Additional Help

Our boss gave us a late Christmas gift by announcing that he’ll be hiring an additional staff in our department. That’s a very welcoming news considering that my online game-playing time had been reduced to just 2 hours ever since Zal resigned 2 months ago (just kidding, boss).

A friend of mine from the HR department told me that she already received 22 applications for the position. I asked her if she’ll be able to process them before I go to Vancouver next month for a business meeting. She said that she might not be able to since she expects around 20 more applications by next week.

Paul and I offered to help her by conducting the background checks on the applicants. We even boasted that we could process all applications within a few hours since we could easily investigate on them online. She hasn’t said yes yet, but I’m sure we’ll be getting her nod once the additional application forms come in.

Misplaced Skepticism?

The winter chill is slowly disrupting my everyday routine. I usually park my car several blocks away from our office building so that I could brisk walk my way to the office. Now, I park it inside the building parking space since I can’t stand the cold winds outside.

I surfed the Web yesterday for possible solutions on how to keep electricity bills down due to extensive heater use. As you may have already noticed, I’m really not used to “refrigerator” temperatures. I think I should’ve been born in a tropical country.

I found a forum where people contributed ideas on how they managed to keep the numbers in their electricity bills down. One guy claimed that he installed an energy-saving gadget. I forgot the name of the equipment. I was really skeptical about his claims and with the gadget that that I didn’t bother to write the details of his post. I think I’m going to regret that. I should’ve conducted a background check on him first to see if most of his claims about himself are true. Maybe he’s really telling the truth. I usually pass off such posts as advertisements. I’ll try to look for that forum again tomorrow.

Counting Gifts

It’s 9 in the morning and everybody’s still snoring. Am I the only here who’s excited in opening up the presents under the tree?

Everybody in the house got more than 10 presents this Christmas. We had a gift drought last year. My sister received only 5, while I got only 4. I received a lot of fruitcakes from my officemates though, but I don’t count them as presents.

My sister (again) has the most number of gifts this year. I’m curiously shaking each box that has her name on it. Who are they from? I have many friends than her, but she always ends up having more presents than me.

If she’s still not up by 10, I’ll do a background check on each of her benefactor to know who they are and where they’re from. She’ll be in for a lot of teasing if I find out that some of her gifts are from her former boyfriends.

Am I being too childish? Maybe I should just go back to bed.

Nanny Claus

I’m sure you all know that Christmas is not just about presents and bright lights. It’s also about elves and reindeers. Just kidding.

Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of the greatest Gift that God has given to us. Of course, this occasion is best celebrated with one’s family. Unfortunately, there are some people who can’t be with their loved ones on this special day due to work-related matters.

I’m sure that it’s hard for parents to leave their children to relatives, or worse, to nannies on Christmas day. If I’ll be forced into such a situation, I’ll definitely leave my child to my parents or to my sister because I’m sure that they’ll take very good care of him or her. If this is not possible though, then I have to make sure that the nanny is a very trustworthy one.

It’s quite difficult to trust people nowadays, and I’m sure you’re very much aware of that. If you’re forced to hire a nanny to look after your child during the holidays, make sure that you thoroughly screen her first by conducting an extensive background check.

Singing to the Tune of $10

I found an interesting letter in my mailbox two days ago. It’s actually a solicitation letter from the basketball team of our parish. The players are asking if I could donate a few dollars for their uniforms next year. In exchange, they will sing 10 Christmas songs in the party that I’ll be hosting on the 23rd.

I know some of the players. I’ll gladly give a few bucks to their cause. However, I’m not sure if I’ll let them sing on my party. Half of the team can’t even get the beat of their pre-game chants right (just kidding, guys).

There’s another group who sent me a similar letter last week. I’m not sure if they’re legit, though. I’m sure many of you have already received letters asking for donations. I’m quite skeptical whenever I’m asked for donations by somebody or some organization that I’m not really familiar with. I guess I have to run a background check on them first before opening my wallet.

