Online Investigation Services

New Friends Online? Check Them Out Before Getting Too Close

2008-12-09T19:29:00.003-06:00

The Internet has become one of the latest places to meet people. Whether you are looking for a casual friend or a romantic interlude, it can all be found on the worldwide web. Places like Facebook and Myspace give you a forum to express yourself to others, and the number of matchmaker sites these days is overwhelming.

If you have ever spent any time meeting and greeting on the web, you know that most people are not exactly what they make themselves out to be. Some of them have gone so far as to create an entire alternate identity.

Despite the dangers, the rewards of meeting online can be great. You have the opportunity to get to know others from all over the world. You make new and interesting friends from places you may never have visited. It provides an excellent opportunity for us to share our cultures and open our minds to new possibilities.

Who is really behind that screen name?

When you make new friends online, how do you know if they are trustworthy? Can you really afford to get close to them, or are Internet friendships best kept very casual?

As with any new relationship, go slowly and proceed with caution. Keep the topics of conversation neutral and safe never discuss anything personal with someone you do not know. Be instantly suspicious if your new friend begins questioning you about your finances.

If you have been conversing with someone for a while and feel a connection, you may decide you want to take the friendship a step further. You may begin to share more personal details of your life, or you may begin making plans to meet each other in person.

Take smart measures to protect yourself

Before taking this step towards increased intimacy, be sure to reasonably protect yourself. First of all, try to validate your new friends identity and ensure they really are who they say they are. Search records from the Department of Motor Vehicles in your friends area and see if you can locate a license or identification card that matches the name, date of birth, physical description, and address of your new friend. If you cannot find a matching motor vehicle record, try voter registration records.

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to conduct an online background check of your friend. Any court documents from judgments, divorces, or lawsuits should contain some sort of identifying information you can verify. Criminal history checks will normally provide you with a date of birth and physical description, including any major scars or tattoos.

There are also specialized background check companies, such as Net Detective, who for a small fee, give you the ability to search all of the above records and more. You must do a little sleuth work of your own, though, and find out some important key identifiers from your new friend so you will know when you have found him or her.

Meeting on the Internet can be exciting. You must just ensure you go about it prudently, and protect yourself until you have solid facts reinforcing your ability to put your trust into your new friend.

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Who do You Trust? Should You?

2008-12-09T19:25:00.002-06:00

We all have someone in our lives with whom we feel we can share all of our thoughts and secrets. Usually it is a member of our family, or a schoolmate whose friendship has endured through the decades. These people have usually seen us at our best and at our worst, and they have been right there by our sides to see us through it all. Such friends and family share in the triumphs and suffer through the sorrows. There are no ulterior motives.

Many of us also have friends we have known for quite some time, who are always open and friendly, but never really help carry the burden when the going gets tough. Or we have family members who suddenly pop into our lives from seemingly nowhere.

How many of these people do you trust? Would you trust them with your life? Can you trust them with a secret? Or do you trust no one?

Be careful who you trust your welfare may depend upon it

When it comes to matters of great importance, we must be very cautious with our secrets. How many times have you heard stories of the trusted caregiver stealing his or her elderly charge blind? Suddenly a helpless senior citizen with no family to speak of is left destitute, their life's savings stolen from them by the very person who was supposed to care for them.

Or, how many times have you seen one person suddenly befriend another, only because they wanted something they couldn't otherwise attain? Remember Selena, the singer? Her trusted manager and friend not only stole from her, but she eventually killed her.

How do you know who you can trust, or if you even should? In cases of close family, you most likely already know who has stood by you through it all and who has not. However, when it comes to other people, use caution and trust your judgment.

Research their intentions and past, easily and legally

If you feel someone has befriended you because they want something from you, play detective and try to find out what that persons wants and needs are. Learning what they lack in their life may very well hold the key to what they are looking for from you giving you the knowledge to protect yourself and your assets.

If you suspect your new-found friend is in financial trouble, try looking into court records to see if any bankruptcies have been filed, or any judgments have been made against that person. Look for property foreclosures, IRS or other tax liens, or court-ordered wage garnishments. Try to determine if your friend has a gambling problem.

On the other hand, you may suspect your new friend is a thief, or running from someone. A personal background check should reveal secrets about your friends life, including any criminal misconduct.

Most of this investigation can be done via the Internet by searching public records. However, you may have to dig into many different databases to get the answers you want. If you are looking for an easy, quick way to search an individuals true history, an online background check service, such as Net Detective, is an affordable way to search all available databases from one location.

Looking into someones past may not seem necessary, but it will be well worth it if it saves you the headache of a stolen identity or an empty bank account. It will also be worth it if you are able to forge one of those rare, lifelong friendships.

