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| being led to wrong or outdated addresses.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