how do I find the owner of an email address?

[Suze]

Way off topic, but there's someone here who knows this, I'm sure.

I have an email address and I want to find out all I can about the person who registered. The only way I see to do it is to sign up with one of those people finder services. I'd rather get this info for free.

Anybody?


Thanks!

[TMACK]

FBI's most wanted list?

[stevet47]

I dont think you really can. I know way back at the beginning, you had to enter your name and stuff when signing up for an email address, but not anymore, and they could just type gibberish anyway.

Might be possible to get their IP address though.

EDIT:
This might help you:
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/comp...ts-ip-address/

or

http://www.ehow.com/how_5212109_trac...l-address.html

[rfernatt]

I doubt there is any legal way to find out from a technology standpoint. If an e-mail provider had some mechanism that would divulge personal information, that would be really bad press. The only exception would be if they happen to also own the domain, then you could possibly find out with WHOIS.

Of course, you could Google the e-mail address and see if it appears in conjunction with any other information that might lead to an identity. It's publicly available and all...

Or, thinking really creatively... Have you heard about police sting operations where they mail a suspect something interesting that they need to return (for a prize, refund check, etc.) so they can collect DNA evidence? Perhaps you could e-mail something enticing enough to make the person volunteer some information to your own anonymous, free e-mail account.

Just for the record, I don't endorse any of this. It's just a creative, problem solving exercise for entertainment purposes only.

[Mister P]

following might be of some help, depending on what info. you have:

Traceroute, Ping, Domain Name Server (DNS) Lookup, WHOIS

[wiltjk]

Personal Identity Information (PII) can be an unbelievable can-of-worms.

I have been through the PII gauntlet (lawyers, lawyers, lawyers) with one very large customer who takes it most seriously and locks down both internal and external facing systems to an almost un-useable state.

Google recently upset the PII cart when they initially released their Buzz product making many a headline.

Some guidelines (from experience, not leagle guidance):

• If you search via a public search engine and discover what you seek, you're pretty safe
• If you have captured their PII via a sign-up or purchase agreement, and they have not explicitly agreed to you contacting them, you should avoid that source. When capturing this type of info, always ask two questions:
  1. May we contact you? (you can also state that signing with you gives you permission to contact them as part of your agreement)
  2. Do you wish to share your personal information with others?
• If the person is on a forum that supports personal messages, use that mechanism to contact them

There are many legitimate reasons people must keep their PII private & secure. I have been in a situation where it was compromised and it definitely is not a pleasant place to be.

Because you have an email address, I might suggest that you contact them directly and request the information you need; identify the concern you have; explain the issue at hand.

Who wouldn't openly respond favorably to an email from Suze?

[TMACK]

Sage advice.

[Haxzaw]

Try searching the email address on facebook. If you have an account, and they have an account, you can find out some things.

[BigWarpGuy]

Google results for 'how do I find the owner of an e-mail address'.
Here is one at Addresses.com. There is one for e-mail look ups.

[Neonspinnazz]

Send them an email saying that your Kenyan client had died and left 1 million in the bank, and you need their full name and email to start the processing of funds.

Or call yourself an online lottery commission and tell them that they've won by filling out an online form and in order to receive funds, they must start by sending full name and email.