Nameless Giver

Seven days to go before Christmas. Although I’m sure that I won’t be receiving any toy next week, I’m still excited as to what’s in store for me under the tree.

A few years ago, I received a gift from a person that I didn’t know. I wasn’t even able to meet the guy who sent me the present. Although he wrote his name on the small note that came with the box, he didn’t provide much detail as to who he is or where he is from.

According to the short letter, the gift was just a token of his family’s gratitude for the recommendation that I’ve made on behalf of his son. I can’t remember any incident or time wherein I was asked by somebody for a recommendation or referral. Could it be that he might have mistaken me for somebody else?

I ran a background check on the person who sent the gift. The results provided me with 23 persons having such name in the city. I didn’t dare to broaden my search to include every person bearing the same name in the state since I’m sure that I’ll be provided with an unmanageable number. If only I had his address or other personal details. That would’ve surely narrowed down the list.

I called 19 of the 23 that appeared on the results page of my background check. None of them knew me. The other four weren’t at their residences at that time.

I’m still wondering as to who could that person be.

Lusting for a New Mobile Phone

Many of the stores in my favorite mall are going on sale. I don’t know if that’s a good strategy. Christmas is just 10 days away and everybody will be in a buying frenzy regardless of the numbers that are printed in the price tag.

Unfortunately, the shop which sells digital cameras and mobile phones realized this and has not put up a “25% off” sign on their window. Somebody at the office bought the new Samsung phone last week which has a TV-out function. I’ve been infatuated with the unit ever since.

Mobile phones weren’t a hitter in my Christmas list 10 years ago. There were many concerns about cloning during that time. My cousin Andy used his phone only once, but got the shock of his life when 12 calls to Minnesota appeared on his phone bill.

Operators have since improved the security features of their networks. My line is already 7 years old and I’ve yet to experience any identity or account theft incident that Andy sustained about a decade ago. My operator has a good track record. I’ve already run a background check on it and I’ve found out that it hasn’t been the subject of any complaint yet regarding cloning.

The Person Behind the Blog

I’m quite surprised at how people easily open up to strangers through their blog pages. Although I post blogs frequently, I usually omit very personal details.

I sometimes love prying into the lives of others by peeking through their blogs. There are those who are very discreet, revealing nothing except their penname. However, there are those who bare it all.

I’m sure that majority of the bloggers know the peril of publishing sensitive information on the Internet. However, many are still including their addresses, birth dates, complete name, and telephone number on their online profile page. Sometimes I wonder if the details that they’re publishing are true or fictitious.

Maybe I might conduct a background check on some of the persons whose blogs I usually visit. Who knows, their real lives and actual personal circumstances might be more interesting than the ones they are purporting to have.

Good Business Practice

I don’t know why many people ask me to be their business partner. Maybe they’re deceived by my well-pressed suit. But it’s not even an Armani.

I’ve turned down every offer since I don’t have the time nor the money yet to put up a business. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I don’t want to be involved in any money-making venture. On the contrary, I’m planning to build a small company of my own, although I still have no idea as to the type of business that I would want to go in.

Putting up a business costs a lot. I’m sure I won’t be able to form one alone. Having a business partner is imperative nowadays.

Many have close family members or friends for business partners. I think I won’t be deviating from such trend or practice. But if they’re unwilling to put up a small company with me, then I’ll have to consider complete strangers for the undertaking. Of course, I’ll have to conduct a thorough background check on them in order to make sure that my money won’t go down the drain.

Kareem's Apprentice

I hope you’re a Laker fan because this article is all about the purple and gold team.

I’ve been a rabid Laker fan since I first saw Magic Johnson threw that no-look pass to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when they were playing against the Celtics during the 1986 NBA Finals. It was always showtime at the Forum during the years when the two basketball icons were still playing together.

