Privacy Policy
OK Military Search collects sensitive identifiers only to perform the military active-duty status search you request. This policy explains exactly what we gather, how we protect it, who we share it with, and how to exercise your privacy rights.
Effective date: May 30, 2026. This Privacy Policy applies to okmilitarysearch.com and the OK Military Search service (the "Service"), a nationwide service available to customers throughout the United States.
OK Military Search is a private service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), or any government agency. The DoD active-duty status report is available directly from the government for free at scra.dmdc.osd.mil. You pay us for the professional locating, skip-trace, and investigative work that makes the official search possible — not for the government record itself. Learn more on our SCRA information page and disclaimer.
1. About this policy and our service
To obtain a default judgment, many filers must first file a Military Service Affidavit (Affidavit of Non-Military Service), which requires an official DoD active-duty status check. That check needs the defendant's Date of Birth (DOB) or Social Security Number (SSN). When you do not have those identifiers, a licensed private investigator locates them using professional skip-trace tools and then runs the official DoD (DMDC) SCRA search, emailing you the resulting certificate. See how it works for the full flow.
Because the Service handles SSNs and other sensitive personal information, we treat privacy and data minimization as core obligations. This policy describes our practices in plain language. It is general information about our practices and is not legal advice; OK Military Search is not a law firm. For legal questions, consult a licensed attorney.
2. Information we collect
We collect only the information needed to perform the search you request and to support you afterward.
From you (the filer)
- Your contact information — name, email address, and phone number so we can deliver the certificate and provide support.
- Case details — court, case or cause number, jurisdiction, the date you need the status verified, and any notes you provide about the matter.
- Identifiers for the person being searched — the individual's name, last known addresses, and any partial identifiers you already have.
- Communications — messages, emails, and texts you send us.
Located to perform the search
- SSN and/or DOB of the person being searched — when these are not provided, our licensed private investigator locates them via skip-trace tools so the DoD check can run. These are collected and handled only to perform your requested search.
- The DoD/DMDC active-duty status certificate — the official result returned by the government system.
Payment information
Payment of the flat $22-per-defendant fee is handled by a third-party payment processor. We do not receive or store your full card number, CVV, or full financial account details. The processor handles card data under its own security standards and privacy terms. See our pricing and refund policy for fee details.
Automatically collected technical data
When you visit the site, we may collect limited technical data such as IP address, browser type, pages viewed, and timestamps, through cookies and analytics described in Section 12.
3. How we use your information
We use the information above strictly for the following purposes:
- To perform the active-duty status search you requested, including locating the necessary SSN/DOB and running the official DoD (DMDC) SCRA check.
- To deliver the resulting certificate and communicate with you about your request.
- To provide customer support, process your payment, and issue refunds (for example, our "no result, no charge" refund).
- To maintain, secure, and improve the Service.
- To comply with legal obligations and to detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, abuse, or security incidents.
We do not use your information, or the search results, for advertising profiling, and we do not sell your data (see Section 6).
Not a consumer report. The military active-duty status verification is not a "consumer report" under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and OK Military Search is not a consumer reporting agency. The result may not be used, in whole or in part, as a factor in establishing eligibility for credit, insurance, employment, housing or tenant screening, or any other FCRA "permissible purpose." It is not a background check.
4. Legal basis and permissible purpose
Searches are performed by a licensed private investigator, Smoking Gun Investigations, LLC. The location of an SSN or DOB is undertaken only for permissible purposes — for example, use in connection with litigation, service of process, or compliance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) — consistent with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), and other applicable law.
We process your information because it is necessary to provide the service you have requested and agreed to under our Terms of Service, to comply with legal obligations, and for our legitimate interest in operating and securing the Service. By submitting a request, you confirm you have a permissible purpose for the search.
5. Data security
We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information, including:
Encryption
Personal data is encrypted in transit (TLS/HTTPS) and at rest using industry-standard encryption.
Access controls
Access to sensitive identifiers is limited to authorized personnel and the licensed investigator on a need-to-know basis, protected by authentication controls.
