Why wait for your 2013 high school reunion to hook up with your old prom date when you can punch a few computer keys, enter your credit-card number and get his name and address today?

The people-finding business has exploded with the advent of the Internet, said Bob Schwartz, president of US Search, a California-based company. More than 2 million inquiries are made every day on the free public database of his company's Web site, ussearch.com.

Customers then can pay $9.95 and up for searches of public information, such as property, postal and magazine subscription records, and the company offers a "no results, no charge" guarantee.

"If we can't get you the data on that person, we won't charge you," said Schwartz, acknowledging, however, that even an old address is considered to be "results."

The Internet is crawling with search firms, among them classmates.com, alumni.net and howtoinvestigate.com.

Schwartz recommended selecting a company that has longevity, financial backing, toll-free telephone numbers for sales and service, more than just an e-mail address, and customer references.

The more accurate information you can provide on an individual - first, middle and last names, date of birth, last known address and parents' names - the better chance you have of finding them, he said.

But the information you get back is only a roadmap, and the most successful people follow up, he said.

"When you get the data, you're part way but not all the way there," Schwartz said. "Write to the addresses, call and write neighbors or friends. Do a little bit of investigative work, and you will come up with positive results."

Click on this link to view original article.