Intelius Review 2026: Legitimacy, Safety & Effectiveness

Intelius acquired Bothel on Dec 5, 2006, a Washington-based fingerprinting, background check, and screening company. It also acquired Spock in 2009 and Facebook’s genealogy app, Family Builder, in 2011.

Intelius operated under HIG Capital’s ownership from 2015, before being acquired by PeopleConnect, Inc. on July 2, 2024. PeopleConnect — which also owns TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate — now operates Intelius as one of its core people search brands.

Intelius has demonstrated a sustainable business model over the years, it has raised $62M in two funding rounds and continues to serve users at scale. In 2023, we reported that Intelius had around 9 million monthly web visits; however, as of 2025, this has decreased to 6.6 million — a drop of over 26%, according to SEMrush.

Is Intelius Legit and Safe, or a Scam?

Intelius is a safe and legitimate website. However, it’s not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Hence, it does not provide consumer reports. You must not use this site to determine an individual’s eligibility for credit, insurance, employment, housing, or any other purpose covered by the FCRA.

Intelius has thousands of reviews on various independent sites, including Trustpilot, Sitejabber, Consumer Affairs, and Better Business Bureau. Our findings show that Intelius is a legitimate service with genuine services for background checks, reverse phone lookup, reverse address lookup, and reverse email search.

How Does Intelius Work?

Intelius aims to provide a comprehensive background check service for private use. However, it is essential to note that the availability of information may vary for each individual, and Intelius may not always find data in all categories for everyone.

To this end, the available information varies depending on the person’s data accessibility and online presence. The results on your report will depend on the information available in the different categories.

Reverse Phone Lookup

Intelius reverse phone lookup feature helps users gather information about an individual using their phone number. I tried this tool to see what information the tool would turn up.

I did a landline phone number lookup by entering the number on the search bar. Intelius turned up a single report of the owner’s name. It had options of revealing the individual’s personal information, contact details, location, social, and a detailed background report.

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Personal Information:

• names of the possible owner;
• known aliases;
• other people possibly associated with that phone number;
• related links leading to LinkedIn and Facebook;
• phone number owner history;
• information from Contact Details;
• other possible phone numbers of the owner;
• possible emails;
• information for location;
• location history.

Social Information

Intelius provided me with information on the person’s social media accounts. It included the related URLs, usernames, industries they have worked, and the skills they possess. In addition, it showed the person’s title at their workplace and connections.

With the background search option, Intelius opened personal details, including the person’s full name, birthdate, age, and known aliases. Intelius detailed the person’s jobs, roles, and entire employment history. Traffic and criminal records showed the person was once charged with driving while under the influence.

Other information available from Intelius’s phone lookup included sex offenders in the person’s location, their businesses, finances, licenses, and owned assets. I liked its functionality to uncover pertinent details.

Based on my experience, I found the reverse phone lookup ideal for knowing who called from an unknown number, verifying identity, and the trustworthiness of a new contact.

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People Search

I provided the first and last name I wanted to search in the Intelius people search service, and the engine searched public records to furnish me with a comprehensive report. It ranged from the person’s full name to more extensive records search, such as criminal and traffic records. I found it better than looking up a person on free lookup sites.

Intelius background check report with a person’s name gave me the following details.

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Comprehensive Personal Information

This section included the person’s full name, age, known aliases, jobs, and possible relatives. The search went beyond a simple Google search or online people search. It also provided the person’s contact details, allowing me to establish reliable communication with the individual.

Location History

Intelius people search produced a location history of the person. It enabled me to get insight into where the individual had resided. Although Intelius can’t track a person’s live location, it showed the full address and possible neighbors.

I could also see the neighbors’ full names, ages, and phone numbers. It also gave me a full report of their background and possible associations.

Social Media Accounts

Intelius people search results included details about the person’s social media accounts. In our increasingly interconnected world, I found this aspect of the search helpful in getting a glimpse into an individual’s online presence, interests, and connections.

