Can private investigators find a person that changed their identity?

[OddArt]

If you change your full name, request a new SSN (and be granted one), and request a new driver's license number, is that enough to "erase" your past?

Would you need to do more?

I'm writing a screenplay right now and my character's changing her identity. I'm trying to make this story very realistic.

[Switchback]

Without giving up tools of the trade, it all depends on how thorough you are in the way you do it. You can ALWAYS track a change in ID... the kicker is not giving a person a reason to look. Following the path "forward" is much harder than do so "backwards".... meaning it is far easier for me to look at you and your history and find out when things get "foggy", leading me to your changed ID. It's harder to look at a fugitive, for example, who has changed his ID, as it just ends.

I am speaking, purely in regards to the paper trail, as you mentioned. THis paper trail is not necessarily the best way to find a person who has changed IDs.

[FPS207]

If you change your full name, request a new SSN (and be granted one), and request a new driver's license number, is that enough to "erase" your past?

Would you need to do more?

I'm writing a screenplay right now and my character's changing her identity. I'm trying to make this story very realistic.

Doing this yourself makes it slightly difficult to "erase" your past, without government help. However it would be enough to stop the average person from your past to find you in the future. "Average" meaning those of us who are not naturally suspicious and notice peculiararities in peoples backgrounds (cops).

[911]

Yes, easily.