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Search Police Records

2008-12-09T19:20:00.003-06:00

Have you ever wondered if someone was a criminal, arrested for violating the law? Generally, police reports are a matter of public record and can contain a wealth of information. A public record is simply information maintained by a government agency that can be linked to a specific person. You can complete a thorough background check of someone just by researching these records.

What type of information is in a police record?

Examples of police reports may include but are not limited to: domestic disputes, traffic accidents, thefts, fraud, assaults, burglaries, and stalking incidents. Other information that may be available includes crime surveys, crime statistics, calls for service, and traffic accident surveys.

Information that can be obtained from police reports includes identifying information of all involved parties and witnesses, such as full name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number, driver's license number, and any other identifying information. The report can also contain motor vehicle information, as well as specific details of the incident being documented, including any evidence recovered.

Where can I find a police record?

Access to these records varies greatly from one jurisdiction to another. In some areas, the information may be freely available, while in other areas the information may only be accessible to the parties involved in the incident or their agent (such as a lawyer). It is also possible that the record of a specific incident is readily available, but the identifying information of involved parties has been removed.

All requests for copies of police reports are made through the records division of the reporting agency. Some have online services, and you can receive the information directly over the Internet or through your personal e-mail. Other agencies require you to appear in person to request the information. They will normally charge a nominal processing fee to provide you with a copy of the report. The originating agency may also require a form of written disclaimer stating the information contained in the report will not be used for solicitation purposes.

If you wish to request a copy of a police report, you will normally be required to provide the first and last name of at least one of the involved parties, the location, date, and time of the incident, and in some cases, the incident or case number.

Some jurisdictions have regionalized their crime information into a joint database. Such information systems allow citizens to research crime statistics, view crime maps, see who is currently in jail, search for arrest warrants, and retrieve information about sex offenders living or working in a given area. Much of this information is readily available via the Internet.

Whatever your reasons for requesting police records, begin by researching the requirements of the police agency responsible for the jurisdiction in which the incident occurred, then follow their exact protocol for requesting and receiving those records.

Finding police records across multiple jurisdictions

Conducting your investigation can become complicated if you need to do a background search on someone who has lived in multiple jurisdictions. To simplify things, an internet-based specialized investigation company, such as Net Detective, can provide a comprehensive, multi-state search in one easy step. This allows you to search multiple records from all over the country quickly and easily, without the hassle of tracking down individual records from various government entities.

Whether you want to find out what someones criminal past contains, or you are trying to locate someone who was involved in an accident with you, a background check using police records will likely give you the results you seek.

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Do You Know Who Your Children Are Talking To?

2008-12-09T19:17:00.001-06:00

As a parent, you have to be concerned with every person who has contact with your child. From friends at school to their parents, as well as teachers and strangers met on the street, each individual has the ability to profoundly affect your child. Paying attention to your child's interactions becomes even more important with the realization we live in a society full of predators.

The dangers that lurk around your children

It is fairly easy to keep tabs on your childrens communications when they are young, and when they interact with people who live and work in your own community. As long as you keep your eyes and ears open and pay attention, you will generally know who they are talking to and what they are talking about. If at any time you become uneasy about someone your child is talking to, trust your gut instinct and find out why. If necessary, stop your child's contact with that person.

The existence of the Internet complicates matters. Online video games and chat rooms draw our children into the world wide web, sometimes entangling them in dangerously formed liaisons. Many of the people your children meet online use screen names and live out of state, making it difficult to identify them.

Teenagers are especially vulnerable, since they tend to be far more social online than younger kids. They frequent websites designed for social interaction, and much of their computer time is spent privately, without the supervision of an adult. Most often, parents are completely unaware of their teenager's online activities, In fact, many of today's teenage runaways are girls who are lured away from their homes to meet with someone they have met on the Internet â€“ usually an older male looking for an illegal tryst.

Keeping your children safe from the perils of the internet

Luckily there are measures you can take to protect your children. If you have young ones who love to play any of the myriad of online video games especially the ones that allow interaction between players do some research on the sites, and choose ones that have 24 hour monitoring. Every day, new game sites are emerging that have full-time monitors, and they will ban players who ask any personal information from other players. It is not a foolproof system, but it is far safer for kids than the unregulated sites.

Parental controls are available on most computers, allowing you to block your child's access to certain types of websites. There are also several software programs that will allow you to monitor your child's Internet activities, including being able to see every website visited. It may feel like you are spying on your child or betraying their right to privacy, but it is far better to pry than to have your child fall victim to an online predator. If you have ever watched Dateline, you know these predators are out there in abundance.

Find out who your children are talking to when they are online. Some websites may not allow the exchange of actual names, but then some might. If you can get a name and a location from those your child is chatting with, a people search can reveal important information about them.

Research the people who surround your children

Whenever your child has ongoing interaction with someone, especially a nanny, day care provider, or teacher, it is important to know as much as you can about that person. After all, they will be responsible for the care of your child, and they will be spending a great deal of unsupervised time with your child.

