Which of the following is NOT a common skip-tracing data source?

• A. Public records
• B. Police records
• C. Utilities
• D. Social networks

Answer: (B)

Skip tracing relies on data sources that are accessible, lawful to use, and tend to be current enough to help locate someone. Public records are a staple because they contain official addresses, property records, court filings, and other identifiers that can point to where a person lives or has lived. Utilities data can reveal the current service address tied to an account, offering a practical lead on where someone is residing. Social networks are valuable too, since people often share location details, workplace information, or network connections that help corroborate a location or route to find them.

Police records, while potentially containing contact information, are not a common skip-tracing data source due to privacy protections, access restrictions, and the fact that they aren’t typically updated for locating private individuals. They’re governed by strict laws and vary by jurisdiction, making them unreliable and inappropriate as a routine data source for skip tracing.