Naked in Cyberspace How to Find Personal Information Online

by Lane, Carole A; Givens, Beth

• ISBN13: 9780910965507
• ISBN10: 0910965501
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-06-01
• Publisher: CyberAge Books

Summary

Surveying the types of personal records that are available on the Internet and through online services, this encyclopedic book explains how researchers find and use personal data, identifies the most useful sources of information about people, and offers advice for those with privacy concerns. Researchers will learn how to use online tools and databases to gain competitive intelligence, locate and investigate people, access public records, identify experts, find new customers, recruit employees, search for assets, uncover criminal records, and conduct genealogical research. Added to this updated edition is a more comprehensive listing of all vendors of public records.

Author Biography

Carole A. Lane is the owner of TechnoSearch, Inc. a technology research firm. She lives in Vista, California.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xxiii
Acknowledgments	p. xxv
About the Web Site	p. xxvii
Personal Records in Cyberspace
Welcome to Cyberspace (Check Your Clothes at the Door)	p. 3
How This Book Is Organized	p. 6
What Type of Research Interests You?	p. 7
Types of Personal Records	p. 7
Where Can I Find More Information?	p. 8
Database Searching	p. 9
Equipment and Software	p. 9
Types of Online Database Vendors	p. 10
Types of Data	p. 11
Search Languages and Methods	p. 12
Online Database Pricing and Fees	p. 15
Copyright and Resale	p. 16
Errors and Omissions	p. 16
Information Professionals or Brokers	p. 17
The Internet, Consumer Online Systems, and Personal Information	p. 19
What the Internet Is Not	p. 20
What Kinds of Personal Information Can You Find on the Internet and Consumer Online Systems?	p. 21
A Few Sample Searches	p. 27
Locating a Person	p. 27
Searching for Assets	p. 28
A Background Profile	p. 32
A Word About Privacy	p. 39
Privacy Laws	p. 39
Technology and Personal Information	p. 41
A Last Word About Privacy	p. 43
How Personal Records Are Used
Locating People	p. 47
Getting Started	p. 49
The Problems with Names	p. 50
Databases Used	p. 53
Summary	p. 58
Pre-Employment Screening	p. 59
What Is Pre-Employment Screening?	p. 60
Professional Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations	p. 61
Motor Vehicle Records	p. 61
FAA Airmen	p. 67
Consumer Credit Records	p. 67
An Alternative Social Security Number Screening Device	p. 68
Earnings History	p. 68
Education Verification	p. 69
Employment History	p. 69
Worker's Compensation History	p. 70
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Records	p. 70
Medical Records	p. 70
Public Records	p. 70
Combined Pre-Employment Searches	p. 71
Other Pre-Employment Databases	p. 71
Summary	p. 71
Recruitment and Job Searching	p. 73
Job Seekers	p. 73
Job Openings	p. 75
Summary	p. 77
Tenant Screening	p. 79
Credit Records	p. 79
Public Records	p. 80
Tenant Databases	p. 80
Summary	p. 80
Asset Searches	p. 83
Who Needs an Asset Search?	p. 83
What Types of Records Are Available?	p. 84
What's Missing?	p. 89
Summary	p. 90
Competitive Intelligence	p. 93
Who's Who?	p. 93
Corporate Musical Chairs	p. 93
Current Awareness	p. 94
Where Have They Been? What Have They Done?	p. 94
What Are They Thinking?	p. 95
Stock Ownership	p. 96
Business Predictions Hidden in Public Records	p. 96
Summary	p. 97
Identifying an Expert	p. 99
How Are Experts Used?	p. 99
How Can You Identify an Expert?	p. 101
Summary	p. 109
Prospect Research (Fundraising)	p. 111
News	p. 111
Campaign Contributions	p. 112
Public Records	p. 112
Telephone Directory Databases	p. 112
Mailing Lists	p. 112
Foundations and Grants Databases	p. 112
Summary	p. 113
Private Investigation	p. 115
Public Records	p. 115
Motor Vehicle Records	p. 116
Telephone Directories	p. 116
Not All Private Investigators Use Databases	p. 116
The Internet	p. 117
Further Information	p. 117
Types of Personal Records
Biographies	p. 121
Biographical Book Directories	p. 121
Biographical Books	p. 123
Encyclopedias	p. 124
Biographical Index Directories	p. 125
