Plenty of information can be found on the Internet on millions of people - dead or alive. Gathering information on people using the Internet can be more fruitful, though, if you have some cash to spend. However, there is a lot of free information to be had as well. This article will give you insight into both.

Locating public figures or business people

If you are looking for public figures or business people, chances are the organization they work for or represent has a Web site. There are Web sites that list lawyers, judges, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, journalists, union officials, and university professors. Most of these Web sites will at least list the name, along with title and phone number. Some go the distance and provide full color pictures and complete curriculum vitae of their employees or representatives.

To search for these types of people, go to the Web site of their organization. Begin your search by typing the name of the association, university or other organization into one or two search engines (we like google.com). You may even begin by typing in the person's name and/or the organization they work for or represent surrounded by quote marks. Don't forget to check places like Deja.com to see if they participated in any listserv discussions.

A general search engine is a good place to look for not-so-famous people. For example, many families and individuals have posted their own Web sites. Consumers participate in "gripe" Web sites to complain about cars or other products that are lemons. Many consumers participate in medical discussion groups. So the aforementioned Deja.com should be searched.

People may be more concerned about their privacy now as the Internet has matured somewhat. However, you may find it amazing what levels of privacy an individual will give up on the Internet in one of these "gripe" sites or listserv sites.

Free Web services
These Web sites provide public record information on literally millions of individuals.

• Social Security Death Index
  The official Social Security Death Index is current as of the end of June 1999 and contains 61,678,026 records on deceased Americans.- http://ssdi.homepage.com

• VitalChek
  Looking for state or local agency which issues certified copies of vital records? This site provides free information to (often) fee based services from state and local entities providing birth, death marriage and other vital records. http://www.vitalchek.com/

• Obituary Links Page
  Provides links to millions of newspaper obituaries. http://www.geocities.com/cribbswh/obit/

Fee-based Web services

Suppose you wanted to "dig up the dirt" on someone? You are looking for background on expert witnesses, jurors or missing witnesses. There are plenty of fee based search services to choose from on the Internet.

Two of those most well known to legal information professionals are Choicepoint.com (formerly CDB Infotek) and KnowX.com (from the folks who brought you Information America available on Westlaw).

Choicepoint.com
Choicepoint.com is the end result of the consolidation of several established commercial public records databases previously offered by subscription. Because this information is compiled by a company with over 4000 employees and many years of experience at providing public records online before offering Internet access, our confidence in this site is warranted. "Any business or government entity can subscribe as long as it has a legitimate business purpose for accessing the information that we provide" says the subscriber agreement information from this site. You may even just sign up for pre-employment screening. Choicepoint.com provides a variety of public records to lawyers, insurance companies, health care organizations, business and financial institutions. Fees are moderate - around $15.00 a search. http://www.choicepointonline.com/

KnowX.com
KnowX.com provides "instant access to comprehensive public record information at a low cost. Public records are compiled by public offices and agencies with the intent and for the purpose of being made publicly available". The source for this information is the commercial public records service called Information America, available via Westlaw. This boosts our confidence in using this site as we are quite familiar with the quality and search results of these system. As with, Choicepoint.com, fees are moderate, some for as little as $6.95 each record. http://www.knowx.com/

Name: 1-800-U.S.Search
US Search.com provides fairly comprehensive public records bankruptcy, judgments, death records, address location for asset verification, people and business locating, fraud prevention and employment screening. Included in a search on an individual for $38.50 is: "current and previous addresses going back 10 years, any additional phone numbers available, family members, other people residing at the same addresses, neighbors, spouses (if individual currently lives in Florida or Texas), summary of assets, professional licenses, home and building ownership and value, vehicle ownership and value, UCC lien filings, and any civil judgments and bankruptcies".

Eleven other databases can be searched at no additional charge including: Active U.S. Military Personnel, Boat Registrations, Business Affiliations, FAA Aircraft Registrations, FAA Pilot License, Federal Firearms and Explosives License, National DEA Controlled Substance Licenses, National Deeds, National Marine Radio Licenses, National Trademarks / Service Marks, ABI Business Directory. Pricing varies if different database combinations are searched. Generally, though, the fees are reasonable, the searching easy and the site is easy to use. Premium services are available for frequent users. URL: http://www.1800ussearch.com

The American Information Network
This service provides fees structures for conducting driver's license and license plate locations for around $40.00. Other Services and Fees are: Social Security number, $20; worker's compensation records, $25; bankruptcies, tax liens, judgments, $35. URL: http://www.ameri.com/

A1-Trace U.S.A.
At the time of this writing, this Web site was undergoing a "facelift" and was unavailable. However, in its previous life similar searches and fees to other services mentioned above include: Info Probe (Social Security verification, current address, corporation partnerships, real estate property, criminal history, fraud detection, bankruptcies, judgments, lawsuits), $79. URL: http://a1trace.com/

Discreet Data Systems
This site offers similar searches as the ones above at what seem to be slightly higher prices. We could not find the author of this Web site, the source of the information or who maintains this Web site. The sites does, however, sport a Better Business Bureau seal of approval. We were put off however by the less than professional appearance of the site with the dark colors and cluttered look.

Sample searches and pricing include: People Locating-$65, Nonpublished phone number- $55, asset locating-$200; complete asset research (banks, stocks/bonds, safe deposit boxes, real property and employment), $650. Also background checks, motor vehicle searches, pre-employment screening searches. URL: http://www.discreetdatasystems.com/

Discreet Records, Inc.
This is a polished professional looking offering not much different from the others mentioned about. However, this one had a clean professional look that inspires confidence. However, we still could not find the sites owners or updating policies. Sample services and fees include Social Security number, $15; current and previous addresses, $15; license plate or vehicle identification number trace, $35 URL: http://www.public-records.net/