Answers:

1a. I did a search for my own name and the listed address is wrong. Can you change it?

No, sorry, I cannot do that. You can do it yourself though. If you click on the link just above the search engine that returns an outdated or simply wrong address you can often update the information.

An exception is my WebSearch. Due to the nature of this search engine (it searches the web for pages mentioning the name and an E-mail address) the only thing you can do is sending a message to the webmaster of the site on which you find erroneous information about yourself.

There's really no use in sending me updates or corrections, I am not able to change your details.

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1b. I did a search for my own name and I didn't find my own E-mail address. Can you add it?

No, sorry, I don't have a database myself. My Meta Name Search just collects publicly available information from different sources on the web. If you want to be listed, just enter your information in one of the search engines listed in the 'error list' on the results page. Easiest is to add your information at InfoSpace.

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1c. I did a search for my own name and I did find my E-mail address. Remove it now!

Please read the information under 1a to find out how you can remove it yourself. I did not add it, nor can I remove it for you.

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2a. I cannot find the person I'm looking for. Can you?

I get quite a few of these requests. Since my time is limited, there's a good chance I am not able to help you. Please refer to the following paragraph. If you have sent me a message asking for help, sorry if my reply consisted of just a link here. And good luck with your quest.

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2b. I cannot find the person I'm looking for. What can I do?

Please keep in mind that E-mail directories are not complete. They are not like White Pages where people get listed automatically once a new phone line is installed. In most cases, no one submits your new E-mail address to E-mail directories when you sign up for an e-mail account, unless you submit it manually.

Some suggestions:

• Try adding the first initial of the person you're looking for. Add a dot if that doesn't help.
• Try to do a search using only the surname of the person you're looking for.
• Do click on the links just above every block of results - only the first page of every search engine is displayed in Meta Name Search. So perhaps a search engine returns more results than are listed in Meta Name Search.
• Try reversing the first and last name. In some places (Belgium, Hungary) the standard order is just the other way around.
• Just do a regular web search using Google or AllTheWeb. Often you'll find other ways mentioned of contacting someone (telephone for example)

• FAQ: How to find people's E-mail addresses - an enormous list of other resources
• Find people on JournalismNet
• Finding E-Mail Addresses on Learn the Net
• The category E-mail Search in the Google Web Directory.
• zoeken.beginthier.nl, a collection of search related links (Dutch)
• E-mailgids (Dutch)
• Addresses.com

• MESA, your MetaEmailSearchAgent

• The Voelspriet Forum (Dutch)
• wiezoektwie.net or wiezoektwie.nl (Dutch)

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3a. I did find an address, but it did not work anymore.

That's too bad. If you're lucky you'll find the new one on EmailChange, FreshAddress or Yahoo People Search.

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3b. I did find several addresses, how do I find out which one is the right one?

Just send a polite and short message explaining who you are looking for, and your recipient may reply if he or she chooses.

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4. Someone is harassing me / flooding my forum / hacking my computer / etc. Can you find out who (s)he is?

If you cannot, I most likely cannot either.

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5. Why is there no Dutch version of this page?

There probably won't be either in the near future due to lack of time. Sorry.

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6a. Why haven't you included this one really cool search engine?

I probably haven't stumbled into that engine. Could you please let me know using the response form (or the Dutch one)? Thanks for your support.

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6b. This FAQ is really incomplete. Why is my question not answered?

If you think you have a question worth being included in this FAQ, please use either the English response form or Dutch response form to contact me. Thanks for your support.

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7a. Nice search engine, but I want to do the reverse: I have the E-mail address and want to have a name with it.

Try searching with this E-mail address using:

• Google (use 'as a phrase')
• Google Groups (use the field 'author')
• the ICQ e-mail directory (uncheck the option 'Only Online Users')
• Populus also claims you can search by e-mail address

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7b. Nice search engine, but I want to do something else: ...

• Find out who is behind an IP address
  What you are looking for is called Whois. Try the one at GeekTools.
• Find a who is behind a phone number
  This is called a reverse phone book. The DMOZ Open Directory lists some, focusing on the USA.
• Can you make my E-mail program work?
  No, sorry.
• Can you remove the viruses from my computer?
  No, sorry.
• Can you help me get rid of the unsolicited mail I receive?
  No, sorry.

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8a. How can I link to your page?

Really simple: use the address <http://inventio.nl/metanamesearch/>. Please don't link directly to another page; although it works sometimes, it might stop working.

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8b. I would like to add a little search box to my page. Is that possible?

Sure. Although you'll only be sent to the front page of Meta Name Search, with the first and last names filled in.

To do so, include this code in the source code of your page:

   <form action="http://www.inventio.nl/metanamesearch/" method="get">
     <table border="0">
     <tr>
       <td>First name</td>
       <td>Last name</td>
       <td> </td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
       <td><input name="first"></td>
       <td><input name="last"></td>
       <td><input type="submit" value="Search with Meta Name Search"></td>
     </tr>
     </table>
   </form>

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8c. Can I buy your script?

Sure. If you insist and make an offer I cannot refuse :-)

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9. I wish to thank you. How?

If you just found back a long lost friend, colleague or family member and wish to express your gratitude to me, there is a way. You can send me a small donation using PayPal by clicking the button below. Thanks!

- Wimjan

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