Hiring a PI vs. Using People Search Websites: What’s the Real Difference?

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Jul 01, 2025By Easton Secure Solutions

When you need to locate someone—whether it’s a missing relative, a former tenant, or someone avoiding court papers—it’s tempting to start with a quick people search website. After all, they promise instant results for just a few dollars. But how reliable are they? And how do they compare to hiring a licensed private investigator?

At first glance, both seem to offer the same thing: information about people. But the truth is, what they deliver—and how they do it—is dramatically different. Here’s what you need to know before spending money on either option.

 
What People Search Sites Actually Do


People search websites like Spokeo, BeenVerified, or TruthFinder scrape publicly available data and package it into reports. These sites aggregate information from:

  • Public records (like voter registration or property ownership)
  • Social media profiles
  • Marketing databases
  • Old white pages and directories

While this can seem comprehensive, the information is often outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate. It’s not uncommon for someone’s name to be tied to an address from 10 years ago, or for unrelated individuals to be merged in one report due to similar names or shared addresses.

And most importantly: these sites don’t verify the information. What you see is exactly what a bot found—and there’s no one fact-checking it for you.

 
Why People Use Them Anyway

People search tools appeal to users because they’re fast and easy. If you're curious about an old friend or a potential date, they may give you a starting point. But when it comes to serious matters—like recovering owed money, dealing with family disputes, or locating someone who doesn’t want to be found—these platforms fall short.

That’s where a licensed private investigator comes in.

 
What a Private Investigator Does Differently


Unlike automated data scrapers, private investigators combine technology, legal access, and human analysis to provide accurate, actionable results. Here's how that looks in practice:

1. Access to Proprietary and Verified Data
Licensed private investigators often have access to Tier 1 proprietary databases not available to the public. These databases aggregate real-time information from verified sources like utility records, financial institutions (via credit header data), and internal industry logs. This level of access makes a huge difference in both quality and accuracy.

2. Human Verification
Every locate case handled by a professional PI is reviewed by a human. Instead of just printing a report, investigators cross-reference sources, make live contact when legally appropriate, and eliminate false leads. This ensures the person located is actually the right individual—not just someone with the same name.

3. Skip Tracing Techniques
Private investigators use a technique called skip tracing, which is the process of finding people who are deliberately avoiding contact. That includes tracking through:

  • Utility connections
  • Employment databases
  • Civil court filings
  • Online behavioral patterns (via legal OSINT methods)
  • Contact with known associates

You won’t find that in any people search report.

4. Privacy Compliance
When a PI is hired, especially in non-court matters like family reunification or debt recovery, there are legal and ethical obligations in place. A licensed PI understands when they can—and cannot—make direct contact or share information. This protects both you and the subject of the investigation.

 

Real-World Example: A Tale of Two Searches
Let’s say you’re trying to locate the non-custodial parent of your child who stopped paying court-ordered support and has gone off the grid. You try a popular people search website and get a few outdated addresses, disconnected phone numbers, and vague employment history. You send a letter—no response. You try the phone numbers—nothing but dead ends.

Now let’s say you hire a private investigator. They run a deep skip trace using proprietary data sources and uncover a new utility hookup under the individual’s name, a recently renewed out-of-state driver’s license, and a connected employer through a corporate records search. Within days, they provide a verified address and employer—information you can take to family court for enforcement or wage garnishment.

 
Cost Comparison: Is a PI Worth It?


People search sites often charge monthly fees ranging from $20–$30/month. But since their results aren’t verified, you may waste hours chasing false leads. Worse, you might take action based on incorrect information.

Hiring a PI may cost more upfront—anywhere from $199 for a basic identity verification to $400+ for an in-depth locate—but you’re paying for verified results, experience, and legal compliance. In most serious cases, the real cost is in not getting it right.

 
When You Should Choose a Private Investigator Instead
If any of the following apply, you’ll want a licensed PI—not a search site:

  • You’re trying to serve court papers or recover a debt.
  • You believe the person is actively avoiding being found.
  • You only have limited or outdated information (like a nickname or old email).
  • You need results fast and can’t afford to be wrong.
  • You want to make sure the contact process follows legal privacy protocols.
     

    Protecting Your Case—and Your Reputation

One of the biggest risks with relying on people search sites is acting on faulty info. If you’re trying to serve legal documents or resolve a family estate matter, you could face legal complications if you contact the wrong person or violate someone’s privacy.

A licensed PI ensures accuracy, privacy compliance, and professionalism throughout the process.

 
Looking for Verified Results? Work with a Local PI Who Knows New York


At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we specialize in skip tracing, identity verification, and locating individuals across New York City, Long Island as well as Nationwide. As a New York-licensed private investigator, we go beyond basic searches to deliver results that matter—ethically and legally.

Whether you’re dealing with a sensitive family issue, a legal matter, or a need for answers, we’re here to help.

✅ Basic Locate or Identity Check 
✅ Enhanced Reports – Includes OSINT, social media, and facial match
✅ Fully Verified, Human-Led Investigations

 
Ready for Real Answers?
Skip the generic search engines and speak to a licensed professional.

📞 Call us at (516) 962-1267
📧 Email: [email protected]

Visit our Skip Tracing Services or Identity Verification pages to learn more.

 
Don’t waste time on questionable data—hire a licensed PI who gets results.