Intelius is a data-gathering website that funnels their information from a competitor’s site. Though some consumers have found Intelius to provide the necessary information they are looking for, it is no improvement over the competing site that they are funneling information from for their service. Intelius charges consumers a monthly fee to access data, though many users complain that they are not receiving the services promised by Intelius.
Intelius is a typical funnel for BeenVerified, a legit people and data search website. The fact that Intelius is operating off information and data from another data-gathering site makes their legitimacy questionable.
Intelius Company Information
| Official Website | https://www.inteilus.com/ |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Owner | H.I.G. Capital |
| Location | Seattle, Washington |
| Contact | (888)445-2727 |
| Social Media | Twitter @intellius |
What is Intelius?
Intelius is a data gathering and search company that allows you to complete background checks on people using their name, phone number, or address. Intelius markets multiple purposes like verifying if an individual has a criminal record, finding the source of a phone call, or accessing public records.
Intelius is a legal business that anyone can find online when you google search for the company. It’s a way to look up a person’s email, address, or phone number. However, Intelius uses information from a third-party source and will eventually charge you for it. They give you the opportunity to sign up for a 7-day trial for 0.95 cents, promising unlimited background searches for the trial period. After the trial is complete, users will be charged the monthly fee of $29.78.
Is Intelius Legal/Safe or is it a Scam?
Intelius is entirely legal; however, this does not mean that it is ethical. Their privacy policy indicates that their service is legal is the US and other countries, though other countries may have different privacy laws that prevent access. However, it is illegal to use in some circumstances, such as completing a background check for potential renters or employees.
At first glance, an ad appears when googling Intelius. The ad is an encouraging sign that there are live people behind the website – indicating it is legit and not a scam. Second, the intelius.com website is the second site that shows up, which is a very good sign that this is a reliable website and there are people working behind it, not just a robot.
Though it is legal, many users have complained that they have been charged the monthly subscription fee after canceling their monthly subscription. This complaint usually makes a potential buyer’s ears perk up because no one likes to hassle to cancel a subscription that they are no longer using.
Instead of giving you contact information, the company asks for your contact information. It appears that this is one way Intelius gathers sensitive data.
When researching consumer experiences with Intelius, there were no complaints about viruses or malware. The central dilemma is that Intelius lures its buyer into purchasing their product without providing all the information they promise upon purchase. For example, customers complain that after purchasing the service, they are given minimal data, or already known information.
Is Intelius Reliable and Trustworthy?
Intelius is not reliable or trustworthy. When looking for a legit data search site, you want to ensure that the hard-earned money you are spending on a service will deliver the said service.
Consumer reports and ratings of Intelius are very low, at an average of just below two stars. Many reports discuss Intelius charging their credit card even after canceling the service when their 7-day trial was up. On their official site, Intelius urges their customers to contact them if a billing error occurs, though several reviews cited that their cards were still being charged for service after they had canceled the service with a live representative.
In most cases, Intelius cannot supply the information promised to its customers. Even after paying for the service, Intelius provides bare minimum data, and sometimes even incorrect data. This error was discovered by several users after using the search engine on themselves, finding that the data provided by Intelius was completely incorrect or inaccurate.
What are the Pros and Cons of Intelius?
Pros
- It will lead you to a website that will give you what you asked for.
- It will take your information and give it to a website that will help.
- It is less expensive than competing sites.
- The seven-day trial allows consumers to test out the search engine for a small fee.
- Intelius keeps your searches private.
Cons
- It will not provide all the data that is promised upon purchase.
- It will take your personal information and provide you with nothing in return.
- It is difficult to cancel services after purchase.
- When waiting for search results, customers are misled about how much time it will take to receive their information and must wait several minutes longer than anticipated.
- Intelius is illegal for some purposes, including screening potential renters or employees.
How does Intelius Make Money?
Intelius follows a funnel business model, making it a referral business. The site is designed to intrigue potential customers with the guise that they will search and find the data their customer is looking for. Intelius is the top of the sales funnel for BeenVerified, a legitimate data search site.
Intelius most likely makes money by referring people to a website that charges folks. They are the “middleman” that leads consumers to sites that will provide the consumer with the information they are searching for.
Intelius wastes people’s time by purposefully delaying results that will never show up on their search engine. They use a tactic that slimy car salesman use; the more you make them wait, the more they’re likely to spend. Similarly, this website adds a timing mechanism into the code of the site which delays the next page from loading, so users are forced to sit through a bogus timing clock.
Best Alternatives
Though Intelius may not be completely legit, there are other alternatives that can provide you with the data you need. A free alternative is FastPeopleSearch.com. This site is completely free for consumers, though they do make money through captcha.
Another alternative would be to go straight to the source, BeenVerified.com. BeenVerified is a costly service, though consumers deem it reliable, trustworthy, and overall, worth the cost. Another alternative is TruthFinder.com, which is also more costly than Intelius but will provide consumers with more data.
FAQ
Will someone know if I look them up on Intelius?
People will not know if you look them up on Intelius. Any search made on the site will remain confidential.
Does Intelius charge consumers for data reports?
Yes. Intelius markets a seven-day trial period for less than a dollar but will charge you $29.95 a month for their base price to continue a subscription with them.
Is Intelius easy to cancel?
Intelius promises users that they can cancel services anytime. However, many online complaints indicate being charged a monthly fee even after canceling with an Intelius representative.
What information does Intelius ask for?
Intelius gives you the option of using their data search services by providing a phone number, an address, or a person’s first and last name.