01When person research is OK
Researching someone's public professional footprint before a meeting, partnership or purchase is normal and sensible. So is checking a stranger before meeting them in person. What matters is purpose and proportion: look for what helps your decision, not everything you can find.
If the decision is about employment, tenancy, credit or insurance, many countries require a regulated background check with the person's consent. Online research is not a substitute.
02Search engines & quotes
Search the full name in quotes, then add context: city, employer, profession or school. Try name variations (with and without middle name, maiden name) and check the first two pages of results, plus Images and News tabs.
- 1"Full Name" + cityNarrows common names fast.
- 2"Full Name" + company or roleFinds professional mentions and bios.
- 3"Full Name" + "interview" or "speaker"Finds talks, podcasts and quotes.
03Professional profiles
LinkedIn is usually the best single source for work history; check that titles and dates are consistent and that colleagues at the stated companies exist. For developers, GitHub shows real work; for researchers, Google Scholar or ORCID; for founders, company websites and registries.
04News, publications & mentions
News articles, press releases, conference agendas and published papers are independent confirmation of what someone says about themselves. Note the publication and date for each, so you can tell recent facts from old ones.
05Verify identity
Before you rely on anything, make sure every source is about the same person. Match at least two details (photo, employer, location, school) across sources. If something important doesn't add up, ask the person directly; there is often a simple explanation.
Never share what you find publicly or use it to pressure someone.
06Run a person scan
Hazana's Person Research searches public sources for a name and builds one profile with the links it used: professional profiles, social accounts, education and news mentions. Need just a quick, free look-up by name? Use the free people search instead.
Research a personFree tools for this guide
Frequently asked questions
Is researching someone online legal?
Looking at public information is generally legal. How you use it is regulated: harassment is illegal everywhere, and hiring, housing and credit decisions need proper checks.
Is this a background check?
No. Online research shows public information only. A background check is a regulated process with consent, done by an accredited provider.
How do I know I found the right person?
Match at least two independent details such as photo, employer, location or school, and prefer recent sources.