Biographical Directories	p. 125
Biographical News	p. 128
The Internet	p. 132
General Indices	p. 133
Dialindex	p. 133
Family Finder Index	p. 137
Public Records Indices	p. 138
Telephone Directories	p. 141
Geographic Differences	p. 141
Residential vs. Business	p. 141
Subject Area	p. 141
Currentness	p. 141
Accuracy	p. 142
Added Content	p. 142
Search Capabilities	p. 143
Use Restrictions	p. 143
Price	p. 143
Telephone Directories on the Internet	p. 144
For Further Information	p. 144
Staff, Professional, and Other Directories	p. 147
Staff Directories	p. 147
Professional Directories	p. 148
Ancillary Directories	p. 148
Mailing Lists	p. 151
Telephone Directories	p. 151
Other Directories	p. 152
Magazine Subscriptions	p. 153
Associations and Membership Groups	p. 153
Call-Ins/Write-Ins/Buyers	p. 154
Warranty Registration Cards	p. 157
Friends and Family	p. 157
Telephone Inquiries	p. 157
Attendees	p. 158
Donors	p. 158
Government Agencies	p. 158
Public Records	p. 159
Online Mailing Lists and Spam	p. 160
Mailing List Swapping	p. 160
Finding an Existing Mailing List	p. 161
Mailing List Expenses	p. 162
Stopping the Junk Mail and Telemarketing Calls	p. 162
News	p. 165
News Directories	p. 165
Newspapers	p. 166
Newswires	p. 167
Magazines	p. 168
Journals	p. 169
Zines	p. 170
Newsletters	p. 171
Television and Radio Transcripts	p. 172
Combined News Databases	p. 173
News Clipping Services, Current Awareness, and Selective Dissemination of Information	p. 174
Online Newsgroups	p. 174
Photographic Images	p. 177
Photo Stock Agencies	p. 177
News Services	p. 178
Business Periodicals and Magazines	p. 178
Missing Children and Loved Ones	p. 178
Criminals	p. 179
Photos Included in Other Databases	p. 179
Video	p. 180
Quotations	p. 181
Speech Databases	p. 181
Quotations Databases	p. 182
Professional and Technical Papers Presented	p. 182
Published Articles	p. 183
Published Books	p. 183
Political Speeches	p. 183
College Dissertations	p. 183
Bank Records	p. 185
Personal Bank Accounts	p. 185
Unclaimed Funds	p. 187
Business Bank Accounts	p. 187
Business Credit and Company Financial Records	p. 191
Public Records	p. 191
Sources of Business Financial Information	p. 192
Consumer Credit Records	p. 193
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)	p. 193
Credit Databases	p. 193
Searching the Credit Files	p. 201
Credit Agency Reports	p. 202
Consumer Credit History Reports	p. 202
Employment Reports	p. 205
Collection Reports	p. 205
Consumer Reports	p. 205
Address Update Reports	p. 205
Address Verification Reports	p. 207
Social Security Number Search Reports	p. 207
Fraud Alert/Prevention/Detection Reports	p. 207
Examples of Additional Credit Services	p. 208
Credit Bureaus	p. 209
Consumer Rights	p. 209
Requesting a Copy of Your Credit Report	p. 210
Foreign Consumer Credit Records	p. 213
Limitations on the Records Displayed on Credit Reports	p. 213
Summary	p. 217
Criminal Justice Records	p. 219
Criminal Justice Databases	p. 220
Other Uses for Criminal Records	p. 230
International Criminal Justice Organizations	p. 230
Criminal Justice Bulletin Boards and Web Sites	p. 232
For Further Information	p. 232
Department of Motor Vehicles	p. 237
Identifying Information on Individuals	p. 237
Driver's License Data	p. 238
Driving Records	p. 238
Vehicle Registrations	p. 239
Vessel Registrations	p. 240
Vehicle/Vessel Histories	p. 241
Problem Driver Pointer System	p. 241
How to Access DMV Records Online	p. 241
Regulations on Accessing DMV Records	p. 242
Death Records	p. 243
Social Security Death Index	p. 243
Public Records Vendors	p. 244
Cemetery Records	p. 245
War Records	p. 246
Deaths in the News	p. 246
Deaths in Other Databases	p. 247
Tax Records	p. 249
Franchise Tax Records	p. 249
Board of Equalization Records (or State Sales Tax Board)	p. 249
Property Tax Records	p. 250
Income Tax Records Within Public Records	p. 250
Medical and Insurance Records	p. 251
Medical Registries	p. 252
Access to Medical Records	p. 254
Medical Insurance Databases	p. 255
Public Records	p. 255
Motor Vehicle Records	p. 256
Worker's Compensation Records	p. 257
News	p. 257
Mailing Lists	p. 257
OSHA Records	p. 258
Medical Details Viewed by the World	p. 259
