The Basics

The best place to begin your ancestry search is with you.  Start there and work your way backward one step at a time.  Gather together all of the details you have including important papers, family heirlooms, photos and documents.  Check with other family members to see if they have any family documents, a family bible, old photographs, obituaries or other clues to your family history.  You would be surprised where clues can be found.  Even an old postcard, newspaper clipping or letter could lend information for your ancestry search.

Getting Organized

After you’ve begun gathering data, the next step is to narrow your focus.  Choose a specific ancestor or family line to concentrate on.  This will reduce the odds that you miss important details due to overloading yourself.  Let’s face it, as excited as you will be on this journey of discovery, you cannot do it all at once.

Now it’s time to organize all of the information you have collected.  Compile a chart showing the names of your immediate ancestors.  You will want to list their dates of birth, marriage and death along with the locations of each event.  You can do this by writing the information down or you can purchase a specialty software program to record and organize the data.  This will not only help you keep track of the information, it will help to clarify relationships and show you where you are missing information.  As we mentioned, start with yourself and work backward one generation at a time. 

Filling in the Gaps

Now that you have accumulated all of the information you can from family members, attics, family bibles and photo albums, you need to fill in the gaps.  In the past, genealogy fanatics were forced to do most of their research by traveling to courthouses, libraries and cemeteries.  Today’s researchers have a distinct advantage with the ability of doing all or most of their research online. 

 Birth, death, marriage and divorce records are crucial tidbits of information that can help you fill in the gaps.  Other interesting sources of research are criminal and property records.  If you want to save time and money, use a site that can help you access all of the records you need.  We recommend Net Detective.

Remember always record the source of any information you find.  Once you spend a few hours researching your ancestry, you will be enthralled.  Genealogy can be a very rewarding hobby.

Even then, we were plagued with anonymous and prank callers. There was no viable solution. Times have changed. Now most of us have the caller ID feature on our landlines. Let’s face it we have become so used to caller ID that we usually know who the caller is before we ever pick up the phone. However, despite all of our advancements, we still have the nagging problem of missed calls on our cell phones and not knowing who called or why. It can be unsettling.

The Solution

Are you aware that you can use a reverse phone look up service to locate the caller’s identity? And, it doesn’t matter whether the incoming call came from a landline or a cell phone. We recommend Net Detective:

https://www.netdetective.net/

Not only is it very inexpensive, it is completely legal. Net Detective enters into legal agreements with the owners of the private and public record databases. This allows you, the consumer, to legally access data that is not typically available publicly. Of course, using the information you obtain for telemarketing or stalking purposes is not legal!

Why Identify Your Callers?

Doing a reverse phone look up can give you peace of mind. If you have been ignoring missed calls and hang ups, it may be time that you reconsider. Here are some reasons why you may want to know who belongs to that phone number you don’t recognize.

Telemarketers and spammers – Many telemarketers and scammers will simply hang up if they reach an answering machine or voice mail. Telemarketers can be annoying, but scammers are another issue. They can be dangerous. You definitely need to know who is calling and how often. Using a reverse phone look up like
Net Detective will help you find that information. After all, you cannot take action against an illegal business operation unless you know who they are.

Dropped calls – We’ve all experienced dropped calls on our cell phones. Ever been greeted by a dial tone when you answer your cell phone? Odds are the caller is using a cell phone and the call dropped. Perhaps your caller is driving through a dead spot, inclement weather or their battery is going dead. Whatever the reason, you could be missing an important call.

Missed opportunities - Are you waiting for a call back on a job interview, a loan application, an apartment rental or an offer on a home? There are any number of reasons you may be waiting for an important call. What if the caller has a list of people who are also interested in the job, apartment or home? When the caller cannot reach you, he or she may call the next person on their list. You miss out on that all important opportunity you were waiting for.

Protecting your children – Your children’s friends might hang up if an adult answers. This is probably innocent. But what if the person on the other end of the call is a bully, pedophile or stalker? Isn’t it better to be alerted to potential problems before they occur? A reverse phone look up will provide you with the information you need to protect your children.

Cheating spouse - Hang ups on your spouse’s phone could be another issue altogether. Put your mind at ease with a reverse phone look up.

Remember, there are many legitimate reasons for you to find out who is calling you and why. Searching with Net Detective is safe and private.

As you are rushing around this time of year trying to get everything done on your holiday list, you probably are not thinking about identity theft.  Whether you are doing your Christmas shopping at a crowded mall or online from the comfort of your home or office, you are at risk.