It took several years after Kareem’s retirement before the Lakers had another dominant center. I’m sure he needs no introduction. Shaq muscled his way through opponents, netting 20+ points per game and giving the Lakers 3 NBA championships. His stint with the most famous Western Conference club didn’t last long as he opted to go to Miami.

Just when things were starting to crumble again in the middle for the Lakers, a teenager coming straight out of High School joined the club. He was virtually inexistent last season, but he’s already making a name for himself this year.

Andrew Bynum is a young 7-footer who has recently been a consistent contributor to the Lakers’ scoreboard. I don’t know much about him. As I’ve said, he was virtually unknown last year. All I know is that he’s been training under the guidance of Kareem. I haven’t conducted a background check on him yet. I hope I’ll be able to get more information on how he came about to be a basketball player. While he’s steadily earning more minutes from Coach Phil Jackson, Kobe and Lamar Odom are still the favorites of the press when it comes to post game interviews.

7 Habits

I recently bought Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” I’m sure many of you have already read this. I’ve been planning to buy this book since last year, but my heavy workload and procrastination (see the need) have kept me from visiting my favorite bookstore.

I haven’t finished the book yet, but it has already made a small but positive impact on the way I see things. I used to think self-help books make people do impossible things. I even sarcastically say to myself whenever I flip though the pages of these type materials that the authors are probably not content with their lives, so they decided to tinker with those of others’.

I hope that I’ll be able to learn something valuable or worthwhile from this book. I don’t know much about the author. I haven’t conducted a background check on him yet. I hope he’s not one of those who offer quick fixes. The last thing that one needs for his problems is a band-aid solution.

Home At Last

Buying a house can cost a fortune. Many won’t even be able to buy one without the help of the government through subsidies or financing.

It has been the dream of every person to have his own home. However, prohibitive housing costs have pushed people away from turning this into a reality.

Some are really bent on freeing themselves from the slavery of monthly rents, though. While this determination has authored many success stories, it has also written many tragic ones.

Cunning house salespersons usually target families or persons who really want to own a house, but are not exactly sure if they can afford it. Of course, the salesperson would offer them a deal that they wouldn’t be able to resist, such as long installment schemes or huge discounts.

The problem with these types of transactions or sales is that the property is not usually clean. It is possible that the ownership of some of the properties that are offered for sale is still being contested in court.

Be diligent enough to conduct a background check on the person or company that is offering the property. You should also examine property records in order to determine if the house that you’re interested in is free from any lien or encumbrance.

Skinning My Skin

Some friends of mine back in college invited me out last Saturday for a quick bowl. I would’ve gladly accepted their invitation had my allergies chose a better time to appear.

Instead of bowling and laughing my Saturday night out, I just nailed myself at home and popped out some fish crackers. I would’ve preferred nachos, but my doctor advised me not to stick anything in my mouth that doesn’t come from the sea.

I don’t know how I got these allergies. They introduced themselves sometime after my 17th birthday. I asked my parents if I might have inherited these red spots, but they weren't able provide me with anything concrete.

I’ve been planning to conduct a background check on my other relatives and ancestors for the longest time, but again, procrastination got the better of me. My doctor kept asking me every time I go in for a check up if I have relatives who have or had this skin disease. I really have to act fast, or else I’ll be kissing my social life goodbye soon.

The Games of Your Life

The 2008 Olympics is still more than a year away, but Asia is already prepping up for the event as early as this month. While Beijing is busy preparing for the event, Doha, Qatar seems to be ready to host anything this year.

This oasis in the Middle East is the host of the 2006 Asian Games, and the country is wasting no time and opportunity in showcasing the things that it has to offer.

You might be wondering as to why I decided to write about an event that doesn’t even involve our athletes. Well, I guess this is the effect of the constant ad bombardment that Qatar has been throwing on cable TV these past few months. No matter what channel I turn to, there’s always an advertisement about the 2006 Asian Games.

