Now there are essential reasons why individuals and businesses need to obtain information through an SSN search. These reasons can and often do involve a search to verify that the details presented in a CV for a position are actually valid. These reasons do not have to be commercial, they can also be for personal use.
You’re probably reading this right now and asking perfectly valid questions like: If I look up John Doe’s SSN, is it that ethical? Is it an invasion of “your privacy”? Well, I think the answer to these questions is twofold. First of all, “your data” has been checked many times. Yes, remember when you were applying for a car loan, health insurance, maybe a mortgage. Do you know what I mean? Second, do you think you would consider “ethics” if you were considering hiring a babysitter for the children? I’m sure, if you are like me, you will want to be ‘sure’ that you are making the right decision!
Many employers often use social security numbers to check their applicants’ criminal, driving, and credit history. On the subject of credit, the SSN can help you verify someone’s qualification, which is often necessary if you are a homeowner or looking to hire a contractor to install a new kitchen.
Okay, now you understand the basic situation where you or an employer may require an SSN search, so what can you do, especially if you are looking for free methods?
If you are an employer or owner and you want to find details about a person through their SSN, then the first search is relatively easy and it is also free. You can do this by going to the US Social Security website at ssa.gov/employer/ssnv.htm. This will allow the verification of up to 10 social security numbers per day! It is incredible how few people know this site!
More searches can be done with online services like USATrace.com, this allows you to enter a person’s name and SSN to get more information about them. While the initial search is free, finding more detailed information will cost a small fee.
A bit apart here! Sometimes the need to find a person online is not due to business or commercial reasons, but simply looking to track down a family member as part of a genealogical search, perhaps the missing piece in a puzzle; a useful site for that is ancestry.com.
Sometimes it is also important to check if some SSNs are up to date. If you suspect a social security number and wonder if it is “current,” there is a free website where you can look up the SSN record of deceased persons, as identity scammers can assume the identity of a deceased person. The site address for this is ssdi.rootsweb.com.
For reasons of confidentiality and the prevention of identity fraud, online databases will not be able to provide you with the ability to reverse record search. This is understandable and acceptable – how would you feel if someone could search and reproduce your SSN data at will?
What this means is that you may have to use a private investigator or use an online private investigation service if your SSN search does not provide “free” answers. Such online providers include iinfosearch.com and civilrecords.org; At this stage, you should now consider that you are now entering the realm of ‘paid search’ and ask yourself is it really worth spending money to locate that person or will you miss out on important information that may cost you time or money in the long run?
