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

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

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

People finding databases

People Finding Databases (pay)

Spokeo
Search by name, phone, address, or email to confidentially lookup information about people. Contact Information, Personal Details, Location History, Family and Associates, Social Media Accounts. Newmark J-School users, please check your email for access information. If you do not have an access email, contact research@journalism.cuny.edu for assistance. [NOTE: we do not have access to criminal record data on spokeo. Try accurint instead]
Data Axle (formerly 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 - email research@journalism.cuny.edu
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.

Email research@journalism.cuny.edu for full property report or owner search.

Accurint People Search: After you have tried all the other available pay and free people-finding tools, you can request an Accurint search, Email research@journalism.cuny.edu and let us know if you need a phone number, email, relatives, or full report on a business or person. It also helps if you give us all of the information you have to aid our search and make sure we find you the correct source or entity.

People Finding Databases (free)

TruePeopleSearch
Search by name, phone, and address. Gives you address history, phones, emails, and relatives. Do not click on anything that says "full report" or "full background," those will link out to paid services.
FamilyTreeNow
Search by name to find addresses, phones (including cell phones), businesses, and relatives. Click on "View details," then the "Close" box to bypass paid search.
Nuwber
Search by name, phone, address. Then check the box and click on “I agree,” and then click on the person who matches by address and age. Don’t click on “Full Report” or anything within the full report, because that refers you to paid services. You can click on any of the pulldown menus to “Show More.”
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.
Xlek.com - Free Public Data Search
Free public data searches, including Voter Registration, Property, Corporate Registration, Campaign Contributions, Financial Cases.

Apps for Finding Emails and Phones

LinkedIn Advanced Search
Use SignalHire or RocketReach to reveal LinkedIn contacts.
SignalHire
Create a login using your Gmail and add the Chrome extension to get 10 free searches per month. Integrates with LinkedIn to find phones or emails while you are on a person's profile.
RocketReach
You get 5 free lookups per month. Sign up with your Gmail and add the Chrome extension. It can be used with LinkedIn or searched directly on RocketReach.
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.

These LinkedIn Chrome Extensions are less useful if you don't pay, but try them out anyway:

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.
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.