I hope that the Asian Games and the 2008 Olympics will not be marred by any allegations of fraud. I can’t seem to remember any Olympic game in recent history where there wasn’t any controversy involving performance-enhancing drugs. The local Olympic committees should conduct a thorough background check on their athletes in order to ensure a credible and trouble-free event.

Father of the Bride 2

I was saving the DVDs that I borrowed from a neighbor for Saturday evening, but boredom got into me last night. I was kind of stressed out from work, too, so I decided to feed my DVD player with something light and funny.

They say that sequels are usually flops, but I think Father of the Bride 2 lived up to many of the critics’ expectations. The cast include Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Diane Keaton. I really had a good laugh on their crazy antics.

But the movie wasn’t just all fun and laugh. There were also touchy scenes. Steve Martin here was at a dilemma on whether to grow old gracefully, or beat the clock and live his life out as if he’s still in his 20s or 30s. He impulsively sold their house in order to buy a property near a beach since their daughter already has a family of her own.

The move proved to be very unwise, especially since his wife unexpectedly got pregnant. When he went back to his old house to ask the buyer to sell his house back to him, he was surprised to see that his former home was already up for demolition. All ended well as he was able to buy back his home, but for a steeper price.

I wonder if people really do sell something that is very valuable to them. If ever I’m going to sell our house because of dire financial need, I’ll make it a point to conduct a background check on the buyers first in order to console myself that my house would still be a good home, albeit to another family.

Reincarnation

Have you ever wondered what or who you were in your past lives? I’ve read a few novels where the characters were given a second chance to live out their lives again in order to accomplish what they were supposed to do in the past.

There are people who claim to have experienced flashbacks whenever looking at the pictures of their ancestors. They believe that they’re actually the reincarnation of a relative who lived a few centuries before them.

I’m not an expert on the subject, but if I were to be asked to give my 2 cents on the matter, I think that the alleged “recollection” of their past lives came from the setting of books, movies, or stories that date back to the time where that relative of theirs has lived.

As much as I would like to continue creating a new school of thought on the subject, I think that I’d better cut it before somebody surmises that I wasn’t exactly in a state of sobriety when I wrote this.

I’m sure you’re not a reincarnation of your grandfather or grandmother, but I think that it’s still important to know your ancestry. Much of your temperament or disposition is dictated by your genes. Hence, if you really want to know more about yourself, conduct a background check on every member of your family or clan.

Gazing Discreetly

Whenever I read the newspaper, the entertainment section is usually left untouched or unread. I love movies, and I also get star-struck sometimes. However, I just find articles that publicly pry on the lives of stars quite outrageous. I mean, just imagine how anybody would feel if he or she is always being hounded by cameras and microphones.

Many of those who are guilty of usurping the role of the stars’ shadows justify their acts by saying that they mean no harm and that they just want to get to know the actor or actress better.

Such excuses are lame and empty. If they really want to get to know a person, then they should just ask him or her for an interview. If that person gives them the shoulder, then Plan B should only involve a background check that is not intrusive.

I know that people in Hollywood chose to expose themselves to the public. However, one could only show so much. They might have surrendered their voices and faces to the screen, but I’m sure that they didn’t intend their souls to be part of the package.

Thanks For The Help

The season for hams and turkeys is fast approaching, and I still haven’t received any lunch or dinner invitation. There used to be a time when I was an indispensable guest in Thanksgiving gatherings arranged by both friends and relatives.

My aunt used to throw big Thanksgiving parties before she moved to Germany. She usually invites dozens of guests. Although she has two helpers in her employ, the kitchen tasks during the holidays are usually so demanding that three more helpers are taken in for the occasion.

If you plan on taking additional helpers during the holidays, make sure that you first conduct a background check before hiring them. You shouldn’t just trust anybody to roam around your house. The fact that they’ll only be employed for a day is not an excuse. Remember, robbers usually just need 5 to 10 minutes to strip your house of its valuables.

Meet the Parents...

I don’t know what it is about Ben Stiller that makes him a good tickler on the big screen. I’ve always thought that he looks too serious for comedy. He doesn’t make faces and I can’t even recall any movie where he crazily laughed his heart out.