Let’s look at the statistics.  The Bureau of Justice Statistics announced that identity theft has dramatically increased over the last few years.   Identity theft struck at least one person in approximately 8.6 million households in 2010.  That is an incredible increase over the number of cases just five years earlier. [1]

The Holiday Season

Unfortunately, holiday shopping, whether in the stores or online, and identity theft go together like Santa and the reindeer.  During the holiday season, distraction is your worst enemy.  Not only do you tend to spend more money, you are most likely much busier, and more stressed out.  Identity thieves know this and take advantage of your distractions in order to extract information from you.

Protect Yourself

At this merry time of year, it is the little things you do, or don’t do, that can mean the difference between being a victim or not.

At Home

1. Watch those solicitors – Never give out any personal details over the phone, email or text.  It is a season of solicitations, but it is imperative that you decline to give out any information no matter who the caller claims to be.
2. Shopping online – When shopping online, make sure the padlock icon shows up in the address bar of your browser window, and that the URL begins with “https.”  If the icon is there, the site has been verified to be secure.  If it’s not there, do not enter any personal details in the shopping cart.
3. No debit cards – Never use a debit card to pay for your order.  Use a credit card only.  Debit cards can lead a thief right to your bank account.  Credit cards typically offer more liability protection.
4. Lock it up – Secure your personal documents.  Keep your checkbooks, Social Security card, debit and credit cards in a safe place.  Never carry your Social Security card in your wallet.  Invest in a document shredder and shred any documents when they are no longer needed, including credit card and cash advance applications.
5. Recordkeeping – Keep receipts of all online shopping orders.
6. Passwords – Change your passwords frequently.
7. Protect your computer - Keep your antivirus software and firewalls up to date.

At the Stores

1. Pickpockets - Men should keep their wallets in their front pockets.  Women should carry their purses tightly toward their bodies.   Carry only the credit cards you absolutely need, leave the rest at home.  Make sure all credit cards are signed as soon as you receive them.
2. Skimmers – Skimming is a somewhat new crime.  Cashiers run your credit card through a device that captures the data.  Keep your eye on the cashier!  Never allow him or her to leave your sight with your credit card.
3. ATM’s - Another method of skimming is done at ATM’s.  Never use a secluded ATM as it is more likely to be equipped with a skimming device.  Use an ATM in or near a bank.
4. Be aware – Be mindful of your surroundings when paying for your purchase.  See who is behind you or near you.  Identity thieves can use a camera to take a photo of your credit card.

Preventative Measures

1. Watch your accounts – Check your bank and credit card accounts frequently.  
2. Credit Bureaus – Monitor your credit regularly.
3. Background check - Run a personal background check often.  This will allow you to keep an eye on any unusual activity such as Social Security fraud.

We recommend Net Detective.  They provide you unlimited background searches for three years for one low fee.  And they include your credit report score and $1,000,000 of ID Theft Protection for free.

https://www.netdetective.net/

Sources:

1. Bureau of Justice Statistics (11/30/2011) – Identity Theft Reported by Households Rose 33 Percent from 2005 to 2010

The Creation of Bankruptcy Records

Filing for bankruptcy allows debtors to meet with creditors through an intermediary known as a bankruptcy trustee. The case is filed in Federal Bankruptcy Court.   Once the case is settled, the debtor is released from liability and is considered to be discharged from the bankruptcy.  

According to the Federal Bankruptcy Code, all bankruptcy filings are considered to be public record.  Once a bankruptcy petition is filed by an individual or business, a public notice must be served to the creditors informing them that the debtor has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Why Search Bankruptcy Records?

Bankruptcy records can be of great assistance to you when making financial decisions.  Here are some of the more common reasons you might want to search bankruptcy records:

1. Determining the financial background of a potential business partner
2. Learning the financial history of a business
3. Discovering the reasons why a person or business filed bankruptcy
4. Whether or not to lend money to an individual
5. Checking on a potential tenant
6. Protecting yourself prior to marriage
7. Looking to see what details are available to the public with regard to your own bankruptcy

Factors to Consider

When searching bankruptcy records, there are important factors to consider.  First, consider the reason the person filed for bankruptcy.  Someone who files bankruptcy due to outstanding medical bills or student loans suggests a different financial situation as compared to someone who filed due to credit card overspending.

Secondly, you should consider when the person filed for bankruptcy.  A recent bankruptcy filing, such as within the last year or two, may not indicate a financially stable situation.  Whereas, a bankruptcy record from a decade or more ago, may point toward a more stable state of affairs.

