Just to update this in case it can help anyone else, I was able to obtain this person's SSN via a public records search with the state. No shady internet private eye but with the State itself. Sure enough a financing application (UCC document) was there in the public record that had the SSN on it.
Furthermore, a call to the IRS verified that if you are filing the 1099
electronically the deadline is not until 3/31/06. You are still required to provide a copy to the
recipient by 1/31, which I did by sending them a paper 1099 that was complete except for the SSN, which is acceptable too. I used filetaxes.com to e-file the 1099, once I had obtained the SSN, for under $4.