Meet The Parents was on cable TV a few nights ago. It was supposed to be paperwork night for me, but I had a good time watching the film for the first time a few years ago, so I didn’t hesitate to shove work off for a few hours.

Robert de Niro played the father of Ben’s fiancé. De Niro wanted to find out if Stiller is ok, so he conducted a background check on him to see if he’s clean. His methods were quite crude, considering that he resorted to checking his personal belongings. I just thought that it would’ve been easy for the overly protective father if he conducted the backgound check online or through an expert.

Talk about relaxing. I (again) managed to squeeze in work during my leisure time. I really have to stop scrutinizing every detail of the movies that I watch.

Checking Candidates

I used to live in a subdivision where the homeowners association was very active. The officers of the organization usually conduct weekly social gatherings and monthly meetings. I’m usually quite busy even during the weekends, so I often beg off from such activities.

The only time that I’ve participated in a homeowners meeting was when some of my neighbors started to accuse some of the officers of spending association funds for personal needs. The officers vehemently denied the claims but agreed to step down to make way for a snap election.

I suspected that village politics played a role in the accusations since the complainants already had a ready-made line up of their favored candidates. I was just a silent observer, but I was determined to exercise my right to vote. However, I didn’t know much about them since I rarely mingle with them during gatherings.

I didn’t ask some of my neighbors regarding the character and qualifications of the candidates since I know that they’ll be injecting gossip material to the information that they’ll be giving me. What I did though, was to conduct a background check on each of them. I didn’t hire anybody. I just went through some of the databases available online. It really helped a lot... especially in sorting out the gossip from the facts.

Background Checking Your Daughter's Suitor

Teens these days are hard to 'leash'. Gone are the days when parents rule the house with such authority that nobody would even dare raise an eyebrow against them. Time has flown fast, and parents are now the ones who are trying to catch up with them.

It’s only natural for parents to be overprotective of their children, especially their daughters. Dads in particular are very suspicious of their little girl’s suitors. Relationship issues often strain the bond between parent and child. It’s not wise anymore to absolutely prohibit your daughter to go out on a date because doing so might only inspire her to go against you.

Many dads try to be cool by giving in to their daughters’ every demand. This may bring him closer to her, but the move may also have regrettable consequences. There is a way though, for a dad to be assured that the guy she is dating is of good character. Conducting a background check on her suitor or boyfriend is a good move, especially if you don’t know him that well. One can never be too careful nowadays you know...

Do You Know Your Chatmate? (Part 2)

The Internet has already written so many love stories. I’ve heard many tales about couples meeting halfway around the world after having known each other online. Some of them lived happily ever after. However, some also went through horrible experiences that even Stephen King couldn’t think of.

Don’t let those “You’ve Got Mail” tales fool you into believing that the Internet has become a wonderful place to look for love. You won’t always find what you’re looking for in cyberspace.

Some are not just content in just chatting with somebody online. Many IRC and Instant Messenger users are now very open to the prospect of meeting their chatmates in person. While having that meeting or date could dispel any doubts as to the true character of your online friend, it can also spell danger.

Conduct a background check first on your chatmate before deciding to meet up with him or her. I’m not scaring you or anything, but how do you think America’s most wanted persons get to talk with other people? I can’t conclusively say that they do it through the Internet, but I’m quite sure that they don’t do so by attending a social gathering.

Do You Know Your 'Chatmate'?

When I first learned how to access the Internet, I wasn’t that excited on browsing through various Web sites or downloading files. The available bandwidths at that time were so small that surfing could be excruciatingly slow.

The online fad at that time was Internet Relay Chat (IRC) programs. For the first time, people could communicate through the computer in real time even if they were continents apart. Back in the 80s and early 90s, the only way that you could get to know somebody from across the globe was through a pen pal network.