Where to Look for Bankruptcy Records

Bankruptcy hearings are held at the Federal level in bankruptcy courts.  Therefore, you should first determine the Federal District where the person resides.  The courts maintain an online record system called PACER.  It is available to the public.

If you are an employer, landlord or lender, you can also search the person’s credit report.  Depending on the type of bankruptcy filed (Chapter 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 or 15) the bankruptcy remains on the credit report for seven to ten years.

Start with a background and criminal record search first.  Net Detective offers unlimited searches for a very reasonable price.   https://orders3.netdetective.net/ndps10/order.php

If your potential employee, tenant, business partner or future spouse passes those searches with flying colors, then it’s time to move on to the bankruptcy search!

Why Obtain Employee Driver Records?

If you own or run a business, you need to ensure the company is not held liable for any auto accidents that involve employees running an errand.   You may think it doesn’t matter unless the employee is using a company vehicle.  This is not the case.  Even if the employee is using a personal vehicle, as long as he or she is doing work for the company, you can be held liable.  Hiring someone with a bad driving record puts your company at further risk.

Keep your reputation in sterling condition by knowing the driving history of your employees.  And, you certainly should check the driving history of any potential new hires.  Why bring on someone who has a history of unsafe and incorrect driving practices?  You want your customers to trust and value your business practices.  If this isn’t reason enough, consider the potential increases to your insurance premiums.  

Keeping Your Family Safe

If you employ a babysitter or nanny who drives your children to and from school or activities, you may be putting your precious cargo in harm’s way.   Check the driving records of current and potential nannies and babysitters.  Again, whether this person uses your car or their own, you want your children to be safe.  If he or she uses your car, then you have further reason to exercise caution.  You don’t want your insurance premiums to increase through no fault of your own.

Another employee you should consider taking a peek at the driving record of is a caregiver, nurse or other contracted person who drives any family member to doctor appointments, shopping, etc.   This is often the most overlooked driving record.  Somehow we tend to feel that someone in the medical field is above reproach.  Be alert and protect your family.

Check Your Own Driving Record

Have you ever felt like your auto insurance premiums are higher than they should be?  Are you aware that errors on your driving record could account for the high premiums?  These mistakes are often undiscovered and can amount to significant increases in your insurance premiums.  It would be prudent to check your own driving record if you feel something may be amiss.

Think it can’t happen?  Sorry to say it happens fairly frequently.  For example, let’s say you completed traffic school to erase a traffic violation.  You completed the course successfully, yet the violation still shows up on your record.   Mistakes on driving records can occur due to a simple human error.  The process to apply for a copy of your own driving record is fairly easy and typically you can do it online.

Not sure where to start looking for driving records?  Net Detective has a list of every state’s central DMV website.  Start there:

https://orders3.netdetective.net/ndps10/order.php

Rather than waste your precious time, energy and gas, an online service like
Net Detective makes your search easy and efficient.  Net Detective will save you countless hours of research, travel time, expense and frustration.   You will find results instantly and no one will ever know you were looking! 

Death Records

Some of the most popular and important vital record searches are the searches for
death records.  The first thing on your mind might be what is a death record search, and why would I ever need one?   A death record is a very essential piece of information for someone trying to trace their lineage or build their family tree.  However, there is another fundamental reason to search the death index.  What if you suspect that an employee, job applicant, a friend or a business associate is using a false or stolen identity?  

Death records can be more challenging to find than other records because they are typically poorly organized and difficult to access.  Of course, you can obtain them from the county where the death occurred.  Unfortunately, this can be time consuming.  And, if you do not know the county or location of the death, you will be at a total loss.

Death Records – Simplified

You need a professional search service in order to make your way through death records.  If a social security number appears in the Social Security Death Index, the number is no longer valid.  If then, your prospective employee or friend or business associate is using that SSN, you know he or she is using a false identity.  What if you do not have the social security number for the person you are looking into?  Then you need a reliable and organized source of death records you can search by name.  Net Detective provides that service.  

Death Records – What to Expect

What information is included on a death records search?

1. Full name
2. Primary address, city, state, zip code
3. Phone number
4. Date of birth
5. Social Security Number
6. Date of death
7. Zip code of last residence

With a single payment, Net Detective provides three years of unlimited searches.  You will have access to over 1.1 billion records including death records.  Isn’t time you found answers to your questions?

1. An estimated 11.7 million persons, representing 5% of persons age 16 or older in the United States, experienced at least one attempted or successful incident of identity theft within a two-year period.
2. Unauthorized use or attempted use of an existing credit card account, the most prevalent type of identity theft, was experienced by about 6.2 million victims (53% of all victims.)
3. About 42% of victims spent one day or less resolving any financial or credit problems related to the identity theft.
4. Two in ten victims of identity theft rated the experience as severely distressing.

