Background Checks
There is a big difference between a background “check” and a background “investigation.” A background check usually involves retrieving online data from some data base. There is no verification on how accurate or up-to-date the data is or where the data originally came from. The operators of online background check sites sell the same old data over and over again and often use sales terms like “NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK” or something similar. But, if you read the fine print it usually says that the company “neither warrants, vouches for, or authenticates the reliability of the information contained herein that the records are accurately reported as they were found at the source as of the date and time of this report.” [This is the actual wording taken from the website of one of the most popular online background check sites.] There is a reason these companies put this disclaimer in small type – they don’t want you to see it!
Some data bases are better than others, but contrary to what online background check websites claim, there is NO data system that can provide you with a comprehensive NATIONWIDE background check. Unfortunately, many companies and individuals have come to believe that “background checks” are performed by real professionals, perhaps in the same manner that the FBI or local law enforcement agencies do their background investigations. This is just not so! Recently the Federal Trade Commission fined one of the largest nationwide background screening companies $2.6 million “for failing to use reasonable procedures to assure the maximum possible accuracy of information it provided . . . and failing to reinvestigate consumer disputes.”
A few years prior, the FTC fined another nationwide background company $10 million.
[sic] Federal Trade Commission imposes 26 MILLION DOLLAR penalty
Background Investigations
Our background investigations are akin to the type of background investigations the FBI or law enforcement agencies conduct when they are considering hiring someone or when someone is being considered for “Top Secret” government clearance. These investigations are tailored to the specific needs of a client and typically start with information gathering. Depending on the client’s needs, these investigations often involve investigators physically checking out addresses, conducting face-to-face interviews, and sometimes gathering information by covert means.
Additionally, our full background investigations often involve examining criminal records, arrest records, financial records, credit standing, past travel and associates, residential history, personal relationships – past and present, education credentials, and interviews with employers, associates, teachers, neighbors, friends and family. In some cases, fingerprinting may be necessary. The intensity of these investigations depends entirely on the needs of the client.
Enhanced Background Checks
Because typical online background checks only scratch the surface and can provide users with a false sense of security, we do not offer standard online background checks. For those clients who do not want or need a full “boots-on-the-ground” background investigation, we offer an Enhanced Background Check option. These background checks can provide valuable insight into an individual’s behavior, character, and integrity and can be conducted without the “target” ever knowing they were “checked-out.”
Our Enhanced Background Checks are tailored to a client’s individual needs and involve an investigator searching multiple top-notch data bases and “open source” information and an investigator personally comparing, analyzing, and correlating information from each source. This gives the client a much better picture of a person’s background than an online “instant” background check.
The type of information searched during our Enhanced Background Checks depends on what a client wants to find out. During the typical background check we usually review and analyze hundreds – sometime thousands, of separate documents. Our personalized Enhanced Background Checks offer a wide range of information about each person and can include, but are not limited to:
• Criminal history search
Not all criminal history checks are the same. We use proprietary data bases that have proven to be comprehensive and accurate. We also use redundant checking to ensure that we find all available criminal records.
• Arrest warrant search
• Registered Sex Offender search
• Civil court records search
Liens, judgments, injunctions, protective orders.
• Bankruptcy search
Bankruptcy records are public documents, but they are not always easy to find. We have experience in searching bankruptcy records across the USA and they are often included in our Enhanced Background Checks.
• US Military search
Depending on a client’s needs, searching military records can be part of our Enhanced Background Checks.
• Telephone subscriber search
Telephone subscriber information, even from former phone numbers, can provide valuable information that can be used to link associates, verify addresses, and much more.
• Email address search
Email addresses, even email addresses that have not been used in years, can provide an investigator with valuable insights into your target individuals past activities.
• Social media search
Multiple social media sites like: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Myspace, Plaxo, Bebo, Yumbler, Livejournal, Flickr, Google Plus, and others are typically searched as part of our Enhanced Background Check. While we do not “hack-into” social media accounts, we can use investigative techniques to get hard-to-find information from many social media accounts.
• Internet search engines
We search all the major search engines like Google, Bing,Yahoo, Dogpile, and DuckDuckGo. But we also search the lesser known (and sometimes very effective) search engines like Mamma, Gigablast, Zoo, and many others. We use sophisticated software and a human touch to scour the Internet. If it’s on the Internet, our investigators will find it.
• Addresses and property searches
Want to know who lives at a certain address or who lived at a certain address years ago? Need to know who really owns a piece of property? We can answer these questions. This type of in-depth research goes into each of our Enhanced Background Checks.
• Neighbor search
Need to know who someone’s neighbors are? We can get this information even if all you have a very old address. This information is very useful in skip tracing, missing person cases, and false identity cases.
• Nationwide Newspaper search
Our investigators have the ability to search over 1 billion old and current newspaper articles from national, city and local townships across the USA and many foreign countries. This can be a Treasure Trove of information but can be a daunting task unless the investigator knows how to “zero-in” on the right publications.
• Nationwide cemetery search
Cemetery searches are not just for the dead! Cemetery records are a good (and often over looked) resource for investigators. They often contain clues to dates, family relationships, military service, published obituaries, and much more.
• Nationwide marriage and divorce search
Is someone really married or divorced? Has someone been married more times than they admit? Is someone married to more than one person at the same time (happens more often than most people realize). We can answer these questions.
Our Enhanced Background check service can reveal some very telling information about your closest friends, boyfriend or girlfriend, neighbors or potential business partner – or anyone else you want to know about.
Our Enhanced Background Checks are much more comprehensive, more accurate, and more up-to-date than the often stale information sold over and over again by anonymous “background check” data brokers found on the Internet. They are reasonably priced and meet the needs of most clients. We present all information in an easy-to-read personalized report and can complete most background checks in a few days – or less if the need is urgent. When you need to know and want something better than a generic one-size-fits-all background check, give us a call or send us an email. We will discuss your particular needs in strict confidence and tailor a background check that gets you the information you need at a reasonable price.
When making important decisions it is important to know as much about a person as you can. If you are considering hiring someone, need to checkout a business partner or someone you are thinking of having a relationship with, or just want to know, our Enhanced Background Check is a good choice. It will give you much more comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date information than one of the instant – and often inaccurate, background checks you can find online.
Whether you need a full scale background investigation or just an Enhanced Background Check, we have the expertise to meet your needs. Please explore this website and when you are ready, give us a call or send us an email. We are here when you need us.
Employers, including individuals who might hire a nanny, housekeeper, caregiver, etc., have a real need to know as much as they can about the person they are considering hiring. When making important decisions it is important to know not only about a person’s criminal, credit, and driving history, but the personal characteristics of an individual that would make them unsuitable for a particular position. You need to know if a person has a record of being dependable, honest, and trustworthy.
We are headquartered in Oregon but can provide background checks on individuals and businesses anywhere in the United States and even many foreign countries.
NOTE: We are a licensed private investigative agency. We only conduct background checks for clients who intend to use the information we uncover for a lawful purpose. There are many legitimate personal and business reasons for someone wanting to “check-out” someone. We ask all potential clients why they want us to conduct a background check. If you give us an evasive answer or indicate that you intend to use the information we uncover for some unlawful purpose, we will not be able to help you.