Professional People Trace API

Implementation Guide

Introduction

Please see the Overview Page to review account setup, authentication instructions, and other common API features.

Struggling to locate someone who’s hard to track down? Let Searchbug® make the search easier with our Professional People Trace API. This tool is highly recommended for debt collection agencies, law enforcement, wage garnishment services, and investigative professionals seeking accurate, reliable information.

The API returns full name and aliases, known addresses with reported dates, phone numbers, date of birth and SSN. Due to the sensitive nature of the data included in this API, including SSN and driver's license information, this API is only available to verified businesses with the Restricted Access Add-On. Data sources include credit bureau repositories, DMV records, utility records, private sources, and public records.

Are you curious how to easily integrate People Trace API into your existing systems? This API Documentation is here to guide you!

This guide includes:

  1. Sending Request
  2. Receiving Results

Sending Request

The request should be sent to Searchbug using the following URL using the POST method:

https://data.searchbug.com/api/search.aspx

Search Parameters

You can submit your request via:

  • POST Header: Parameters sent as custom headers
  • POST Body: Parameters sent as form-data
Parameter Value Example Description
CO_CODE 3453167 Required. Your account number
PASS H4z865i3$1 API Key or account password (not needed if using Bearer Token)
TYPE api_trace Required. Use api_trace for this API
SSN 212-77-3123 9-digit Social Security Number in any format (e.g. “123-45-6789” or “123456789”). Restricted Access Add-On is required.

Partial SSN searches by the last 4 digits is also supported. First and Last Name are required for partial SSN searches. Restricted Access Add-On is required.
FNAME Mary First name
MNAME Ann Middle Name or Middle Initial
LNAME Wilke Last name
ADDRESS 700 Saint Joseph Ridge CT Saint Louis MO Street Address in postal format. Do not include unit number.
CITY Saint Louis City of the residence
STATE Mo State of the residence
FORMAT JSON Optional. The default is XML. To get results in JSON format, pass FORMAT=JSON
REF CUST001 Optional. Used for API usage tracking per application or customer (100 char max).

Following search combinations are allowed:

  1. SSN
  2. FNAME + LNAME (not recommended for common names)
  3. FNAME + LNAME + STATE
  4. FNAME + LNAME + CITY+ STATE
  5. LNAME + CITY+ STATE
  6. ADDRESS + CITY + STATE

MNAME can be added to FNAME + LNAME searches.

Receiving Results

The results are returned in the XML format. This an example:


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" standalone="true"?> 
- <RESULTS>
    <PROVIDER>SearchBug, Inc.</PROVIDER>
    <PRODUCT>api_trace</PRODUCT>
    - <response>
        <status>0</status>
        <transaction-id>37005230R272986</transaction-id>
        <subject-count>3</subject-count>
        - <record>
            <type>subject</type>
            <name-first>MARY</name-first>
            <name-middle>ANN</name-middle>
            <name-last>WILKE</name-last>
            <street-number>700</street-number>
            <street-name>SAINT JOSEPH RIDGE</street-name>
            <street-suffix>CT</street-suffix>
            <City>SAINT LOUIS</City>
            <state>MO</State>
            <zip>63129</zip>
            <zip4>7107</zip4>
            <county>ST. LOUIS</county>
            <phone_phone10>3144164124</phone_phone10>
            <ssn></ssn>
            - <date-first>
            <year>1998</year>
            <month>2</month>
            </date-first>
            - <date-last>
                <year>2015</year>
                <month>1</month>
            </date-last>
            <unit-number>C</unit-number>
            - <dob>
                <year>1967</year>
                <month>8</month>
                <day>5</day>
            </dob>
            <age>47</age>
        </record>
    </response>
</RESULTS>

Example of No Results:

                       
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" standalone="true"?>
<RESULTS>
	<FOUND>No</FOUND>
</RESULTS>

For further technical details and customer support, please chat with us, email us, or call us (800) 990-2939.

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