Tools of a Skip Tracer
Website design By BotEap.comWould you go to the dentist if the only tools she used were a chainsaw and a stick? Would you have your car inspected by a mechanic whose only tools were a candy bar and hairspray? Would you like your child to attend an elementary school that only taught from a set of 1964 encyclopedias?
Website design By BotEap.comDo you see the connection?
Website design By BotEap.comIt’s simple, really. Each industry has tools that can be specific to that industry. The dentist would never use a chainsaw (even if it feels like it). They use tools that are designed and necessary to successfully complete their task, to help with proper dental hygiene. The same is true for all other professions and industries. At the same time, taking tools that may not be useful to an industry can slow down the process.
Website design By BotEap.comSo here comes the question. Why don’t trail skippers use the tools that are available to our profession or do we try to use the tools of other professions to do our work?
Website design By BotEap.comWhat are the tools available to the jump tracking industry? You’ve heard me talk about some of them. Databases, between us and our minds. But what other tools do we have available? Below is a list. I’m not calling it a complete list, because we think outside the box and have incredible imaginations, so the list will never be complete. Not all of these will apply to your needs, but maybe they will give you some ideas and add them to the list.
Website design By BotEap.comCALLER ID
Website design By BotEap.comHave Caller ID set on ALL incoming calls. When you ask a debtor for their number, does it match the number you are calling from? If possible, have a daily report of all calls received available through your phone provider (in case you miss it and don’t leave a message). Any number you don’t recognize, reverse that number and see what you get.
Website design By BotEap.comSUBSCRIPTION DATABASES
Website design By BotEap.comMost of us already use them. They can be very useful for obtaining additional information about your debtor or those around you. Some include: http://www.accurint.com, http://www.merlin.com, and http://www.skipsmasher.com, to name a few. There are several more available, do some research and see which one best suits your needs.
Website design By BotEap.comFREE PUBLIC INFORMATION WEBSITES
Website design By BotEap.comThese websites have collected tons of links to public records sites. The majority of them
separate information by state. Some examples include: http://www.skipease.com,
http://www.crimetime.com and http://www.publicrecordfinder.com. Website design By BotEap.comDATABASE FILTER Website design By BotEap.comOn these websites you enter various information about the debtor, public records and
Other websites are searched and the results are provided quickly and easily.
understand the format. Some examples include: [http://www.argali.com], http://www.pretrieve.com
and http://www.zabasearch.com. These really speed up the investigation process. Website design By BotEap.comCOMPARE DATABASES Website design By BotEap.comThis is where I daydream about a database in which you can enter the information of two different people at the same time. Then, with the same process of the other databases, the information is investigated on both subjects and then compared to anything that is the same and that information is returned to the user. This way you can determine if there is a spouse or roommate or partner. The reason I daydream is because, to my knowledge, there is no such database at this time. However, if so, PLEASE let me know. Website design By BotEap.comWORK SHEETS Website design By BotEap.comWhatever you call it. A worksheet, checklist, or form. This is what the investigator uses to ensure that every stone, every nook and cranny has been turned (what is a crack?) The information that helps locate the debtor has been verified. Website design By BotEap.comLETTERS Website design By BotEap.comThis provides another option to reach a touch to the debtor. Sending a letter with PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD REQUESTED ADDRESS CORRECTION printed on the envelope is an easy way to determine if the debtor has moved and left a forwarding address. The downside to sending a letter is response time. Website design By BotEap.comTECHNICAL INTERVIEW Website design By BotEap.comThere are two different approaches, direct and indirect. Direct is to determine the information you need, contact the people who have that information and ask them to provide it. Indirect is also called pretext or social engineering. Determine what information you need and then develop a story, contact the people who have that information, and submit your story so they give you the information you need. Sometimes pretending is illegal; make sure you know the federal and state laws that apply. Website design By BotEap.comTRAPLINES Website design By BotEap.comThis is a service provided by various telephone companies. When someone calls a trap line, the number is captured. It does not matter if it is not published or published, you will get a report of all the numbers. You can set up a standard toll-free number to do this, but it takes up to 30 days to get results. Website design By BotEap.comHELLO LINES Website design By BotEap.comThis is a phone line that is answered simply as “hello.” They do not respond with the name of the company or with the professionalism of the company. It is answered in the same way as you would on your home phone. Website design By BotEap.comIDENTIFICATION OF SPOOFING CALLS Website design By BotEap.comThere are companies that can be used or phone systems that can be purchased, allowing the user to change their outgoing caller identification information. Website design By BotEap.comRESEARCH ENVIRONMENT Website design By BotEap.comCollections and hop tracing must be physically separate. It helps with the hop tracker mindset and doesn’t allow the other party to hear a demand for payment in the background. Website design By BotEap.comRESEARCH NETWORK Website design By BotEap.comA spider web works because there are many connected threads. If your debtor is running from you, they are probably running from someone else. We need to work together. Website design By BotEap.comMENTALITY Website design By BotEap.comThis is where the rubber meets the road. Skip Tracking is a game of hide and seek. The debtor is hiding that you are looking for, that simple. Website design By BotEap.comINVESTIGATOR EDUCATION Website design By BotEap.comA jump tracker MUST be up to date with laws, procedures, and resources to be the best they can be. Roughly one seminar once a year that includes laws, processes, skill sets and resources with the ability to network should be sufficient. Website design By BotEap.comWe have the skills. We have the resources. We have the tools. Let’s show the rest of the world how the pros do it! Website design By BotEap.comOh, if you can think of more to add to the list, send a copy my way. Website design By BotEap.comAs always, happy hunting.
