Many people have a long lost friend they would like to contact. They may know the city where the person lived, and/or the names of relatives or friends. Many people can be found by using free Internet sites, and a few long distance phone calls. A few ways to proceed are offered here.

Write down what you know: full name, last known address, other addresses, occupation, hobbies, physical description, spouse, family members, and friends. Make notes to keep track of your progress.

Check the public information telephone operator for the person and logical associates at the last known address. Call 1 (area code) 555-1212, tell the operator the city or cities where you think the person lived, and the names of the people you are trying to locate. You can normally inquire about two names during each call. There is a small service charge for these calls, but they could save you a lot of time.

Use Internet telephone directories to:

1. Check your list of names, using last name and state only.
2. Refine your list using first names and cities. If asked for help, many people will give it.
3. Call likely people who are identified using 1 & 2. If they seem to know the party you are seeking, provide your name, telephone number, and an offer to accept a collect call.
4. If you have an old address or telephone number, use the reverse search capabilities of the directories to identify the current occupant or user. Call that person and ask for help.
5. Using the reverse lookup feature of the directories, enter the name of the street, the city and state. Identify neighbors who live near the target address and repeat step two.

When calling people, be prepared, patient, truthful, and courteous.

If you have tried the above steps and still cannot locate a person, consider retaining an investigator.  Some people do not want to be found.  When Ex Fed has located a missing person, we ask that person for permission to reveal their location to our client.