Background Check

A background check looks further into a person's professional and personal history. A background check investigator will conduct interviews and find documents that will give you a greater understanding of the person you are looking into. 

Can't I just pay for an online background check? There are automated background checks available on the Internet, but the information is often incomplete or inaccurate, and each record whether found through the Internet or another source needs to be verified for validity. A private investigator can provide detailed and accurate information about a person and ensure that the information is accurate.

There is no standard or routine background check. The investigation should be tailored to your areas of concern, reasons for finding out more, and your overall needs. Whether you're hiring a new employee, looking for a nanny, or are about to make a new investment, it's a good idea to get a better understanding of who or what you will be involved with.

Information and Videos

If you are seeking more information about whether or not you should conduct a background investigation, what information and red flags may be discovered, and why a background check from an automated website can be inaccurate, watch the following videos.

Why Conduct a Background Check?

You may want to have a person submit to a background investigation before:

• Hiring a new employee
• Taking on a new tenant
• Making an investment
• Hiring a nanny
• Selecting a public official (i.e. police chief or fire chief)

Commonly Detected Lies

People often provide false information on the following:

• Education history and degrees
• Professional background and work history
• Licenses and professional organization membership
• Omitting prior experience to hide a grievance or lawsuit

Why Not an Automatic Check?

Problems and limitations of an automated check:

• Not all records are available online
• The information may not be accurate or up-to-date
• The validity of the record still needs to be verified
• Does not include checking references, past employers, degrees, etc.

There are many other scenarios that may call for a background investigation. Depending on the information you are looking for and your purpose in looking further into a person's history, an investigator will take the time to understand what you are looking for and ensure that the information you receive is accurate and relevant.

Working With An Investigator On A Background Check

Working with an investigator is the best way to ensure that the information you receive is accurate and reliable. A background check investigator can also give you further insight about the person's character through interviews and looking into the person's professional and personal history. The following videos will prepare you for working with an investigator.

Criminal vs. Complete 

Two common investigations are criminal and complete.

Criminal Background Check: The sole purpose of a criminal background check is to determine whether or not the person has a criminal record.

Complete Background Check: A complete background investigation involves looking at all public records that are available. This can include driving records, education and employment history, and more.

A criminal check does have its limitations. For example, in some states a DUI shows up in a driving record but not in a criminal record. 

Information You Need

Having as much information as possible can make the background investigation a quicker process. Some information you may want to have:

• Full name with middle initial
• Date and location of birth
• Social Security Number
• Schools attended and awarded degrees
• Past employers

Although it is ideal to have all of the above, a good investigator can research a person with very little information.

Hiring an Investigator

A background check investigator will work with you to determine which type of investigation is appropriate for your situation as well as what information you will need in order to move forward.

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If you are unable to find the help you need on our site, contact us at (888) 997-4669 and we will find a company to help you.

 

Looking for an Investigator to Conduct Background Checks?

If you have more questions about background checks or would like to speak to a private investigator about you can use our online database of trusted, experinced private investigators or call us today at (888) 997-4669 to locate a PI in your area.