Do you sometimes wonder how to start searching for a missing or lost person using the Internet? This article will show you what you need to do to find a child, friend or family member that you have lost to long time. All you need is a web browser and the time available to do this research.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Begin the research
Step 1. Gather useful information about the lost person
Before you start your search, take some time to think about the person you are looking for. Write down any details you can remember, such as favorite hobbies, favorite idioms, and even try to remember the person's middle name initial or birthplace. If you also have an idea of his date of birth, this will also be very useful for research. You have to try to remember some specific details about their personality, including what that person likes or dislikes as well as their whimsical side.
Step 2. Start the research immediately
As soon as you have gathered the important information on the missing person, start the search immediately. Don't put it off. The sooner you start, the better your chances of finding that person.
Step 3. Continue from where you left off
If you have been searching for a while, don't start over or start from scratch. Even if you found yourself at a dead end, continue from where you left off.
Step 4. Search the Internet using a web browser
When starting your research, use popular browsers like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. Type in details about the lost person including name, age, region or country (if you have even a vague idea) and occupation. Some universities like the University of Buffalo have a list of the best web browsers for general research and for people research.
Step 5. Be persistent and do your research regularly
Just because you don't get any results the first time you do your research doesn't mean you should just give up on everything. If you don't find any interesting leads the first time around, try a few more days afterwards and keep trying.
Method 2 of 3: Find a missing person on different websites
Step 1. Use genealogical reference sites
Genealogy sites like Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org provide access to information you can use to build your family tree and find family members you didn't even know existed. Some genealogical reference sites offer DNA tests to help you research the database that is online.
Use DNA genealogy tests to make your research easier. Genealogy DNA testing has successfully reunited siblings as well as children and their parents. If the person you are looking for is blood close to your family, genealogical DNA will help you find them
Step 2. Research local labor organizations
If you know the profession of your deceased loved one, search the databases of the corresponding trade union organizations. This method will perhaps allow you to know where this person works or you can at least limit his place of residence to a city or region.
Step 3. Search social networking sites
Visit popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and search for your missing friend or close relative. Do your research by varying the names used. For example, you can use first and last name, first and last name, and even nicknames.
Step 4. Research the prison environment
If you still cannot find information about a lost or missing friend or family member, consider researching the prison environment. In many countries, prison service websites provide an inmate locator tool, which allows you to search among all inmates in a particular country or state.
Step 5. Use people search sites
Try to search for your friend or family member using people search sites like Pipl, Yatedo, and YoName. It is to such search social sites, blogs and the like that your friend or family member's name can be found.
Step 6. Search the court records
The Vehicle Registration Service website has a court records search facility that can help you locate a person who is lost to follow-up. You can easily search there by using the person's name and selecting from a drop-down list of names and details that are similar to those of the person you are looking for.
Method 3 of 3: Use the databases available online
Step 1. Register with a missing persons site
Create an account in a database site for missing persons, such as the ARPD (assistance and search for missing persons) site in France which allows law enforcement officers and the general public to add or to find cases of missing persons.
Step 2. Add a missing person case
Include important details as well as photos and other specific information about the missing person. Give all the information that could allow other people to identify the person you are looking for. Take into account her current appearance which may be different from the one she had before the disappearance.
Step 3. Create posters of the missing person
Many missing person database sites allow account holders to create and print missing person posters. Once you have created and printed posters or posters with information about the lost person, post them and distribute copies to people in your area and also in the area where the person was last seen.
Step 4. Check websites regularly
Persistence is very important in the search for people who are missing or lost to follow-up. To do this, check your account every day and participate in website forums to be in contact with people who have the same problem as you.
Advice
- New data is added every day to genealogy sites and other database sites, so you may need to redo the searches after a week or two if your initial research did not bring good results.
- Do not use uppercase characters when doing research. Use an uppercase letter only to write the first letter of the name, first name, or last name. Some search engines are case sensitive and the exclusive use of capital letters may limit your search results.