Skip tracing is the art of locating people. One of the most common cases a skip tracer will do is locating debtors, people that owe money to banks and debt collection agencies. A skip tracer will normally locate people by using paid databases, obtaining information freely available on the internet or by speaking with friends and relatives of the "subject". The term "Skip Tracer" comes from the old saying "To Skip Town".

This referrers to a person that has left without letting people know or simply leaving in the night. Over the years a Skip Tracer's tool kit has increased with the internet and sites like Facebook, Linkedin and other social media platforms. The internet alone has been the greatest addition to a Skip Tracer's resources. Before, the only way to get information was to "Dumpster Dive" and rely on contacts and pretexting. This has also created a divide in the industry by creating a different breed of Skip Tracer.

Quick Check - This is just typing a person's name into a paid database and seeing if anything comes up.

Desk Detective - A Skip Tracer that does all their work from a desk and doesn't venture outdoors. Most OSINT specialists will fall under this category.

Skip Tracer - The real deal. A skip tracer that has mastered the age-old art of sleuthing. They will use old and modern techniques and has no issues in getting out in the field when required.

Each area of Skip Tracing is profitable and interesting in its own way. But nothing can beat the real deal. The fun, excitement and who doesn't enjoy some good old sleuthing! The most important tool in a Skip Tracer's belt is their knowledge and attitude. This can't be replaced by databases or Facebook.

A Skip Tracer's knowledge will tell them where to look, who to speak to, how to speak to them and what to ask. Skip Tracing doesn't always have to result in hours of searching, a person can be located in a matter of seconds in some cases (surprisingly, a lot of cases).