I got the person’s Facebook details, like their username and user ID. I could then do a username lookup directly from the website.

Intelius listed other social medial accounts such as Amazon, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. If I wanted to surprise the person with a gift, I would use Amazon’s wishlist to pick a gift for them. I understood the person’s digital footprint by looking at their social media accounts.

Criminal & Traffic Records

During my testing, Intelius People Search found no criminal or traffic records of the individual I was searching for. However, I could ensure my safety by using this service if there were any criminal and traffic records.

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Business-Related Data

During my experimenting with it, Intelius showed the person’s finances, assets, licenses, and assets from the name alone. It included the person’s associates, business addresses, and corporate filings. This information would prove helpful when determining a person’s financial stability.

Recorded Sex Offenders

Intelius provided a list of recorded sex offenders in the person’s locality. Thus, I was aware of the potential risks of interacting with the individual in their neighborhood. The best thing is that it had images of the sex offenders. As such, I could take a screenshot and have the images to be wary of in their specific area.

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Reverse Address Lookup

You require the complete data: street name, house number, preferably also the name of the state to lookup someone’s address on Intelius. During my testing, I entered my target’s details, which gave me the most comprehensive report I have seen from address lookups. It included a map, residents, ownership history, and crime statistics.

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Map

The map gave me a visual of the address I was searching for. It gave me the context of the geographical area, nearby landmarks, and the surrounding area.

Current Residents

Intelius provided me with a list of the people currently residing at the specified address. It gave me their names, the date they were first seen on the property, and the date they were last seen on the property. Based on this information, I determined the occupants of the property and used the information to verify the identity of the people at that address.

Ownership History

During my experimenting with it, Intelius ownership history featured records of past residents of the address. It included when the occupants started occupying the property and when they left. Using this service, I found that I could use the information to know the property’s background and potential risks if I wanted to purchase that property.

Neighbors

By using Intelius reverse address lookup, I found out the people living nearby the address. I could then get a background check report of each individual or use their names to see if they have a criminal and traffic record.

If I were living at the property and wanted to know my neighbors, this report would help me know the details of my neighbors without going through different public records. It helped me understand the local community and make informed decisions about the area.

Eviction Records

While I did not find any eviction records associated with the address I was searching for, this feature could help you evaluate the stability of a neighborhood.

Census and Demographics

The census and demographics information included the number of households in the area, the average house value, persons per household, the number of businesses, and the average business annual payroll.

Intelius showed the demographics distribution and age distribution. Based on my experience, this information could be helpful if you want to understand the local community and make an informed decision based on your preferences.

Crime Statistics

In this Intelius review, I also accessed the crime data of the specific location of my address search. I found the FBI’s crime statistics on crimes ranging from aggravated assault to burglary, disorderliness, and DUI. Understanding a neighborhood’s crime statistics contributes to personal safety. I could see myself using this information to decide on a business location.

Sex Offenders

Once again, Intelius showed me the available sex offender records near the address. It showed the sex offender’s name and offense, with the option to open the person’s background report. In addition, there was a last known address of the sex offender, which would help to assess the potential risks of a location and take precautions to ensure personal safety.

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Background Check

Intelius background check report is available with the search by name option. It unveiled comprehensive information about an individual. While other background check services only show surface-level information, Intelius gave me details about a person’s contacts, education history, employment records, professional licenses, and locations.

I accessed various data points on the Intelius background check checklist. Apart from the personal information, I uncovered criminal histories, confirmed past addresses, and explored the person’s professional licenses, certifications, and social media presence.

I found Intelius a reliable source of information since I used it to get a Tinder background check report. Thus, I knew who I’d be meeting before going on an online date.

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Intelius App & Accessibility

The Intelius app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple Store. It lets you access identity check services on the go, so you don’t have to go to the county clerk to conduct background checks. The app offers similar services to the browser so that you won’t miss out on any feature.