Many people have cultivated strong friendships over the Internet. The conversations in IRCs and Instant Messengers range from the mundane, to very sensitive ones that involve personal details. Be very careful when giving out personal information to somebody that you’ve only known through online chat programs. If you’re really bent on maintaining strong relations with that person, at least conduct a background check on him or her. You know... just to be on the safe side.

Self Help

The fact that there are agencies and private investigators that specialize in background checks doesn’t mean that the task requires exceptional knowledge and skill. They may say that obtaining personal information is an art, but every art and skill can be learned.

Do not be afraid to try the task yourself. Background checks are daunting, but they are not impossible to do. You don’t have to have a gun or be a martial arts expert to do the tasks of a private investigator. If you know how to use a computer, then chances are you already know 50% of the trade.

Private investigators spend most of their time behind their desks searching for information in various databases available online. The Internet has definitely leveled the playing field as far as gathering data is concerned. Tom Selleck could be Magnum P.I. in real life if he has a laptop and Wi-Fi connection. As long as you know where to search and what to look for, you can expect modest rewards for your efforts.

Investigating Your Investigator

The life of a private investigator isn’t that all exciting. Don’t be deceived by the movies that you see. Stake outs are mainly done by the police, while wild car chases are definitely far from the mind of many investigators.

The fact that their investigative methods are not that adventurous doesn’t mean that you won’t get the desired results though. Many private investigators are very careful and meticulous in following the prescribed procedure in background checks. You shouldn’t be bothered by this. In fact, you should insist that everything should be done cleanly, especially when you’re going to use the obtained information as evidence in court.

Conduct your own personal background check on a private investigator before hiring his services. Make sure that he doesn’t have the propensity to turn a blind eye on the law when doing his job. Believe me, the law provides enough elbow room for them to do their jobs comfortably and efficiently.

Behind the Wheel

I bought my first car when I was 22. I only had a few thousand dollars in my savings account so I was only able to buy a second-hand unit. I would’ve wanted to settle with a hand-me-down from my dad, but our old station wagon was already begging to be laid to rest.

The car’s paint job and other external features looked like it was well taken care of. However, the sound of the engine told me otherwise. I should’ve thought twice about the car I eventually bought, but I was really excited to take it home.

My honeymoon period with my second-hand car didn’t last long. I soon took it to the repair-shop and spent hundreds of dollars for parts and services. A car’s exterior can be very deceiving indeed. I thought that the previous owner took very good care judging from outside appearances.

Spare yourselves from what I’ve gone through. It would be good if you conduct a background check on the previous owner of the car that you’re interested in. You’ll know a lot about the car by knowing its previous driver.

Spying on Yourself

Do you sometimes get that feeling that somebody’s following you? Some of my friends do. I’m not sure if their minds are just playing tricks on them, or if they are really being followed.

The thought and fear of being followed by somebody you do not know can be life-altering. It can be costly too as you might be prodded to invest in expensive and sophisticated security alarms and cameras just to make sure that you’re safe in your own home.

The best thing to do if you think that somebody is following or checking on you is to have a background check on yourself. The private investigator will be able to know who accessed your vital records and other personal data. Who knows, the one who’s spying on you might turn out to be somebody that you’ve also been looking for. But then again, maybe you’re just reading too many spy novels...

Haunted House

Have you already prepared your kids’ scary costumes? Halloween is just around the corner. I used to enjoy trick or treats, especially those who waived their right to the latter. The people in our village, especially the old ones, were very generous as my candy bag would be filled to the brim in less than an hour.

While I was allowed to stay out late during Halloween, there was one particular house where I was prohibited to go to. I didn’t know why back then. My mom would give me “the stare” whenever I pester her as to why she doesn’t want me anywhere near it.

Gossip soon caught up with my innocent mind. I found out that our neighbor was a drug addict. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but everybody seems convinced that he is smoking pot.

