There are many reasons why you might want to verify someone’s Social Security Number or perform a search using a Social Security Number search (also known as SSN Search). Employment verification is one common reason why you may need to do this. Employers need to make sure their employees are who they say they are, and that their Social Security Numbers are correct for payroll and tax reporting purposes.

Social Security Numbers can also be used to perform credit and criminal background checks which are very valuable for both employers and landlords. Another reason you might want to run a check on a Social Security Number is if you are hiring a child care worker. After all, you want to make absolutely certain the person you hire to care for your child is trustworthy and does not have a criminal background.

Some web sites allow you to perform a reverse Social Security Number (reverse ssn) search absolutely free. Besides the US SSA site, you will find others like Anywho and Akiba which offer both free and paid services. If you are unable to find the information you need using a free search, a paid search might be in order. For example, if the number you have is incomplete or was written down incorrectly, you may not find any results when you search it. In this case, you can try a paid search or even hire a private investigator.

A private investigator is going to be the most expensive option, but also the most effective in many cases. Investigators have been trained to track down hard to find details and have access to databases, tools and other resources that most members of the general public don’t even know about.