Note that Intelius search services are only available in the US. Thus, it only works with names, phone numbers, and addresses registered in the US.

Intelius Cost

Intelius has different pricing and subscription options for various needs. Reverse phone lookup costs $0.95 for a 6-day trial, and then you’ll be charged a monthly fee of $34.95. Unlimited people search renew every 60 days at $42.25. An address lookup + people search costs $0.95 on a 7-day trial or $34.95 monthly.

You can opt for unlimited searches on the Intelius Premier plan for $19.95. Premier Plus Membership costs $29.95 per month. It includes unlimited searches and one background check per month.

Note that there’s no Intelius free trial. Anyone attempting to offer it is probably a scam.

How to Cancel, Get A Refund, or Opt Out of Intelius

To cancel Intelius, call customer support or cancel your account directly on the Intelius website. You can contact Intelius at (888) 245-1655 to cancel your membership plan.

Alternatively, log in and access your membership settings on the “My Account” option on the Intelius dashboard. Scroll down and choose between “Cancel Subscription” or “Cancel Membership”.

Once you cancel your subscription, Intelius will cancel all upcoming fees associated with your plan. However, Intelius will still charge you for costs associated with already-issued invoices.

Important note on refunds: Intelius has a strict no-refund policy. Once a charge is processed, including after a trial converts to a paid subscription, no refund will be issued. The only exception is if you subscribed via the Apple App Store or Google Play, in which case you may request a refund directly through those platforms under their own policies. If you believe you were charged due to a billing error or fraud, contact billing support at (888) 240-7714.

If you want your information to be removed from Intelius, turn to their Data Privacy Center on their website. Then, verify your opt-out request by entering your email address. After submitting your opt-out request, you will receive a reference number in your email.

Intelius Customer Service

Intelius customer support is available Monday to Friday from 7.00 am to 4.00 pm PST (10.00 am – 7.00 pm EST). You can call the Intelius cell phone number during operation hours at (877) 564-3253.

For billing disputes specifically, use the dedicated billing line: (888) 240-7714.

The company also receives postal mail at 501 W Broadway St., Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101. You can also fill out an online form at Intelius website.

Intelius Reviews from Web Users

Intelius has strong reviews online, with most users indicating they are satisfied with the service. Most customers praise the website’s unlimited search option and that it does its job. Users on Sitejabber have given Intelius a 3.35-star rating from 99 reviews, while customers on Consumer Affairs have rated Intelius with 3.6 stars.

Nonetheless, there are some negative Intelius reviews, with most complaints about automatic payments after forgetting to cancel the trial. For this reason, users on Trustpilot have rated Intelius 2.1 stars, and reviewers on Reddit question the terms of service.

Truthfinder Vs. Intelius

Truthfinder and Intelius are both background check services. They allow users to access public records with a person’s in-depth background report. You can search for information using an individual’s name, phone number, address, or email. The main difference between Intelius and Truthfinder is that you will not see bankruptcies and tax liens on Intelius background check reports.

Another difference between Intelius and Truthfinder is that the latter offers a dark web scan that can uncover if a person’s information is being used in the dark web. You can read the full TruthFinder review on HeyLocate blog.

TruthFinder Review 2025: How We Tested Its Features & Effectiveness

Note: Since July 2024, these services are both owned by the same parent company. Intelius’s parent PeopleConnect merged with PubRec, the company behind TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate. While the platforms remain separate products with different pricing and data sets, this is worth knowing if you are comparing them for privacy reasons.

Intelius Pros & Cons

To sum it up:

Try Intelius

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Conclusion

Intelius background check service compiles information from different sources, saving you time and money. I found the reports detailed, accurate, and reliable. I used Intelius to verify identities, determine people’s trustworthiness, and assess properties. You, too, can benefit from Intelius background reports for personal safety and knowing who you are dealing with online.

Try the service today, and you’ll avoid identity theft, fraud, and online scammers.