 |
Order our Expert Background Check |
|
Experienced database search
specialists will immediately go to work for you, to quickly return real,
meaningful results.
See our
Sample Reports |
|
|
In the
not-too-distant past, people were raised and spent their lives in small
towns or localized city neighborhoods, often living among the same neighbors
for all or most of their lives. Everyone knew his or her neighbors, and that
personal intimacy lasted a lifetime. Today's world however, is highly
mobile. Few people live in the same locale for very long, and so many of our
interpersonal relationships grow out of cyberspace where a person can become
anyone they wish to be. In such a transient society, trust is no longer a
matter of faith, but often must be verified, especially in matters of the
workplace, business relationships and property rental.
Background investigations are performed for business or personal reasons,
and the depth and breadth of information available can often make the
difference between success and failure in a variety of relationships. The
reality of 21st century interpersonal relationships requires informed
decisions to enable the protection of companies, employees, families,
property or investments.
Business background checks are most often performed when hiring employees,
managing rental property, conducting business with other companies,
investing in a business venture or attempting to collect on a business debt.
Personal background checks are essential when an individual is going to be
given access to one's home or property as a result of performing a service
or being hired as an employee.
The unprecedented access to technology enables people to either steal or
manufacture identities with great ease. Therefore it is essential to utilize
background checks, gleaning as much information as possible to confirm an
individual's identity before becoming involved with them. The old expression
"it is better to err on the side of caution" has more meaning today than
ever in the past.
For more information regarding the various types of background checks
available, please read the in-depth articles in the following links:
Employee Background Checks,
Tenant Screening,
Business Background Checks,
Asset Searches and
Criminal Records.
Order our Expert Background Check.
See our
Sample Reports
Experienced database search specialists will immediately go to work for
you, to quickly return real, meaningful results.
See our
Sample Reports
The steps shown below provide the procedural basis for conducting background
checks, whether for business or personal use. However, keep in mind that
when conducting a business background check, most often there is a signed
application permission form that enables access to certain specific records
that otherwise cannot be accessed.
STEP 1 - GATHER INFORMATION - POSITIVE ID
The first goal of any background check is to obtain a positive
identification of the subject in question. The important preliminary
information needed includes full name, date of birth, social security number
and a current or past address.
Date of birth is a very important identifier and necessary to search
criminal records. Current and past addresses are also good identifiers,
because to conduct a thorough criminal records search, you must ascertain
subject's states of residence.
When dealing with female subjects, remember to learn if the individual is
married or single. Ask for all last names used, both past and present. This
can be an important factor when checking both general and criminal records.
Public records are most often indexed by name alone, or by name and date of
birth.
Proprietary database records - not available to the public - are often
indexed by social security number.
Other useful information needed to begin an investigation include names of
relatives, driver's license number and phone numbers. A few pertinent
questions to be asked when initially interviewing the subject include,
"Where are you from?", "Where did you go to school?", and "When is your
birthday?"
Ask for and make a copy of the subject's driver's license, which will
accompany the application.
In the interview, the technique called "the erroneous conclusion" might be
employed to elicit important information. You might say, "I'll bet
you're from California." Your subject might answer, "You're
right," or, "No, I was born and raised in Utah . . ."
STEP 2- CONFIRM - ADDRESS HISTORY SEARCH
Once having gathered as much information as possible, confirm the
information. Confirmation is critical. A three credit bureau Address History
Search will reveal past addresses, plus others who are currently
living at, or who have lived at, the same address. This might also reveal
aliases used, plus "also known as" (aka) information - or variations of
names used. If none of the data returned matches the information
provided by or about your subject, this should raise the proverbial red
flag.
Much information can be gleaned from simple data such as lists of relatives,
roommates and associates. Further red flags might be raised if the address
search reveals present or past residents of the same age but with different
last names - not including the subject's. Likewise, if the same last
name appears, but with different first names, further investigation is
clearly required.
Information possibly returned from an Address History Report includes:
- Address History w/Phone Numbers
- Age/Date of Birth
- Alias/Maiden Names
- Neighbors
- Relatives/Roommates living at same address
- Dates of Residence
Once you have determined that the subject is who they say they are, the
other
mandatory parts of a thorough background check are the General Records
Search and the Criminal Records Search.
STEP 3 - GENERAL RECORDS SEARCHES
Public records and information providers offer a great variety of data;
however, it is important to ascertain the accuracy and timeliness of the
records being searched.
Search Vital Records, include births, marriages, divorces and deaths - all
of which are public record. Vital statistics records are often
available online: however these records are often restricted by the state
that supplies them to the parties involved (ex-spouses, child, etc.)
Financial Searches often indicate financial standing and responsibility.
A Property Search will reveal real estate ownership and a Vehicles Search
will return automobiles owned by the subject.
Court Records contain data pertaining to Federal & Civil Judgments, Federal
& State Bankruptcies, Tax liens and Evictions. These records can be
examined at the county or federal courthouse where the incident was
adjudicated, or researched and retrieved by an information provider.
The Secretary of State maintains corporate, partnership and professional
licensing information. These records are open for examination and usually
available online.
A Driver History Records search is an important addition to a records
search, as it will reflect traffic citations and DUI's and DWI's, both of
which can indicate poor driving habits. These records are restricted by some
states, requiring a signed release and a permissible purpose for access.
STEP 4 -- CRIMINAL RECORDS SEARCHES
A thorough criminal background check includes searches of Local and County
Criminal Records, State Criminal Courts, National Department of Corrections
and Sex Offenders databases, and the OFAC Patriot Act Search. Records can be
obtained at the various courthouses or online by information providers.
Read:
How To
Search Criminal Records.
Local and County Checks - Results from local or county jurisdiction criminal
records searches will include only the crimes committed within those
immediate jurisdictions. If checking only the counties where the
subject says he or she lived over the past 3-5 years, the search is relying
on the individual to be truthful about their past residences. This
search may miss offenses committed in
other jurisdictions. Therefore, conduct a complete address history
(three credit bureau Address History Report) prior to conducting a
Criminal Records Search.
Statewide Criminal Courts - These records are obtained through a state
agency and include only the crimes committed within that state. Search
costs and response times vary widely from state to state. Some state
checks include arrests, but in most instances only those arrests leading
to convictions are cited.
Data for Sale - Information providers and brokers buy their criminal data
from the states. Many states have strong privacy laws and some do not
sell any criminal data obtained for a personal or business background check.
Some states sell a portion of their data, but not the full conviction or
arrest files. The data is not uniform between states. You must know the
level of accuracy of the data being purchased by understanding what the
state in question has provided.
AVAILABLE RECORDS
Municipal Criminal Records
County Criminal Records
Statewide Criminal Courts – (MOST States))
Statewide Criminal Check for Felonies, Misdemeanors & Sex Offenses
State Department of Corrections – (47 of 50 states)
National Arrest & Court Warrants
National Department of Corrections
OFAC Patriot Act Search
FBI Most Wanted
FBI Most Wanted Terrorists
Interpol Most Wanted
Sex Offender Records
INFORMATION PROVIDERS
When contracting an Information Provider, determine what data are being
accessed. Some background checks are national in scope while others
are actually "multi-state." The costs, response times and quality of
these checks vary widely from company to company. Note: Background
checks are generally name-based and often only access convictions, but not
arrests.
Consider having a check done on yourself if you are concerned about
incorrect information, or what potential employers might find.
While it's called a "basic" background check, careful investigations for
business or personal reasons are anything but trivial in the times in which
we live...
Order our Expert Background Check.
See our
Sample Reports.
|
