from Illinois agencies and resell themfrom Illinois agencies and resell them
 Some resold public record information thenSome resold public record information then
shows up for free onlineshows up for free online

7. Illinois Public RecordsIllinois Public Records
Available for Free OnlineAvailable for Free Online
 Property Records (Cook County)Property Records (Cook County)
 Business RegistrationsBusiness Registrations
 Professional LicensesProfessional Licenses
 Campaign ContributionsCampaign Contributions
 Sex Offenders and InmatesSex Offenders and Inmates

8. Illinois Public Records NOTIllinois Public Records NOT
Available for Free OnlineAvailable for Free Online
 Vital Records (Birth, Death, and MarriageVital Records (Birth, Death, and Marriage
Certificates)Certificates)
 Criminal RecordsCriminal Records
 Court Records, with minor exceptionsCourt Records, with minor exceptions
 Voter RegistrationsVoter Registrations
 Motor Vehicle RecordsMotor Vehicle Records

9. Property RecordsProperty Records
 Cook County Assessor’s Office (Cook County Assessor’s Office (
www.cookcountyassessor.com/info/startres.aspwww.cookcountyassessor.com/info/startres.asp))
 Search by address to find PIN and photo of propertySearch by address to find PIN and photo of property
 Cook County Treasurer’s Office (Cook County Treasurer’s Office (
www.cookcountytreasurer.com/payments/statuswww.cookcountytreasurer.com/payments/status))
 Search by PIN to find who owns a propertySearch by PIN to find who owns a property

10. More Property RecordsMore Property Records
 Cook County Recorder of Deeds (Cook County Recorder of Deeds (
www.ccrd.infowww.ccrd.info))
 Search by PIN to find mortgage informationSearch by PIN to find mortgage information
 Search by name to see property owned by a personSearch by name to see property owned by a person
 Zillow.com (Zillow.com (www.zillow.comwww.zillow.com))
 Find estimated market values for homesFind estimated market values for homes

11. Home SalesHome Sales
 Chicago Tribune Home Purchases (Chicago Tribune Home Purchases (
www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/transawww.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/transa
))
 Cook and surrounding counties onlyCook and surrounding counties only
 Public-Record.com (Public-Record.com (databases.skokielibrary.infodatabases.skokielibrary.info))
 Provides home sale data toProvides home sale data to Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
 Also has information on foreclosures, tax sales,Also has information on foreclosures, tax sales,
bankruptcies, new businesses and homeownersbankruptcies, new businesses and homeowners

12. Federal Campaign ContributionsFederal Campaign Contributions
 OpenSecrets Donor Lookup (OpenSecrets Donor Lookup (
www.opensecrets.org/indivs/index.phpwww.opensecrets.org/indivs/index.php))
 Search by name for people who contributed $200 orSearch by name for people who contributed $200 or
more to a federal political campaign from 1990 to themore to a federal political campaign from 1990 to the
presentpresent
 FundRace (FundRace (fundrace.huffingtonpost.comfundrace.huffingtonpost.com))
 Search by name or address for people whoSearch by name or address for people who
contributed $200 or more to the 2004, 2008, or 2010contributed $200 or more to the 2004, 2008, or 2010
federal electionsfederal elections

13. Sex Offenders & CrimeSex Offenders & Crime
 Illinois Sex Offender Information (Illinois Sex Offender Information (
www.isp.state.il.us/sor/sor.cfmwww.isp.state.il.us/sor/sor.cfm))
 Search for sex offenders by name or zip codeSearch for sex offenders by name or zip code
 Chicago Crime Map (Chicago Crime Map (
gis.chicagopolice.org/CLEARMap/startPage.htmgis.chicagopolice.org/CLEARMap/startPage.htm
))

