If you are searching for estranged family members online, there are a few ways that you can go about it. This process can be arduous and frustrating, but may also be worth it to find the people that you that have been lost for so long. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Step One: Find their email address or social media account
In order to make contact with an old friend, you need to know where they may be lurking on the web. Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter are a great place to start. If you type their name into a search engine, it might give you a few options. Nowadays, most people have accounts on one or two of these websites, so that is your best bet for tracking them down.
Background checks on their full name can also reveal other information. If you are familiar with their phone number, you can run a search using it to see if other information pops up. The site “Spokeo” is an example of a site that aggregates info from many sources when you’re looking for someone.
Another place to check for them would be email addresses. Any emails that they may have used in the past might be on record somewhere where they can be accessed by someone who knows how to look for it. School records could also give away another possible email address, or social media account for tracking them down.
Step Two: Make sure it’s really them
When searching for family members online, there is always the possibility that someone else has set up an account using their name and photos to impersonate them. This could be because they want attention or simply because they are up to no good. In order to confirm that you have found the correct person, you should ask them a few questions that only they would know the answer to. For example, what is your grandmother’s maiden name? What was your childhood pet’s name? If they can answer these questions correctly, it is likely that you have found the right person.
If you’re still not certain, you can always run a background check on them. This will give you more information about their history and could help to confirm or rule out your suspicions.
Step Three: Send them an email or message
If you have located your family member’s social media account, you can send them a direct message or an email. It is best to be polite and respectful in your correspondence, even if they do not respond right away or at all. Sometimes people are hesitant to reach out to long-lost family members because they are afraid of how the other person may react. However, you should not let that stop you from reaching out to your loved one after all this time!
Step Four: Stick to the facts
Try not to overwhelm your family member with long-winded explanations about why you are searching for them or how much you have missed them. When sending an email, try starting off by asking if they remember who you are and writing a quick summary of what has happened in your life since the last time you saw them. This tends to be more effective than simply demanding answers right away. Once they know that it is actually their family contacting them, most people will respond positively and want to hear everything that has been happening in your life over the past few decades.
Step Five: Meet in person
If things go well and your family member is receptive to communication, you may want to consider meeting up in person. This can be a daunting prospect, but it is definitely worth it to finally see the face of the person you have been searching for all this time. You should take into account your safety and the safety of your family member when arranging a meeting. If you live in different parts of the world, meeting in a neutral location might be the best option.
Reuniting with estranged family members can be an emotional experience, but it is also a very rewarding one. By following these simple steps, you will be on your way to finding them and rebuilding those lost connections. Good luck!
