I Tried PublicRecordsCenter.org to Find My Childhood Friend —Here’s What Really Happened

Disclosure: Some links, like Spokeo, are tools I’ve personally used and found helpful. If you use them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are based on genuine experience.

A Friendship Frozen in Time

My name is Julie Smith, and I own a small pizza shop in Deadwood, South Dakota. Life here is quiet, filled with familiar faces and the comforting smell of baking dough. But for over two decades, a piece of my heart was missing—my childhood best friend, Rachel.

We were inseparable. We climbed trees, shared secrets, and promised to be friends forever. But when we were just seven years old, Rachel’s family moved to New York, and just like that, she was gone. No phone calls, no letters—just silence.

As the years passed, I often wondered about her. Did she still remember me? Was she happy? The thought of never seeing her again weighed on me. Then, one quiet evening, I decided—I would find Rachel, no matter what it took.

The Search Begins: PublicRecordsCenter.org

I turned to Google, typing: "How to find someone’s address and phone number." The search results flooded in, but one site caught my eye—PublicRecordsCenter.org. It looked professional, and since it was running Google Ads, I assumed it was trustworthy.

I clicked on the link, and the website offered a name search tool. My hands trembled as I typed:

• First Name: Rachel
• Last Name: Rodriguez
• Location: New York

I hit "Search," expecting a report. Instead, the page suddenly redirected me to TruthFinder, another people-search service.

Was I Just Scammed?

My heart sank. Why was I sent to a different website? Was PublicRecordsCenter.org just a fake site stealing information?

I dug deeper and discovered:

• PublicRecordsCenter.org is a 7-year-old domain, so it’s not a brand-new scam.
• But there are zero reviews—no complaints, no praise, nothing. That made me uneasy.
• It’s an affiliate site, meaning it earns money by sending users to TruthFinder.

TruthFinder itself is a legitimate background-check service, but it’s expensive—not ideal for a simple search like mine. I realized PublicRecordsCenter.org only promotes TruthFinder because of high commissions, not because it’s the best option.

PublicRecordsCenter.org is not a scam, but it's not very transparent either. It’s an affiliate site that redirects users to services like TruthFinder, earning commissions per referral. While the domain is several years old, it offers no direct search results and has almost no real user reviews. For reliable, affordable people searches, services like Spokeo or BeenVerified are better options. Always use official sites to avoid unnecessary costs.

A Better Way: How Spokeo Helped Me Reconnect

I wasn’t ready to spend a fortune, so I kept searching. That’s when I found Spokeo, a cheaper (and sometimes free) alternative.

Here’s How It Worked:

1. I went to Spokeo’s official website

2. I entered Rachel’s name and last known city (New York).

3. Spokeo asked a few extra questions (like her possible age, relatives, or old addresses) to refine the search.

4. Within minutes, I had a detailed report with five possible matches.

5. One profile stood out—her name, age, and location matched perfectly.

The Moment I’ll Never Forget

With a deep breath, I dialed the number listed. The phone rang… once, twice…

Then, a voice answered.

"Hello?"

My heart stopped. It was her. After 20 years, I was hearing Rachel’s voice again.

We talked for hours—laughing, crying, reliving old memories. She told me about her life in New York, her career, and even her kids. A few months later, I visited her, and it felt like no time had passed at all.

Should You Trust PublicRecordsCenter.org?

While PublicRecordsCenter.org isn’t necessarily a scam, it’s just a middleman pushing you toward TruthFinder. If you want direct, affordable, and reliable results, I recommend:

✔ Spokeo – Best for quick, cheap searches (only $0.95 for a trial!).

✔ BeenVerified – Great for detailed background checks.

✔ TruthFinder – Reliable but more expensive (better for deep investigations).

Top 2 Alternatives to PublicRecordsCenter.org

After PublicRecordsCenter.org’s redirect left me wary, I found two gems that delivered. Spokeo, with its 95-cent trial, gave me Rachel’s contact details in minutes, its straightforward search feeling like a trusted friend guiding me home. BeenVerified, slightly pricier but thorough, offers detailed background checks for deeper dives. Both skip the affiliate nonsense, providing clear, affordable results that PublicRecordsCenter.org couldn’t match, making my reunion possible.

Final Thoughts: Skip the Redirects

If I had blindly trusted PublicRecordsCenter.org, I might have wasted money on TruthFinder without exploring better options. Instead, Spokeo gave me what I needed at a fraction of the cost—and most importantly, it reunited me with my best friend.

If you’re searching for someone, don’t get lost in affiliate traps. Go straight to trusted platforms like Spokeo. You never know—your own long-lost reunion might be just a search away.