Retention limits
We keep sensitive data only as long as needed to perform the search and meet legal and accounting obligations, then delete or de-identify it (see Section 7).
No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure. While we use commercially reasonable measures to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
SSN handling and minimization
We treat SSNs with heightened care. We collect an SSN only when it is necessary to run the DoD check and cannot be avoided, we use it solely for that search, we restrict who can access it, we never display the full number in marketing, and we do not retain it longer than necessary. We do not sell, rent, or disclose SSNs except as described in Section 6.
6. How we share information — and what we never do
We share information only as needed to deliver the Service or as required by law:
- Licensed private investigator partner. We share the identifiers and case details necessary for Smoking Gun Investigations, LLC to locate the SSN/DOB and run the official DoD (DMDC) check.
- Payment processor. Our third-party processor handles your payment; we do not store full card data.
- Service providers. Vetted vendors (such as hosting and email delivery) that process data on our behalf under confidentiality and security obligations.
- As required by law. To comply with valid legal process, to protect our rights, or to prevent fraud or harm.
- Business transfers. In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, subject to this policy.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not "share" it for cross-context behavioral advertising. We do not trade SSNs, search results, or any personal data for money or other valuable consideration.
7. Data retention and deletion
We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy: to complete your search, provide support, process refunds, and satisfy legal, tax, and accounting requirements. Sensitive identifiers such as SSNs are minimized and removed once they are no longer needed for your search and any applicable retention period has passed.
You may request deletion of your information at any time using the contact details in Section 13. We will honor verified deletion requests except where we are legally required or permitted to retain certain records. To learn how this affects refunds and re-runs, see our refund policy.
8. Accuracy of identification and search data
Locating the correct SSN/DOB and obtaining an accurate certificate depends on correctly identifying the individual you ask us to search. To help us match the right person, please provide the most complete and accurate information you have.
The DoD/DMDC active-duty data reflects active-duty service from September 30, 1985 to the present, plus certain early-notification (call-up) statuses. The certificate establishes active-duty status on the date queried; it does not, by itself, resolve every SCRA-eligibility nuance, and its accuracy depends on correct identification of the individual. If we cannot provide a certificate, your $22 is fully refunded — see our refund policy and SCRA information.
9. Your privacy rights
Depending on your state of residence, you may have rights under laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA) and similar comprehensive privacy laws in other states. These may include the right to:
- Know / access the categories and specific pieces of personal information we hold about you.
- Correct inaccurate personal information.
- Delete personal information, subject to legal exceptions.
- Opt out of any sale or sharing of personal information — though we do not sell or share your data.
- Non-discrimination for exercising your rights.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected] or call/text (918) 836-8683. We will verify your identity before acting on a request and will respond within the time required by applicable law. You may use an authorized agent where the law permits; we may still require verification. If we decline a request, you may appeal by replying to our response.
10. Children's privacy
The Service is intended for use by adults and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the minimum age required by applicable law). If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
11. Breach notification
We maintain procedures to detect and respond to security incidents. In the event of a data breach affecting your personal information, we are committed to notifying affected individuals and, where required, regulators, without undue delay and in accordance with applicable state and federal law.
12. Cookies, analytics, and U.S. scope
We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the site, remember your preferences, and understand how visitors use our pages so we can improve them. We may use privacy-conscious analytics to measure traffic and performance. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling some cookies may affect site functionality. We do not use cookies to build advertising profiles or to sell your information.
OK Military Search is a United States service intended for customers and matters within the U.S. Our infrastructure and data processing occur in the United States, and the DoD/DMDC data applies to U.S. military service. We do not direct the Service to individuals outside the U.S.; if you access the site from outside the U.S., you do so on your own initiative.
13. Contact us
Questions about this policy, or want to exercise a privacy right? Reach us at:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone / text: (918) 836-8683
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted here with a revised effective date.
Ready to begin? Start your $22 military status search, or learn more on our FAQ and about pages.