In a data-driven society, risk mitigation gets easier. Learning more about someone before moving forward with any contractual relationship or even before a date is currently a matter of a few clicks on your computer. The process is fast and cheap, so why leave anything to chance?
To Protect Your Privacy
Run a periodic background check on yourself to make sure that your information is correct, and that private details are kept private. Data breaches happen all the time, and you never know when criminals have access to sensitive information. To run a background search on yourself, visit checkpeople. The service is very easy to use and you get a comprehensive report including social media data, criminal records, address history (very relevant because an unknown address is an important sign of identity theft) and marital status. Checkpeople is not a credit reporting agency, but you are entitled to a yearly credit report from the four main reporting agencies (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian), for free.
To Verify Someone’s Identity
Cautionary tales about people being scammed by con artists portraying as someone they’re not are all over the internet. Regardless of the nature of your relationship, always verify someone’s identity before moving forward. To do so, you only need a social security number. Some red flags regarding a fake identity include non-corresponding social media pictures and no social security records.
To Protect Your Assets
Employee negligence can be extremely costly, especially for small businesses. By running a background check, you can better assess someone’s money and debt management skills, minimizing risks. This also applies to the process of choosing a business partner: depending on the partnership agreement and chosen incorporation form, you may even be legally responsible for their debt.
For Character Judgement
A person’s online life usually mimics real life. A comprehensive background check includes the analysis of someone’s digital footprint, including their social media accounts. From this information, you can determine someone’s character traits (are they violent? racist? misogynistic?) and make an informed choice to continue with the relationship or not.
To Avoid Legal Problems
Litigation is one of the main reasons why a business can go bankrupt. Avoid legal problems by running a background search that includes lawsuits, evictions, and bankruptcy records.
To Stay Safe While Online Dating
Online dating scam reports are alarmingly high, as are date rape statistics. Before agreeing to a date with a complete stranger, run a background check to make sure they don’t have a criminal or sex offender’s record. Regardless of what you find in a background search, protect yourself by never disclosing your personal information and never agree to give money to someone on a dating site. Consider helping an elderly relative run a background search on a potential partner that they met online, as they are especially vulnerable to romantic scams.
To Make A Good Choice Before Hiring Household Staff
People who work inside your home and have access to your family should be vetted properly. Consider every aspect of their job description (for example, run a search for traffic records if the potential employee is expected to drive your children or an elderly relative). Make sure there are no abuse-related convictions and always check references before making your final decision.
To Safely Choose a Roommate
Sharing your living situation with a stranger can pose important risks. Running a background check before signing a roommate helps you ensure that you are safe and that rent is going to be paid on-time. Refusal of a background check is a red flag that should never be overlooked.