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When most people think of background checks, they think of an inspection of criminal history, but that is not always the information that is being sought. Free online people search services typically omit a majority of information and are limited to specific public records databases.

Advanced background checks can encompass so many more details.

What is a background check?

Advanced background checks is an investigation into the professional and personal history of a person that will reflect the person’s character and prove their identity.

What does a background check show?

Typically, an accurate background check will reveal:

• Criminal history
• Sex offenders
• Educational background
• Employment history
• Civil records
• References
• Credit record
• Driving records
• Drug testing and screening
• Medical history
• Use of social media

Possibly more information depending on the reason for the report.

When to obtain a background report?

Successful background investigations into someone’s past need to be designed to address the information you are seeking. There are a variety of scenarios in which you may want to have a background check completed on a person such as:

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• Employment background checks
• You own a property that you may lease to someone
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• You are hiring a babysitter, nanny, or daycare worker to be in charge of your children
• You are investing with someone
• The person is running for a public office
• A person has applied for a security clearance
• The person is seeking a position of trusts such as a government employee or a bank teller that will be handling other people’s money
• A domestic violence survivor may need a criminal record to check on a potential suitor

These are just a few of the scenarios in which a comprehensive check may be necessary to obtain information about a person.

What are the best methods to see someone’s background?

There are several methods of conducting an analysis of someone’s background, and one of them is to complete it online.

These are considered automated background checks, but many times, the information is outdated, incomplete, or incorrect. Each record needs to be validated to ensure that it is for the correct person and that the data is current and accurate.

Not all the files you can obtain online are complete and may leave out pertinent information. It may not inform you of past employers and references. The validity of the record still needs to be verified, so the use of a private investigator may be beneficial.

An investigator can provide the best records with the most detailed and correct information so that you can make a decision based on facts.

For example, if you have a prospective tenant named Robert E. Smith and you attempt an online background check, you may get the information of the man’s son, Robert D. Smith, who has an extensive criminal history. You would end up not renting to Robert E. Smith because of his criminal history when, in fact, he did not have any criminal history at all.

If you employ the assistance of a private investigator, you can be assured that the information you receive has been checked for accuracy and is dependable.

A background check investigator can provide you with more detailed information and even more insight into the real character of the person that they can gain through interviews and by delving further into their history.

What information is needed to complete a background check?

When you contact a private investigator, you will need to know some vital information about the person you are investigating.

Such as their:

• Full name including their middle initial
• Date of birth and the city and state in which they were born
• Social security number
• Schools they have attended
• Previous employers
• Phone numbers,
• Names of the locations in which they have resided.

A good private investigator will be able to find out a lot about a person with or without detailed information, but it is helpful and will speed up the process if you can obtain as much information as possible beforehand.

How long does a background check take?

The completion time of a background check will vary depending on a variety of factors.

A key factor is the quality of data.

With accurate information, a final report could take a matter of days.

For a majority of cases, you could expect results in less than a week.

Another factor is the details you will need. Do you need federal information? How far back in time do you need information? What type of data do you need?

These are just a few factors that could affect the turnaround time.

Conclusion

Overall, if you need a thorough analysis of someone’s background, enlisting the services of a private investigator will provide you with more accurate and complete information on which to base your decisions upon. While a quick online check may be tempting, to guarantee you receive the most current, accurate, and reliable information, you should hire a private investigator to assist in the process.

Get the best background check services with LRI’s comprehensive reports. Contact an LRI investigator to confirm the information you are looking for, and for pricing.