Concern for the Future	p. 259
Public Records	p. 261
Limitations of Online Public Records	p. 261
Types of Public Records Available Online	p. 263
Court Records Systems	p. 279
Other Types of Records Available from Public Records Vendors and County Sites	p. 280
Other Services Available from Public Records Vendors	p. 284
Summary	p. 284
Adoption Records	p. 287
Adoption/Reunion Registries	p. 287
News Groups	p. 291
Adoption Information	p. 292
Adoption/Reunion Publications	p. 292
Adoption Legislation	p. 292
Children Available for Adoption	p. 292
Celebrity Records	p. 295
Biographies and Credits	p. 295
Upcoming Projects	p. 303
Contact Information and Business Relationships	p. 304
News	p. 305
Online News Groups	p. 307
Internet Sites	p. 307
Celebrity Deaths	p. 308
Summary	p. 309
Genealogical Records	p. 311
Software	p. 311
Standard Genealogical Record Formats	p. 312
Soundex Codes	p. 313
Where to Get Started	p. 314
Genealogical Registries (Pedigrees)	p. 317
Census Records	p. 318
Church Records	p. 320
Announcements (Newspaper, Meeting, Etc.)	p. 320
Family Bible Records	p. 321
Birth Records	p. 321
Marriage Records	p. 322
Death Records	p. 322
Immigration Records	p. 323
Land (Real Property or Deed) Records	p. 324
Military Records	p. 324
Combined Records	p. 326
Summary	p. 326
Political Records	p. 329
Political News	p. 329
Political Directories	p. 330
Biographies	p. 331
Voting Records/Politics	p. 331
Money	p. 332
Events	p. 334
Government Documents	p. 335
We the People	p. 337
Census Records	p. 337
Other Demographic and Statistical Databases	p. 339
Census Projections	p. 340
Foreign Census Records, Demographics, and Statistics	p. 340
Demographic and Statistical Publications	p. 341
Summary	p. 341
Where Can I Find More Information?
Books	p. 345
Adoptee/Birthparent Search Guides	p. 345
Background Research/Investigative Reporting Books	p. 345
Genealogical Research Guides	p. 347
Internet/Web Searching Books	p. 350
Locating People	p. 350
Mailing List Directories	p. 350
Privacy, Security, and Freedom of Information Books	p. 351
Public Records Research Guides	p. 354
Periodicals	p. 355
Adoptee/Birthparent Search Publications	p. 355
Competitive and Business Intelligence Publications	p. 356
Fundraising/Prospect Research Publications	p. 356
Genealogical Research Publications	p. 358
Investigative Journalism & Private Investigative Publications	p. 361
Mailing Lists/Direct Marketing Publications	p. 362
Online Research and Database Publications	p. 363
Pre-Employment Screening and Recruitment Publications	p. 364
Privacy and Computer Security Publications	p. 365
Property Management Publications	p. 369
Organizations	p. 371
Adoptee/Birthparent Search Organizations	p. 371
Asset Search Organizations	p. 406
Consumer Credit Associations	p. 406
Fundraising/Prospect Research Organizations	p. 406
Genealogical Research Associations	p. 414
Investigative Journalism and Private Investigative Organizations	p. 444
Organizations Involved in Privacy Rights, Computer Privacy, or Freedom of Information	p. 447
Process Server Associations	p. 450
Professional Research Associations That Are Knowledgeable About Online Searching	p. 450
Property Management Organizations	p. 452
Public Records Research Organizations	p. 455
Skip-Tracer and Collection Agency Associations	p. 455
Tenant Screening Associations	p. 456
Appendices
Databases That Include Biographies	p. 457
Book Directory Databases	p. 463
Business Credit and Company Financial Databases	p. 469
Professional and Staff Directory Databases	p. 483
Other Directory Databases Containing Employee Information	p. 487
General Encyclopedia Databases	p. 493
News Databases	p. 495
Databases That Include Photographs	p. 509
Databases Containing Quotations and/or Speeches	p. 515
Telephone Directories	p. 521
Adoption and Reunion Registries	p. 525
Consumer Online Systems	p. 537
Public Records Producers and Vendors	p. 539
Other Database Vendors	p. 543
Companies and Associations That Can Help to Remove Your Name from Mailing and Telephone Lists	p. 551
Have I Missed Anything?	p. 555
About the Author	p. 557
Index	p. 559
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