Social Security Number Fraud

One of the most alarming types of identity theft is Social Security number fraud.  In the hands of an unscrupulous person, your Social Security number can be used in a number of ways.  A person illegally using your Social Security number will typically assume your identity and wreak havoc on your life. 

1. Credit card fraud – Once a thief has your SSN, they can open new credit accounts in your name.   They use the credit cards and when you don’t pay the bills, the delinquency shows up on your credit report.
2. Bank or financing fraud – Imagine a thief opening up an account in your name and then writing bad checks!  Or perhaps he or she takes out a loan in your name.  The possibilities are endless and devastating.
3. Utilities fraud – Here is one you may not think of.  With your SSN in hand, a thief can open a new phone, wireless or utility account in your name in order to obtain services.  Until you start receiving bills, you may be unaware.

We have only scratched the surface here of the myriad of ways an identity thief can destroy your credit if they get a hold of your SSN.  You get the idea!

The Background of Social Security Numbers

Did you know that Social Security numbers were not originally intended as a method of identification?   The Social Security Administration created the Social Security number system in 1936.  The system was only set up to track worker’s earnings for the purpose of Social Security benefits.  Over time the purpose and usage of the Social Security number system has changed dramatically.  Social Security numbers are now used for an entire spectrum of purposes not related to Social Security benefits.

Protect Yourself from Fraud

Awareness is half the battle.  You need to be aware of how your information can be stolen and how to prevent it from happening.   Armed with a little knowledge will go a long way to protect your SSN from identity thieves.

1. Shred your documents -Identity thieves are notorious dumpster divers.  They can use the paperwork you simply throw out to steal your identity.
2. Be cautious with email and phone calls – Identity thieves pretend to be a financial institution or other credit based company.  They will call and/or send you spam or pop-up messages in order to get you to provide personal information.
3. Protect your SSN card – Do not carry your SSN card in your wallet or purse!  It should be locked up in a fire safe cabinet or lockbox at all times.  Identity thieves can be reduced to simple pick pocketing and purse snatching in order to steal your identity. 
4. Use secure websites – Never enter your SSN on an unsecure website.  In fact, do not enter any personal details on an unsecure web page!

The most important tip of all – Keep an eye on your credit history and your identity.  Our recommended service, Net Detective, provides you with a free credit report and score!  Net Detective also includes $1,000,000 in identity theft protection.

You can also protect yourself and your business by performing Social Security record checks.  Using Net Detective you will uncover fraudulent, expired and fake Social Security numbers!   Ensure the people you are dealing with are not using a stolen Social Security number.

Don’t become a victim of Social Security number fraud!  Follow our tips and monitor your credit regularly.

Sources:

1. Bureau of Justice Statistics

I wanted to put as much distance between my ex boyfriend and myself

When relationships end badly, people sometimes have a tendency to move on, forget about the other person, and try to eliminate all evidence of that person from their lives. Most people have a breakup like this in their past, if not more than one. Even I myself have had one or two relationships leave my head spinning. When it happened to me, I wanted to put as much distance between my ex boyfriend and myself.

Now years have passed, and I wonder what ever happened to him.  Time has healed the wounds of that breakup and I remember the good times, knowing I did have a good friend all those years ago. What’s he up to now? Does he have a wife and a family? Did he follow his dream to become an architect? How are his parents and siblings, people I grew to like during our relationship?

These questions are a little easier to answer with things like MySpace and Facebook, but they don’t always work. In fact, all a person needs to do to hide themselves on one of these social sites is either not sign up or hide their profile. And in my case the act of not finding my ex made me want to find them even more!

Now, granted, my search isn’t as dire as it could be. We don’t share belongings, children, property, or anything else. It’s been a very long time since our relationship ended and I’m really searching him out for my own curiosity. Some of my friends have had more serious situations where an ex skipped town leaving no information behind. Adult relationships like theirs tend to need more time to unravel. Sometimes you share responsibilities like rent payments, belongings or even kids. No matter the circumstances, finding an ex—be it a boyfriend/girlfriend, fiancé, spouse, or long-term partner—gets a lot easier thanks to background checking sites.

I’ve often recommended NetDetective.com to my friends

I’ve often recommended NetDetective.com to my friends in these situations. For just $2.95, you get unlimited access to background checks, marital or divorce records, and contact information like phone numbers and addresses. I was able to find my old boyfriend with an address search and now we correspond regularly.

