| Confused by all of the "Instant Background | | | | living will tell you that this seemingly |
| Check" hype? Maybe you're frustrated because | | | | outrageous example is very close to the norm. |
| you tried "free" or low-cost access to public | | | | In fact, where I have seen this most is when |
| records but the information you received | | | | one or more people in a family are involved |
| wasn't worth much either. If this describes | | | | in criminal activity and the confusion is |
| you, then this article should help. | | | | intentional. For example, neither James |
| | | | Browne Sr. nor Jr. has a record, but, Robert |
| No, I don't represent a public records | | | | Browne and a James Brown (no "e") both have |
| information company. I am, however, an | | | | felony records. Criminals also use other |
| investigator who has used many of the top | | | | intentional misrepresentations that look like |
| public records services to physically track | | | | typing errors such as using a 1 instead of a |
| down hundreds of people for civil and | | | | 7 in their social security number. |
| criminal court matters. I have also wasted | | | | |
| many dollars and hours on the road being led | | | | Not All Phone Books Are Created Equal |
| to wrong or outdated addresses. What follows | | | | |
| are the basics of discussions I found myself | | | | "Find Anyone's Phone Number and Address- |
| having everyday with my clients and others | | | | Millions Available" is the ad which I may or |
| who have found themselves in the same | | | | may not admit I responded to on several |
| situation. | | | | occasions. At the time I never thought to ask |
| | | | - which phone numbers? |
| You Already Know An Internet Search Engine | | | | |
| Has Its Limits | | | | Â a. Historical - Every number in every |
| | | | phone book in the US for the past 10 years.b. |
| If you are reading this, I will assume you | | | | Current - Every current phone number as |
| are at least vaguely familiar with internet | | | | reported by every phone company in the US as |
| search engines. When you enter search words | | | | of this morning and updated hourly.c. |
| like "background check", the search engine | | | | Relational - Every phone number people put |
| combs through millions of pieces of data to | | | | down on utility bills and credit reports. |
| try to bring back the most relevant sites. In | | | | |
| most instances you get what you need. Yet, | | | | The answer is critical because all of them |
| you may still get results where the | | | | are needed. In most cases, people never ask. |
| "background check" site is a place where you | | | | When you do ask - I can tell you that the |
| choose the actual background color on the | | | | reps at the company providing the data won't |
| checks you get from the bank and not a site | | | | know the answer for sure or will make one up. |
| where you can get personal information. | | | | |
| | | | Take, for example, the recent trend in |
| In the same way, background check databases | | | | promoting "cell phone directories". A |
| sift through millions of pieces of | | | | reasonable person could believe that such a |
| information. Some of that information may | | | | database would be the current records as |
| have a name and address (utility bill) or | | | | reported by each cell phone company. In the |
| maybe a name and date of birth (some court | | | | instance I know about - you would be wrong. |
| records). Most records do not have enough | | | | As confirmed by one of their company reps on |
| information to definitively connect it to | | | | a TV news show - the records they have come |
| other pieces of information. In order to tie | | | | from self-reported cell phone numbers that |
| those data together, the database uses a | | | | people used as references on other records. |
| process similar to your internet search | | | | How long ago the number was reported and |
| engine with, in many cases, similar results. | | | | whether or not the number is active is |
| | | | unknown by them. |
| You probably would not consider believing | | | | |
| every fact in every article on the first page | | | | The 5 Hard Lessons Learned On Background |
| of internet search results. Instead, you | | | | Checks |
| would probably try to see which articles | | | | |
| really apply to your search and then | | | | 1. Use an Investigator |
| determine which facts in which articles you | | | | |
| can actually verify, believe and use. You | | | | From the examples above, you can see why I |
| have to use the same approach of human | | | | laugh when anyone tells me about an "instant" |
| intervention, quality control, and filtering | | | | computer background check. Good background |
| when analyzing data from personal records | | | | checks take interaction between the requestor |
| databases in order to have any substantial | | | | and investigator. The results naturally raise |
| success. | | | | more questions than they answer. |
| | | | |
| I Thought I Was Unique - I'm Not! | | | | 2. Expertise is Invaluable |
| | | | |
| Like most people, I have never met anyone | | | | In order to get the right answer, you have to |
| with my same first and last name. However, it | | | | know what to ask. One common mistake is when |
| shocked me to know that in the state of Texas | | | | someone is checking for past spousal or child |
| there are 167 of "me". That means when I | | | | violence by researching criminal records. If |
| visit Texas, there is another "me" within 40 | | | | the person was actually convicted of beating |
| miles of wherever I am. | | | | or molesting there should be a criminal |
| | | | record. However, in many states protection |
| In my defense I then convinced myself that | | | | from abuse and restraining orders are civil |
| they really aren't "me" because "me" is my | | | | matters - not criminal. Ask the wrong |
| age with my middle initial. Unfortunately I | | | | question and even a good answer could put |
| had to then learn there are 9 "me"s in the | | | | someone in jeopardy. |
| country with my first name, middle initial | | | | |
| and last name, who are also within 2 years of | | | | 3. A Full Check on a Person is Only Half of |
| my age. Since then I no longer hope for | | | | What is Needed |
| unique, now I just hope that all of those | | | | |
| "me"s have good credit and pay all of their | | | | People's lives are webs of relationships with |
| speeding tickets. | | | | family and friends. It does little good to |
| | | | perform a background check on only the |
| Coincidences, and lack of coincidental data, | | | | daycare provider when her husband is a |
| can easily make two people look like one, | | | | registered sex offender. |
| split one person into two, or link two | | | | |
| unrelated people. I have seen entire family | | | | 4. No Guarantee - No Deal |
| trees linked because John Doe's mom is Jane | | | | |
| Doe who lives 200 miles away, but John is | | | | You should not have to pay for incorrect or |
| linked to a second Jane Doe who is only 50 | | | | outdated information. You don't pay for shoes |
| miles away. | | | | first and then see if they have the style and |
| | | | size you need. Finding people and background |
| The James Browne Effect | | | | checks should be no different except that you |
| | | | may need to pay the investigator some small |
| Consider a fictitious family: James Robert | | | | fee for the effort of trying. |
| (Dad) and Joan (Mom) along with their sons | | | | |
| James Robert Jr. and Ronald John. Now imagine | | | | 5. Never Give Them Financial Information |
| a bucket filled with 100 of their public | | | | |
| records you need to match with the correct | | | | It amazes me when people know I have access |
| person. The names on those records are Joan, | | | | to most if not all of their personal records |
| James, Robert, Bert, Jim, Bob, Jim Bob, John, | | | | and then turn around and want to give me |
| Jack, Ronald, Ron, Ronny, Bobby, Johnny, | | | | their credit card or other banking |
| Jimmy, Jay, JR, RJ and Butch. To confuse | | | | information. The company that maintains |
| things more, half of the records have the | | | | access to both is asking for an identity |
| last name "Brown" and the other half | | | | theft nightmare. |
| "Browne". One more thing - the father's Uncle | | | | |
| Ron Browne shared the same address for 5 | | | | Â |
| years and now lives a block away. | | | | |
| | | | I hope this helps you more fully understand |
| Unfortunately, anyone who tracks people for a | | | | the situations surrounding background checks. |