I Tried Radaris and It Gets Your Info from TruthFinder — Here’s My Experience

Disclosure: Some links, like Spokeo, are from services I’ve used and recommend. I may earn a small commission if you sign up—at no extra cost to you.

The Vanishing Act That Changed Everything

As a Western dance instructor at the Lone Star Dance Academy, I've seen hundreds of students come and go over the years. But none affected me quite like Aria Winslow (yes, we shared the same last name - what are the odds?). For four weeks, this bright 22-year-old was the first to arrive and last to leave our evening classes. She had this infectious energy that made even our most rhythm-challenged students believe they could two-step like pros.

Then, on a humid Tuesday in June, she simply didn't show up. At first, I thought maybe she was running late. But as the hour passed with no word, that familiar teacher's worry started creeping in.

The Frantic Search Begins

After three missed classes, I tried calling. Straight to voicemail. Text messages showed a single gray checkmark - they weren't even being delivered. I asked around the academy:

• "Did Aria mention traveling?"
• "Does anyone have her on social media?"
• "Did she ever talk about where she lived?"

Nothing. Just vague recollections of a polite student who kept to herself. The academy's records only had that now-useless phone number and an emergency contact that turned out to be disconnected.

My Deep Dive Into People Search Sites

First Attempt: Radaris.com

When I searched "how to find someone with limited information," Radaris kept appearing in results. Their homepage promised:

🔍 "Free People Search - Find Anyone in Seconds!"

But here's what actually happened:

1. I entered Aria's name and "San Antonio"
2. Got 27 possible matches (all photos blurred)
3. Clicked the most likely one and - BAM! - redirected to TruthFinder
4. TruthFinder wanted $28.99/month after a "free trial"

The Red Flags I Noticed:

• Tiny "Sponsored by TruthFinder" text I almost missed
• No actual free results despite their claims
• Aggressive pop-ups warning "Your report is ready!" (it wasn't)

The Shocking Truth About Radaris

After some digging (and reading through Reddit's r/privacy), I learned:

• Radaris is essentially a lead generator for paid services
• Their "free search" just teases you with blurred results
• They collect data from public records, social media, and data brokers
• Many listings are outdated (showing addresses from 5+ years ago)

Radaris gets most of its information from public records and third-party sites like TruthFinder. Yes, Radaris is a legal and safe website, and it doesn’t notify people when you search for them. While it’s free to search, detailed reports may require payment. Since Radaris is a third-party aggregator, I personally prefer Spokeo — it’s cheaper, faster, and more accurate in my experience.

How Spokeo Solved the Mystery for 95 Cents

Frustrated, I almost gave up. Then I found an old forum mentioning Spokeo's affordable searches. For less than a dollar, I:

1. Visit Spokeo's official website and Ran a reverse phone lookup
2. Got Aria's current address (a midtown apartment)
3. Saw associated emails and possible relatives

The next morning, I drove to the address with a get-well card and a playlist of our class songs. What I found shocked me...

Note: Spokeo does not notify people when you search for them — your lookup stays completely private.

The Unexpected Truth About Aria's Disappearance

The door opened to reveal Aria on crutches, her right leg in a bulky brace. Turns out:

• She'd been hit by a car while biking home from class
• Spent 4 days unconscious at Methodist Hospital
• Her phone was destroyed in the accident
• She'd only been discharged two days before my visit

"Wait... you used Spokeo to find me?" she asked, eyes wide. "Aren't those sites kind of... creepy?"

Which led to a 3-hour conversation about...

The Ethics of People Search Engines

1. Is Radaris Legal?

Yes, but questionable. They operate in a gray area by:

• Scraping public data (court records, property deeds)
• Buying information from data brokers
• Making it extremely difficult to opt-out

2. Do These Sites Notify People?

Both Aria and I tested this:

• Spokeo: No notifications
• Radaris/TruthFinder: No notification
• Social Catfish: No notifications

3. Accuracy Concerns

We checked Aria's reports:

✅ Spokeo had her current address (updated 2 months prior)

❌ Radaris showed an old college dorm from 2018

❌ TruthFinder listed 3 "possible relatives" she'd never met

Step-by-Step: How to Really Find Someone

Based on my experience, here's what works:

1. Start With Free Options

• Google search: "Aria Winslow" + "San Antonio" + site:linkedin.com
• Check county clerk records (Bexar County has online portals)

2. Use Affordable Paid Tools

• Spokeo ($0.95 for phone/email searches)
• Social Catfish ($6.99 for reverse image searches)

3. Avoid the Radaris Trap

• Look for direct results (not redirects to other services)
• Check review sites like Trustpilot first

4. Protect Your Own Privacy

Opt-out of data brokers (I'll share how below)

How to Remove Your Info from Radaris

Since this experience, I've helped Aria scrub her digital footprint:

1. Go to [Radaris Opt-Out Page](https://radaris.com/control/privacy)

2. Search your name and find all listings

3. Click "Remove this record" for each

4. Repeat monthly (they often reappear)

Pro Tip: Use [DeleteMe](https://joindeleteme.com) for ongoing monitoring ($129/year).

Final Thoughts: A Teacher's Perspective

This ordeal changed how I view both technology and human connection. That 95-cent Spokeo search didn't just find an address - it reunited me with someone who had become like family.

To anyone searching for a missing person:

• Don't fall for "free" scams like Radaris' redirects
• Trust but verify any information you find
• Remember there's always a human story behind the data

And to Aria? She's back in class now - crutches and all - teaching us all about resilience.