For some of my friends, NetDetective did even more to give them peace of mind. Not only could they find their ex quickly and anonymously, but also they were able to gain the restitution they needed to get past the breakup and heal their wounds. For them, and for me, seeking out an ex with NetDetective.com was a positive experience.

Finding long-lost family members can be quite an undertaking

When my family immigrated to the United States two generations ago, they left behind a lot of their old lives. Among the things lost were family connections. Today, with so much time passed, finding long-lost family members can be quite an undertaking!

I recently traveled to Italy, where my great-grandfather left behind two brothers and many cousins. On a whim, I checked the local phonebook in the area where they lived and found a whopping four full pages of listings with his last name. I don’t speak any Italian and I had no way to know whether they were related or if his last name is just that common in that region. Frustrated, I gave up and just enjoyed other aspects of my vacation, knowing there were connections I was missing.

Back at home I started my online search of my long lost relatives. Google results overwhelmed me and a track-back at Ancestry.com could only take me so far. Without knowing a lot of information about this extended family, I was totally lost. I had a few names but not much to go on, so I gave up again.

Two years later, a conversation with my mother spurred my interest once again. She knew a little bit more about them (still not much) and we decided together to try to track them down. We each did a little research about people search services online and both of us stumbled upon NetDetective.com.

We signed up for a three-year membership to NetDetective.com for just $2.95, which got us unlimited access to public records like birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. My mother and I searched anonymously, thanks to NetDetective’s identity protection, and we came up with some surprising results. We found many of these long-lost relatives living right here in the USA, spread out in states close by to where we live!

Going back through the records, it was easy to draw a straight line to my great-grandfather’s family members, each connected to the next through public records. And with NetDetective’s thorough locator services, we could find contact information for many of them. Once we connected with those in the US, we were also able to find relatives back in Italy!

After years and years of wondering what happened to our long-lost relatives

After years and years of wondering what happened to our long-lost relatives, all the answers were uncovered almost instantly by this fantastic records search service. NetDetective was money well spent, since we were able to search and search until we uncovered each and every relative. Now, I’m happy to report how many familial “pen-pals” I have throughout the US and Italy. It also doesn’t hurt to have a place to stay the next time I want to go back to the “old country” and spend time with relatives I spent my whole life not knowing.

With this branch of my family uncovered, I hope to next explore the other sides as well. Who knows who else I’m related to?

Trust should be the foundation of any solid relationship…

Trust should be the foundation of any solid relationship, but sometimes a boyfriend or girlfriend can’t be totally honest about their past. When you suspect something’s being hidden from you, you may find yourself badgering your significant other for details or snooping through their personal things for answers. This isn’t trust and it can have a bad effect on your relationship in the end.

If you find yourself in that situation, as a close friend of mine did not so long ago, what can you do? It’s human nature to want to believe the person we love is totally honest, but secrets hidden for too long can hurt more in the long run if we allow them to continue. My friend, who we’ll call Sally, found herself head over heels for a man who refused to answer questions about his past and often disappeared for days without calling or checking in.  She wanted to trust him, that he was away on business, but her gut told her there was something or someone else.

Sally came to me, knowing that I’d done personal background checks before for my line of work. I told her about a service I’d often used called NetDetective.com and helped her set up her account.  For just $2.95, Sally was given a three-year membership with unlimited background checks.  She was able to search public records, marital records, and much more.  Together, we set about uncovering the truth about her boyfriend, hoping we’d find no secrets at all.

I’m sad to say this isn’t a happy-ending kind of story, but Sally was truly glad to find out the real story about her boyfriend’s odd behavior. Within moments of conducting our search with Net Detective, we found everything we needed to know.  Not only was he married (a marital status search uncovered an active marriage certificate in another state), but he’d also been divorced once before!  Sally immediately saw that she was in line to become his next wife, since divorce papers had been filed against her boyfriend’s current wife.

She was outraged, but as I said, so happy to know that her suspicions weren’t ridiculous. With this information, she was able to make an informed decision about her future with her boyfriend. He didn’t know she’d conducted the search, because NetDetective.com protects your identity with anonymous searches, but she told him the truth anyway.

Get the answers you need

While relationships need trust to survive, blind trust isn’t always the best policy. Sally did what she needed to do to gain peace of mind about her relationship.  It didn’t work out for them in the end, but she had a clear conscience.  Now, she recommends the service to any of her friends or co-workers in similar situations. With the unlimited background records, you’ll never have to wonder if there are hidden secrets in your significant other’s life again. Get the answers you need, just as Sally did to make sure your boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse is the one for you.