Kids can be very persistent, bold, and hard-headed. Don’t expect them to follow you when you tell them not to go to a particular house during trick or treat season. If you’re suspicious about a particular person in your neighborhood, conduct a background check on him. Who knows, he might turn out to be scarier than the ghosts that we fear.

Sorting Out Letters...

I get tons of mail every week. Most of them are legit, coming from relatives, friends, and of course, my ever so thoughtful credit card company reminding me to pay up.

There are times though, that I receive mails coming from somebody that I do not know. These letters usually ask for contributions for a project that would benefit the community. I’m not that well off, but I’m willing to shell out a few bucks as long as the project is good.

Many are quite reluctant though and they have good reasons to hesitate. There are solicitation letters that are fraudulent. It’s easy to save yourself from being conned in this manner. All you have to do is ignore it. It is easy, but it’s also detrimental to the community and the needy. What if it is legit?

If you really want to help, you could ask somebody to conduct a background check on the person or association distributing the letters. It may require a little effort from you, but it could be very well worth it especially if the project will also benefit you.

Background Checking the Person You Know the Most

Have you ever considered hiring somebody to conduct a background check on yourself? Don’t laugh, but I did. My friends thought that I was being silly. One even thought that I was narcissistic.

That silly thought turned out to be a stroke of genius for a former officemate of mine. Just about a year ago, Peter sent out resumes to four companies. His credentials were impressive. However, we were both surprised that none of the companies ever called him even for an initial interview.

I chanced upon one of the managers of the company where my friend applied. I asked him why Peter was rejected. He told me that Peter didn’t actually work for one of the companies that he claimed to be employed in for 2 years. I told Peter about it and he was shocked. I floated the idea that maybe he should ask somebody to conduct a background check on himself to see if every information about him is true and complete.

The one who investigated him also got a similar result. Puzzled and furious, he went back to that former company of his and asked why it was denying the fact that he had worked there for 2 years. It turned out that the omission was inadvertent and was just the result of an outdated database.

So, do you still think that a background check on oneself is silly?

Background Checks – More Than Just “Googling”

At this day and age when any information can easily be acquired from the Internet, you might probably dismiss the idea of hiring a professional to run a background check on somebody. This is very understandable. I mean, why spend on something that Google or Yahoo already provides for free?

Search engines are flawed though, as far as personal sleuthing is concerned. The information that they present is only as credible as the one who wrote and published it. Most of the time, the data about a person available on the Internet is provided for by the article’s subject himself.

It is very difficult to get unbiased information or opinion on the Internet. Since the primary purpose of maintaining a Web site or publishing the details contained therein is to promote its contents in a positive way, you can’t reasonably expect to find complete and concrete facts about a person online. Hence, you might want to consider hiring a person or an agency to come up with unadulterated facts OR why not conduct your own background checking?

Come on, you know you want to!

Who are the People in Your Neighborhood... in Your Neighborhood... in... (never mind)

As a child, I was highly educated by that wonderful show called Sesame Street. And one of those songs that seem to have attached itself to my brain permanently is that song when the characters sing about the different people in their neighborhood. Of course, everybody was happy, productive, and kind - the perfect setting for a perfect neighborhood.

Now all grown up and wiser, I know that one's neighborhood is not as happy and kind as we all wish it to be. So do YOU know the people in your neighborhood? Who are they? What work do they do? Is anybody a convicted felon?

I say, why don't find out? A background search is easy to do and costs almost nothing compared to the peace of mind you will get.

Background Searches – What Information Do You Get?

Contrary to common belief, there's A LOT of information you can get from a background search. Apart from important data such as if the person has a criminal record (e.g., sex offenses, felonies, etc.), you can also learn if the person you are checking up on has been known to have any alias names, bankruptcy filings, tax liens, and arrests.

As regards non-criminal information, you can also find out if the person has ever been divorced, where he/she has been residing the past 20 years, his/her known or listed phone numbers, any work licenses he has obtained, even a list of relatives and their contact information can be provided!

Mind you, not all background check providers provide such detailed information so do shop around for the provider with the most extensive database to be sure you get your money's worth.