separate information by state. Some examples include: http://www.skipease.com,
http://www.crimetime.com and http://www.publicrecordfinder.com. Website design By BotEap.comDATABASE FILTER Website design By BotEap.comOn these websites you enter various information about the debtor, public records and
Other websites are searched and the results are provided quickly and easily.
understand the format. Some examples include: [http://www.argali.com], http://www.pretrieve.com
and http://www.zabasearch.com. These really speed up the investigation process. Website design By BotEap.comCOMPARE DATABASES Website design By BotEap.comThis is where I daydream about a database in which you can enter the information of two different people at the same time. Then, with the same process of the other databases, the information is investigated on both subjects and then compared to anything that is the same and that information is returned to the user. This way you can determine if there is a spouse or roommate or partner. The reason I daydream is because, to my knowledge, there is no such database at this time. However, if so, PLEASE let me know. Website design By BotEap.comWORK SHEETS Website design By BotEap.comWhatever you call it. A worksheet, checklist, or form. This is what the investigator uses to ensure that every stone, every nook and cranny has been turned (what is a crack?) The information that helps locate the debtor has been verified. Website design By BotEap.comLETTERS Website design By BotEap.comThis provides another option to reach a touch to the debtor. Sending a letter with PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD REQUESTED ADDRESS CORRECTION printed on the envelope is an easy way to determine if the debtor has moved and left a forwarding address. The downside to sending a letter is response time. Website design By BotEap.comTECHNICAL INTERVIEW Website design By BotEap.comThere are two different approaches, direct and indirect. Direct is to determine the information you need, contact the people who have that information and ask them to provide it. Indirect is also called pretext or social engineering. Determine what information you need and then develop a story, contact the people who have that information, and submit your story so they give you the information you need. Sometimes pretending is illegal; make sure you know the federal and state laws that apply. Website design By BotEap.comTRAPLINES Website design By BotEap.comThis is a service provided by various telephone companies. When someone calls a trap line, the number is captured. It does not matter if it is not published or published, you will get a report of all the numbers. You can set up a standard toll-free number to do this, but it takes up to 30 days to get results. Website design By BotEap.comHELLO LINES Website design By BotEap.comThis is a phone line that is answered simply as “hello.” They do not respond with the name of the company or with the professionalism of the company. It is answered in the same way as you would on your home phone. Website design By BotEap.comIDENTIFICATION OF SPOOFING CALLS Website design By BotEap.comThere are companies that can be used or phone systems that can be purchased, allowing the user to change their outgoing caller identification information. Website design By BotEap.comRESEARCH ENVIRONMENT Website design By BotEap.comCollections and hop tracing must be physically separate. It helps with the hop tracker mindset and doesn’t allow the other party to hear a demand for payment in the background. Website design By BotEap.comRESEARCH NETWORK Website design By BotEap.comA spider web works because there are many connected threads. If your debtor is running from you, they are probably running from someone else. We need to work together. Website design By BotEap.comMENTALITY Website design By BotEap.comThis is where the rubber meets the road. Skip Tracking is a game of hide and seek. The debtor is hiding that you are looking for, that simple. Website design By BotEap.comINVESTIGATOR EDUCATION Website design By BotEap.comA jump tracker MUST be up to date with laws, procedures, and resources to be the best they can be. Roughly one seminar once a year that includes laws, processes, skill sets and resources with the ability to network should be sufficient. Website design By BotEap.comWe have the skills. We have the resources. We have the tools. Let’s show the rest of the world how the pros do it! Website design By BotEap.comOh, if you can think of more to add to the list, send a copy my way. Website design By BotEap.comAs always, happy hunting.