14. Vital RecordsVital Records
 Cook County Clerk’s Office Vital Records (Cook County Clerk’s Office Vital Records (
www.cookctyclerk.com/sub/vital_records.aspwww.cookctyclerk.com/sub/vital_records.asp))
 Vital records can be requested in person, by mail, atVital records can be requested in person, by mail, at
currency exchange, or onlinecurrency exchange, or online
 Request forms, fees, and ID requiredRequest forms, fees, and ID required
 Only related parties can request vital records less thanOnly related parties can request vital records less than
20 or so years old20 or so years old
 VitalChek (VitalChek (www.vitalchek.comwww.vitalchek.com))
 Private company expedites records requests for a feePrivate company expedites records requests for a fee

15. Why Are Some People Hard toWhy Are Some People Hard to
Find?Find?
 Some names are very commonSome names are very common
 Some people change their names or useSome people change their names or use
variations on their namesvariations on their names
 Some people have unlisted numbers,Some people have unlisted numbers,
nonpublished numbers, or just a cell phonenonpublished numbers, or just a cell phone
 Some people are deadSome people are dead

16. Is Someone Dead?Is Someone Dead?
 Social Security Death Index at Rootsweb (Social Security Death Index at Rootsweb (
ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.comssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com) or Ancestry () or Ancestry (
databases.skokielibrary.infodatabases.skokielibrary.info))
 Unofficial Social Security Number Verification/Unofficial Social Security Number Verification/
DecodingDecoding ((
www.blackbookonline.info/bbo_ssnvalidator.htmwww.blackbookonline.info/bbo_ssnvalidator.htm))

17. Library Phone DirectoriesLibrary Phone Directories
 ReferenceUSA (ReferenceUSA (databases.skokielibrary.infodatabases.skokielibrary.info))
 Stronger for business listings than residentialStronger for business listings than residential
 Residential information taken from printResidential information taken from print
phonebooks—may be out of date!phonebooks—may be out of date!
 Good for reverse look-ups and neighbor searchesGood for reverse look-ups and neighbor searches

18. Library Phone DirectoriesLibrary Phone Directories
 MasterfilesMasterfiles (ask at Reference Desk)(ask at Reference Desk)
 Telephone numbers updated daily from phoneTelephone numbers updated daily from phone
companiescompanies
 Includes names and addresses for nonpublishedIncludes names and addresses for nonpublished
numbersnumbers
 Must be searched by a LibrarianMust be searched by a Librarian

19. Reverse Look-UpsReverse Look-Ups
 Haines Criss-Cross Directories (print)Haines Criss-Cross Directories (print)
 Best source for reverse look-ups for Chicago and suburbsBest source for reverse look-ups for Chicago and suburbs
 Includes names and addresses for nonpublished listingsIncludes names and addresses for nonpublished listings
 Phone Validator (Phone Validator (www.phonevalidator.comwww.phonevalidator.com))
 Indicates whether a phone number is from a cell phone orIndicates whether a phone number is from a cell phone or
landline, its geographic area, and providerlandline, its geographic area, and provider
 Melissa DATA (Melissa DATA (www.melissadata.com/lookupswww.melissadata.com/lookups))
 Do many different kinds of reverse look-ups from thisDo many different kinds of reverse look-ups from this
pagepage

20. Cell Phone Numbers andCell Phone Numbers and
Email AddressesEmail Addresses
 No good way to get this information for freeNo good way to get this information for free
 Intelius (Intelius (www.intelius.comwww.intelius.com) sells email address) sells email address
and cell phone numbers on its websiteand cell phone numbers on its website
 Some people provide their email addresses onSome people provide their email addresses on
their own websitestheir own websites

21. Online People FindersOnline People Finders
 WhitePages.com (WhitePages.com (www.whitepages.comwww.whitepages.com))
 Provides addresses, phone numbers, ages, andProvides addresses, phone numbers, ages, and
spouse’s namesspouse’s names
 Good for reverse look-ups and neighbor searchesGood for reverse look-ups and neighbor searches
 Zabasearch (Zabasearch (www.zabasearch.comwww.zabasearch.com))
 Provides assorted addresses, phone numbers, andProvides assorted addresses, phone numbers, and
birth years from public record sourcesbirth years from public record sources
 Zoominfo (Zoominfo (www.zoominfo.comwww.zoominfo.com))
 Provides occupational info for peopleProvides occupational info for people