Want to find a list of the top providers in the field? Click here for a highly-informative review of the industry’s best online background check providers.

Background Checking a Potential Business Partner

Statistics show that more and more people want to work for themselves and establish their own business. And for most of these people, one of the things stopping them from pursuing this dream is 'lack of funds'. And now... in comes the 'business partner'.

Sometimes, we get so carried away by the prospect of finally fulfilling our dream of establishing a business that we forget to be THOROUGH. Not all business partners are what they seem to be. And no, it does NOT matter whether you 'know' this person for a long time already or not. There are countless stories out there speaking of how their 'business partner' had duped them out of their life savings.

Granted, there is no 100%, sure-fire way of looking into the real character and intentions of someone but there are tools that can give you a glimpse into them. Consider running a background check on your potential business partner. He/she should not be offended at all if you do this. After all, it's not personal, just business...

The Employer's Point of View

We all accept the fact that companies who hire run background checks almost on autopilot for appplicants. It's not really hard to understand why right?

The things is, people are now so adept at making their resumes 'shine' that reality is often blurred. I read an interview given by a top hiring consultant to Fortune 500 companies and he said that one resume claimed that the person had '5 years experience as a marketing consultant'. The guy turned out to be a second-hand car salesman. So was the claim totally wrong? Not really but it did distort the truth didn't it?

It does not matter if you are a Fortune 500 firm looking for top candidates or a home-based business owner looking for a reliable accountant to do your records every other week, the goal is the same - you want the best person for the job. And today, conducting background checks is one tool to ensure just that.

Background Checks - Nanny Screening

We all work hard so that we can have a bright future. More so if we have kids. As such, it is sometimes perplexing to note that most people will easily hire a nanny without much thought. In fact, many parents will grab the first nanny they can get their hands on just so they don't have to be confronted with the problems of not having a nanny (e.g., missing work, etc.)

But what about the problems of hiring a nanny blindly? Sadly, there are a lot of bad people out there who would just love to get inside your home to steal and plunder. Worse, you might be allowing people with criminal records (e.g., pedophiles, kidnappers, etc.) to have direct access to your kids!

At the very least, you owe it to yourself and your kids to conduct a background check on anyone you are considering to hire as a nanny even if it is just to ensure that he/she has indeed the credentials or qualifications of becoming one.

Background Checking your Spouse

Further to my previous blog, I mentioned that conducting a background check is really the responsible thing to do especially if you are placing someone in a position of trust. But what if you are tempted to check on someone who is already close to you?

Sadly, many husbands / wives / partners become victims of cheating spouses and a background check (into their past) may help you reveal if your spouse has a history of infidelity or at least have characteristics that point to a propensity for lying.

So do you really want to be the last to know? Or would you want to find out now if your spouse is cheating on you?

Background Checks - You THINK You Know Someone...

For a lot of people, conducting Background Checks is not really an option but a MUST.

Consider the company who intends to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to train someone in a financial management position only to find out later that said person has a record for embezzlement.
Consider the new neighbor who is the picture of perfect kindness only to see his/her face on America's Most Wanted.
Consider the nanny you are thinking of hiring for your child only to regret that decision, later...

A Background Check is not an invasion of privacy. It is your right to know about someone if you are putting that person in a position of trust. Furthermore, you have NOTHING to lose but all to gain so think about it.

Background Check Anyone?

Lies... lies... lies! It seems that it's becoming harder and harder to take what someone is saying at face value. It's sad really. One would expect that if he/she heard something negative about someone he/she knows, that person would say "No way! He/She is not like that!" Instead, you hear "Shows you really don't know someone..."

So what about people you just met?!?

I know. I've been in contact with tons of people who are not what they appear to be. It's ok if we are just talking about small white lies here... but no, I have experienced coming into contact with seemingly nice people who I discover later on to be downright crooks!

Anyway, thank goodness for background checks… more later...