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In the not-too-distant past, people grew up and spent their lives in small towns or localized urban neighborhoods, often living among the same neighbors for all or most of their lives. Everyone knew their neighbors and that personal intimacy lasted a lifetime. However, today’s world is very mobile. Few people live in the same place for long, and many of our interpersonal relationships emerge from cyberspace, where a person can become whoever they want to be. In such a transitory society, trust is no longer a matter of faith, but must often be verified, especially in matters of the workplace, business relationships, and property rentals.
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Background investigations are conducted 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 interpersonal relationships in the 21st century requires informed decisions that allow the protection of companies, employees, families, properties or investments.
Business background checks are most often done when hiring employees, managing rental properties, conducting business with other companies, investing in a commercial company, or attempting to collect on business debt. Background checks are essential when a person is going to gain access to your home or property as a result of performing a service or being hired as an employee.
Unprecedented access to technology enables people to steal or fabricate identities with great ease. Therefore, it is essential to use background checks, gathering as much information as possible to confirm a person’s identity before engaging with them. The old expression “it is better to err on the side of caution” has more meaning today than ever in the past.
To learn more about the various types of background checks available, read the detailed articles at the following links: Employee Background Checks, Tenant Screening, Business Background Check, Asset Searches, and Criminal Background Checks.
The steps shown below provide the procedural basis for conducting background checks, whether for business or personal use. However, please note that when a business background check is done, most of the time there is a signed application permission form that allows access to certain specific records that are otherwise inaccessible.
STEP 1 – GATHER INFORMATION – POSITIVE ID
The first goal of any background check is to obtain a positive identification of the subject in question. 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 and necessary identifier when searching for criminal records. Current and past addresses are also good identifiers, because in order to conduct a thorough criminal history search, you must determine the subject’s state (s) of residence.
When it comes to women, remember to know if the person is married or single, and ask for all the last names they used, both past and present. This can be an important factor when checking criminal and general records.
Public records are generally indexed by name only or by name and date of birth.
Proprietary database records are often indexed by social security number.
Other useful information needed to begin an investigation may include names of relatives, driver’s license number, and phone numbers. Some relevant questions to ask if the subject is initially interviewed include, “Where are you from?”, “Where did you go to school?” And when is your birthday?”
It is not beyond reason to request a photocopy of the subject’s driver’s license to accompany an application.
In an interview, the “wrong conclusion” technique can be used to obtain important information. An example of this would be saying, “I bet you’re from California.” The subject could respond simply by saying, “You are right” or “No, I was born and raised in Utah.”
STEP 2- CONFIRM – SEARCH FOR ADDRESS HISTORY
Once as much information as possible on a topic has been collected, confirming the information is critical. A search of the address history will reveal previous addresses and other people who live or have lived at the same address. This may also reveal the aliases used, as well as “also known as” information (AKA) or variations of the names used. If none of the data returned matches the information provided by or about your topic, this should raise the proverbial red flag.
Much information can be obtained from simple data, such as lists of relatives, roommates, and associates. More red flags should be raised if the address search reveals current or past residents of the same age but with different last names, not including the subject. Similarly, if the same last name appears, but with different names, it is clear that further investigation is required.
Information that is likely to be returned from an address history report includes:
– Address history with phone numbers
– Age or date of birth
– Aliases or maiden names
– Possible neighbors
– Possible relatives and roommates who live at the same address
– Dates of residence
Once you’ve determined that the subject is who they claim to be, the other mandatory parts of a thorough background check are the general records search and the criminal record search.
STEP 3 – GENERAL RECORD SEARCHES
Public records and information providers can offer a wide variety of data; however, it is important to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the records that are used.
Search vital records such as births, marriages, divorces, and deaths, all of which are public records. Vital statistics are often available online – however, these records are often restricted by the state that provides them to the parties involved (eg, spouse, child).
Financial searches can indicate financial capacity and responsibility. A property search will reveal real estate ownership and a vehicle search will return cars owned by the subject.
Court records contain data related to federal and civil judgments, federal and state bankruptcies, tax liens, and evictions. These records can be examined in the federal or county court where the incident was adjudicated, or can be investigated and retrieved by an information provider.
The Secretary of State maintains information on corporate, partnership, and professional licenses. These records are open for your review and are generally available online.
Searching for driver history records is an important addition to searching for records, as it will reflect traffic violations and DUIs, both of which can indicate bad driving habits. These records are restricted by some states, requiring a signed authorization and a permitted purpose for access.
STEP 4 – SEARCH FOR CRIMINAL RECORDS
A comprehensive criminal background check includes local and county criminal background searches, state criminal courts, National Department of Corrections and sex offender databases, and the OFAC Patriot Act search. Records can be obtained at various courts or online by information providers. Read: How to Search Criminal Records.
County and Local Checks – Results of county or local jurisdiction criminal history searches will include only crimes committed within those immediate jurisdictions. If only the counties where the subject says they lived for the past 3-5 years are checked, the search is based on the individual being truthful about their past residences. This search may miss crimes committed in other jurisdictions. Therefore, the address history report is essential before conducting a criminal record search.
State Criminal Courts – These records are obtained through a state agency and include only crimes committed within that state. Search costs and response times vary greatly from state to state. Most state controls include arrests, but in some cases only those arrests that resulted in convictions are cited.
Selling Data: Information providers and brokers buy your criminal data in the states. Many states have strong privacy laws; some do not sell any criminal data obtained for a personal or business background check. Some states sell some of your data, but not the full conviction or arrest files. The data are not uniform across states; therefore, it is important to know the level of precision of the acquired data by understanding what the state in question has provided. Run a comprehensive criminal record search now.
AVAILABLE RECORDS
Municipal criminal records
County criminal record
State Criminal Courts – (58% US)
State criminal verification for felonies, misdemeanors, and sex crimes
State Department of Corrections – (47 of 50 states)
National arrest and court orders
National Department of Corrections
Search for the OFAC Patriot Act
The most wanted by the FBI
Terrorists Most Wanted by the FBI
Interpol Most Wanted
Sex offender registries
SUPPLIER INFORMATION
When using an information provider, determine what data is accessed. Some background checks are national in scope, while others are actually “multi-state.” The costs, response times, and quality of these checks vary greatly from company to company. Background checks are generally based on names and often only lead to convictions, not arrests.
Consider doing a self-check if you are concerned about incorrect information or what potential employers may find.
While it’s called a “basic” background check, careful investigations for business or personal reasons are anything but trivial in the times we live in … Request a comprehensive basic background check from research professionals online now.