Always in view: With universal tracking to track down refugees, you too are being tracked

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — No one said paying bills was easy.

But when debtors disappear, there are ways to find them – but in the process, your locations are also archived.

“We like to say we can get more information about you than you even know about yourself,” says Andrew Scott, CEO and owner of Colorado Springs-based Trailfinder, Inc.

Trailfinder is a litigation-oriented and private investigation agency that uses various methods to track down people who have left the city – disappeared – without paying their fees. One of these methods is called skip tracing.

A process server attempts to deliver documents to a desired person

It's not a simple Google search or the $19.95 Finder of People website that pulls out outdated information. This particular software costs over $1,500 per month and retrieves credit headers, which include information such as current addresses on utility bills, Social Security numbers, and credit application information. It collects information from the Department of Motor Vehicles, marriage and divorce records, and home purchases.

Why is skip tracing necessary?

Maybe an ex-spouse doesn't pay alimony or child support, lies to the courts to get custody, or misrepresents where they work and how much they earn: That's where Scott comes in to do a little digging.

“People can easily demonstrate to court that they are not working, working less, or that they are medically incapable of working. In those cases, we can do monitoring and determine whether they are actually working, are medically fit to work, if they are working, how much they are working,” says Scott.

But what if you do everything right – pay all your fees?

They are still tracked, but not always searched. And you might be surprised at how you're being followed.

Scott explains that not only is our digital fingerprint traceable, but so is our facial recognition.

Tiny cameras – not the security cameras we normally see – record as we enter and exit stores. This information is then stored in the camera manufacturer's database. They are becoming increasingly common in large stores and fast food restaurants.

Also traceable are the GPS locations of your parked car – accessible to Skip Tracer. The information is collected through law enforcement repo trucks and license plate readers. All information is also stored in a database.

“If you shop at Walmart regularly and you live in this area, then we would know what your religion is, and we could find you at this church every Sunday, then we might know what store you work at,” Scott said.

Can Skip Tracers just search everyone?

The capacity is there, but Scott says it's not kosher.

“We can’t just use this software out of curiosity.”

Each company behind the skip tracer software conducts an audit that asks investigators why they searched. However, there is currently no government oversight that could add another level of protection.