22. Fee Sites with Free InfoFee Sites with Free Info
 Intelius (Intelius (www.intelius.comwww.intelius.com) and USSearch () and USSearch (
www.ussearch.comwww.ussearch.com))
 Provides ages, previous cities lived in, and lists ofProvides ages, previous cities lived in, and lists of
relativesrelatives
 Check Illinois (Check Illinois (consumer.public-record.comconsumer.public-record.com))
 Preview search results for Illinois public recordsPreview search results for Illinois public records
 Spokeo (www.spokeo.com)Spokeo (www.spokeo.com)
 Includes lifestyle informationIncludes lifestyle information

23. Major Social Network SitesMajor Social Network Sites
 Social networking sites allow people to postSocial networking sites allow people to post
personal information with varying restrictionspersonal information with varying restrictions
 MySpace (www.myspace.com)MySpace (www.myspace.com)
 Facebook (www.facebook.com)Facebook (www.facebook.com)
 Friendster (www.friendster.com)Friendster (www.friendster.com)
 LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com)LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com)
 Professional and business orientedProfessional and business oriented

24. Meta Search SitesMeta Search Sites
 Search multiple public record and socialSearch multiple public record and social
networking sites at the same time from thesenetworking sites at the same time from these
sites:sites:
 Pipl (www.pipl.com)Pipl (www.pipl.com)
 iSearch (www.isearch.com)iSearch (www.isearch.com)

25. Helpful Search EngineHelpful Search Engine
 Yippy (search.yippy.com)Yippy (search.yippy.com)
 Clusters search results into useful categoriesClusters search results into useful categories
 May be helpful searching for people with commonMay be helpful searching for people with common
namesnames

26. Other Interesting SitesOther Interesting Sites
 Teacher Salary DatabaseTeacher Salary Database
(www.familytaxpayers.org/salary.php)(www.familytaxpayers.org/salary.php)
 See how much an Illinois public school teacher earnsSee how much an Illinois public school teacher earns
 Birthdatabase.com (www.birthdatabase.com)Birthdatabase.com (www.birthdatabase.com)
 Find someone’s date of birthFind someone’s date of birth
 The Smoking Gun (www.thesmokinggun.com)The Smoking Gun (www.thesmokinggun.com)
 View public records on celebrity mishapsView public records on celebrity mishaps

27. Collections of Useful LinksCollections of Useful Links
 Black Book Online (www.blackbookonline.info)Black Book Online (www.blackbookonline.info)
 Many useful links for the amateur detectiveMany useful links for the amateur detective
 BRB’s Free Resource CenterBRB’s Free Resource Center
(www.brbpub.com/pubrecsites.asp)(www.brbpub.com/pubrecsites.asp)
 Collection of links to public record sites provided byCollection of links to public record sites provided by
major publisher of public records booksmajor publisher of public records books

28. Protecting Your PrivacyProtecting Your Privacy
 Get a new phone number and make it unlistedGet a new phone number and make it unlisted
or nonpublishedor nonpublished
 Check sites for their privacy settings beforeCheck sites for their privacy settings before
making personal postsmaking personal posts
 Be aware that anything you post online may beBe aware that anything you post online may be
found by other peoplefound by other people

29. Avoid Releasing PersonalAvoid Releasing Personal
InformationInformation
 Be careful about releasing personal informationBe careful about releasing personal information
to private companiesto private companies
 Warranty or product registration cardsWarranty or product registration cards
 Sweepstakes or contest formsSweepstakes or contest forms
 Online coupon sitesOnline coupon sites
 Read privacy policies of businesses and websitesRead privacy policies of businesses and websites
to see if they share your personal datato see if they share your personal data