Below is a list of information that should be included in an extensive background check.  

What separates an extensive background check from everything else is the ability to identify information from various disparate sources to gather a more accurate, comprehensive and complete picture.  By uncovering the complete picture, and not just a small piece, for example by only searching criminal records, you have a better chance of identifying critical red flags.

Here are the 20 Records That Should Be Included in an Extensive Background Check:

1 Personal Identifiers

Identifiers such as a date of birth and Social Security number are key to linking criminal records, bankruptcy records and other public records to the subject of the extensive background check.

2Address History

Knowing where the individual has lived is critical to determining which courts are necessary to search in order to identify historical civil and criminal history, and to find information from other public record sources.

3Professional History

A timeline of any employment affiliations, board memberships and nonprofit affiliations can show a history of affiliations with organizations riddled with scandals.

4International News Media

Most people are under the false impression that all news media publications are easily accessible on the Internet. Historical and international comprehensive news media can identify past issues that can’t be found on the Internet.

5Internet Searches

With the explosion of social media and the perceived “anonymity” of the Web, some people will put just about anything on the Internet.

6Corporate Affiliations

U.S.-based corporations where the individual is a corporate officer or registered agent can identify businesses or hidden affiliations.

7Criminal Record History (State and Federal)

Checking local and state criminal records is one of the most important facets of a extensive background check. Given that criminal history is the most critical area, it’s essential to conduct research at local courts or official government repositories.

8Civil Litigation (State and Federal)

As with criminal record history, it’s essential to conduct research at local courts, official government repositories or proprietary databases that cover the jurisdictions in which the individual has lived. Civil litigation can identify disputes with previous business partners, harassment allegations or a history of litigiousness.

9Bankruptcy Records

A history of bankruptcy or financial issues could reveal critical financial details.

10U.S. Tax Court Records

U.S. Tax Court records can reveal unpaid taxes or disputes over taxes, which can lead to information on income or assets.

11UCC Filings

Has the person been a creditor or debtor in any UCC filings? Did he or she pledge any assets as part of financing?

12Assets

Information relating to real property, motor vehicles, watercraft and aircraft records may show a pattern of living beyond one’s means.

13Judgment Filings

A history of judgment filings may identify a history of financial issues and/or litigiousness.

14Lien Filings

Similar to judgment filings, historical state or federal tax liens may show a history of financial trouble.

15Department of Motor Vehicle Records

A driving record request can identify traffic violations and, in most states, driving under the influence (DUI) records (which some states consider a criminal record).

16Professional Licensing

Records with local, state or federal regulatory bodies may reveal regulatory actions against professional licensees such as a certified public accountant, doctor, nurse, an attorney or even a private investigator.

17Professional Affiliations

In addition to having a professional license, professionals typically are affiliated with organizations that award certain credentials or designations, but you don’t know if they are really part of the organization unless you check.

18Financial Regulatory Searches

Especially for individuals who have previously served in the banking or financial industry, searches with financial regulatory bodies may identify previous violations or regulatory matters.

19Government Compliance Lists

A review of government compliance lists can identify sanctions from regulatory bodies or politically exposed persons around the world.

20Campaign Contributions

Political contributions may identify strong political ties or connections with polarizing political groups.

Unfortunately, we see examples of a bad background check almost every day.  Below are a few unfortunate examples of an individual or business who opted to take the “short road” in terms of their background check provider and failed to uncover critical information.  For each example, you see where the “red flags” were not seen (or even looked for) by their respective background check provider.

A growing number of individuals and corporations are now conducting “some form” (used loosely) of a basic background check.

While certainly spending the time and expense to conduct, at minimum, a criminal record check should be recognized and applauded, many consumers (unbeknownst to them) end up utilizing a fly-by-night investigative firm, turn to one of the many advertised online background checking websites or end up doing what we like to call a “fake background check.”.

The fact remains that all background checks are not created equally.  The scope and depth of the background check provider should be scrutinized closely.

Here are five examples of background checks that failed to uncover critical information:

• A 92-year-old woman was swindled out of more than $30,000 by her home care provider who was hired through a reputable agency.  The family later learned that despite passing an employment background check with her agency, the home care provider had a lengthy criminal history.  Turns out that the background check failed to uncover a prior drug conviction, several recent prison terms, and a court issued restraining order to keep the Care Provider away from her own child.
• A background check on a newly hired Pastor in Texas failed to show that he was previously charged with capital murder, kidnapping and armed robbery for his part in the robbery of a convenience store in which two people were killed.
• A Los Alamos minister was fired after he was found to have a prior criminal conviction for sex crimes against a Pennsylvania boy.  Church officials later said that the company they paid to do the background check on the Minister failed to uncover the conviction.
• Even law enforcement cannot seem to get it right.  The Charlotte Police Department reportedly failed to uncover that a newly hired police officer’s former girlfriend had taken out a domestic violence protective order against him.
• Cook County, Illinois officials had to rescind a high-paying job offer after discovering the man they were about to hire was found to have been sued by his former employer for theft, was under investigation by the FBI for millions of dollars in alleged contract fraud, and had admitted to sexual relationships with co-workers. Cook County’s human resources department reportedly conducted a background check that came out “clean.”

Final Thought

There is a major difference between doing something the right way and carelessness.

The above examples are just a sampling of some of the inherent risks we take when establishing any new professional or personal relationship.

As the saying goes, “if you are going to do something, do it right” and be sure to always ask questions!

 

Facebook is not a background check. There, we said it.

This post was prompted by an article titled “Parents Conduct Background Checks via Facebook.” The article explains that “when you arrange a play date for your kids, you’re probably going to undergo a background check [via Facebook].”

It’s not just this article. There seems to be this prevailing thought that in accessing a person’s Facebook profile (or information on any other social network, for that matter), you somehow miraculously “know” the person and what he or she is all about.