You can run but you can’t hide.
As a Private Investigator with specialist expertise in people search, at times I get asked how easy it is to hide, or how easy it is to find someone.
The facts are that not everyone can be found.
Be wary of people or websites that claim “we can find anyone” or similar. They can’t. Period.
In truth, around 98% of people can be found if the client’s budget is big enough. Note; I said: “if the client’s budget is big enough“. What this means is that many people will never be found because the costs prohibit it.
You may be wondering why so many people can potentially be found, provided sufficient funds are available. 98% may seem very high to some. The reason for this is that it is actually very difficult to hide effectively for an extended period. Time often works against you.
People have legitimate reasons to hide or disappear, sometimes due to serious threats against them. Some have government or other official assistance. If the latter is the case, do not assume you are safe. Corruption is rampant worldwide. Your security can easily be compromised because someone wants a new TV. And don’t think you have any real privacy due improved privacy laws now operating in Europe or Australia for example. It is all another ‘whitewash’ and a panacea for the gullible. In fact, the people who have derived most benefit from these new privacy laws have actually been the bad guys, as well as debtors who want to avoid their obligations.
In some cases, things have become easier for creditors. Here is an example of how modern social networking has actually helped a creditor:
Lawyers given permission to serve debtors with default judgement through Facebook
In order to hide successfully you need to cut all ties with your past life. This means no more contact with Mum, not even at Christmas. Ideally you need to go to a place with which you have had no previous connection. So if you are from the USA for example you should not attempt to hide in cities where you have lived in the past and ideally should leave the country if you can. Big towns are often better than remote small communities for example – the opposite of what many people would think is a good place to hide. You can get lost in a crowd.
Hiding is tough. Only the pros can do it successfully. Failure is often due to the hidden or unsuspected dynamic, or lack of knowledge. An example was a bunch of terrorists in Hamburg, Germany who were caught because they used cash for their electricity account. Intelligence officers were looking for people who had paid cash so the terrorists stuck out like a sore thumb! And yet, you would think paying cash was smart – being untraceable and anonymous. It wasn’t because it was actually a security risk flag.
As I said, you can run, but you can’t hide!
PS: If you want to read a story about how I found someone wanted by the New South Wales state Police (they couldn’t find him) then please check out my People Search page.
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