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| outdated addresses.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