LibGuides: Finding People Fast: Databases and Apps for Finding People

Start with a Google Search and an article search in Access World News

Do a Google name search in quotes "firstname lastname." Search past and present email addresses and phone numbers in Google. Do an article search of the person's name in Access World News.

Pipl Search - J-School Subscription

People Finding Databases (pay)

ReferenceUSA - J-School Subscription
Search by name, address, and phone number on each of these modules separately:
Standard White Pages search all phones listings, only updated annually
New Movers searches forwarding addresses supplied to USPS, updated every three months
Consumers/Lifestyles searches marketing info that private companies provide to the USPS
US Businesses (current), US News Businesses (new), US Historical Businesses (non-active businesses) search by business name or executive/owner name
PropertyShark - sign up for a time to use this database
Database of all things related to a certain property. https://www.propertyshark.com/ It searches NYC and NYS for real estate information by owner (it also unmasks real owners of LLCs), address, and parcel ID. It combines public records and proprietary commercial data into one report. Remember when you are looking at these docs, that a seller, attorney, address for buyer, business address of buyer, etc., can all lead to more information in other databases.

After you have tried all the other available people finding tools, the Research Center can search Accurint for you, to help you find a contact or background a person for reporting. Make an appointment with one of us here, or email research@journalism.cuny.edu.

People Finding Databases (free)

FamilyTreeNow
Search by name to find addresses, phones (including cell phones), businesses, and relatives.
Voter Registration Records
Free research tool of more than 70 million voter records. Only has select states.
Xlek.com - Free Public Data Search
Free public data searches, including Voter Registration, Property, Corporate Registration, Campaign Contributions, Financial Cases.
That'sThem.com
People search engine, find addresses, phones, emails
Whoxy
Free domain search by company, name, including historical. Many domains are registered through a third party, but try searching the historical filings in case they ever registered using their own info. Can also see all the domains owned by a person or a company.

Apps for Finding Emails and Phones

Hunter.io
Free plan allows for 25 website searches per month. Hunter lets you find professional email addresses in seconds and connect with the people that matter for your business.
RocketReach
You get 10 free searches per month
Lusha
Sign up for a Lusha.com account. You get five free searches per month. Download the chrome extension and use as a screen over LinkedIn profiles.
Lusha Chrome Extension
Download the chrome extension and make sure you are logged into LinkedIn and Lusha.com. The Lusha icon will pop up on the right side of a LinkedIn profile page.
LinkedIn Advanced Search
Use Lusha to reveal LinkedIn contacts.
Improver.io
Create login to Improver and download the Chrome extension. Use in LinkedIn the same way as Lusha. 10 free searches per month.
Improver Chrome Extension
Download to use in LinkedIn
Kaspr
Chrome add-on with 5 free credits per month to unmask contacts on a LinkedIn Profile. Use it in conjunction with chrome add-ons for Lusha, Improver, and Rocket Reach, which all have free credits per month.