An easy way to keep your children safe is to conduct a background check of the person in question. Just by using a name and date of birth, you can discover significant information regarding the persons past history. Criminal arrests, judgments, and restraining orders are just a few of the important things a background check will reveal. You will be able to find out quickly if your child's caregiver has ever had any kind of inappropriate contact with children, or has ever been abusive towards them.

Much of this information is available through public records, or you can use an online investigation service such as Net Detective, where all of the records you want to search are consolidated into one database. These investigative services are typically available for a low fee, and they are significantly more thorough than research you would conduct yourself in public records. Completing a background check on your child's caregiver or online friends is quick and easy, giving you peace of mind and your child safety.

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How Well do You Know the Parents of Your Children's Friends?

2008-12-09T19:12:00.002-06:00

Children tend to run in packs, no matter what age. As they progress through elementary school, then on through middle school and high school, the clique mentality seems to remain intact.

They usually have a favorite hangout, where they spend most of their free time. Many times it is the home of one of the friends in the group someone who either has lenient parents or a full fridge.

It is common to get to know each individual in your child's social circle. As parents, we want to know how they behave, if they have manners - and make a determination as to whether the child will be a good influence or a bad influence on our own child. We may be very familiar with half a dozen children, know their likes and dislikes, and be well-versed in the trials and tribulations of their young lives.

The children are safe influences, but what about their parents?

How much time is spent getting to know the parents of each of these children, though? There may be parents here and there who naturally hit it off and forge a bond of their own. These lucky parents have the opportunity to share their child's companionship and an adult friendship all at the same time. However, more often than not, our own lives are too busy to pay much attention to other adults.

Do you know what each of your child's friends parents does for a living? How many are working moms, and how many stay home? What social circles do they belong to? What do they do in their free time? Is there one mom in the group baking cookies for the kids, while another is lost in a cloud of smoke and a bottle of tequila? Would the other parents share liquor and cigarettes with your child, or would they discourage trying such things altogether? Are the parents married? How does the father behave towards the children?

Keep your children safe by arming yourself with knowledge

Looking into the backgrounds of your children's friends parents can be quite eye-opening. You may find just from searching through basic records who is behind on child support payments, who was busted for possessing drugs or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, or whose home is being foreclosed. Search the neighborhood for any sexual predators residing in the area. You may rethink your child's walk home from school.

Having this basic information helps you make educated decisions about where to allow your child to spend his or her spare time. It will help you determine whether you are comfortable with everyone hanging out at Chuck's house, or if you would prefer they not spend time at John's house unless his mother is home.

If you find that one of the PTA moms has multiple drunk driving arrests, you may not want her to drive on the next field trip.

Simple background checks can reveal important details about peoples lives, and these minor details could translate into a major impact on your child life. For a simple, yet thorough, way to check your child's schoolmates, try a specialized investigation service such as Net Detective. It is an inexpensive online database that makes it easy for you to perform a background check on anyone and keeps your children safe.

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Know Information about Your Child's Caretaker's Past

2008-12-09T19:08:00.001-06:00

As parents, we try to provide the very best for our children. For most of us, that means holding down a full-time job in addition to our various parental duties. We normally need to enlist the services of a nanny, a babysitter, or some other type of childcare professional. Very few of us are lucky enough to have a close friend or family member to entrust with childcare.

We head off to work, leaving our little ones with someone who is not a part of the family, and we wonder if they are capable of having our children's very best interests at heart. Often, this caretaker will spend more hours out of the waking day with our children than we will.

For this reason, we must be positive the caretaker will put our children's wants, needs, and overall welfare first. We must ensure this person will not only be devoted to our child, but will also look out for our child's safety. We must know the caretaker or babysitter is not only mentally capable of making the right decisions, but also has the necessary moral values as well.
Is your child in good hands?

The question we must ask ourselves is - how do we know who is really taking care of our child? How do we know what kind of past history they have? When we hired this person, were there references for us to call, and did we call them? It's amazing to find out how many people do not bother to check their care providers references.

When we take such painstaking precautions to provide for the health and safety of our children, why do we not take more care looking into those who help us care for them?

Easily find peace of mind through online background checks

A simple background check can be done that will tell you everything you need to know about your childs caretaker. Online searches will reveal whether your babysitter has a criminal record, including registered sex offenders who have had inappropriate contact with children. You will learn if there are any restraining orders against your day care provider, or any criminal investigations involving them.

If your tot attends a structured childcare center, you can research the business and find out if any negative claims have been made against it.

You can take the time to access each one of these databases yourself, or you can utilize an online business specializing in background checks, such as Net Detective. Using a business designed for the sole purpose of background searches may cost a small fee, but the time and money you save not having to run all over town finding the records yourself will be well worth it.

Once you have been able to examine your childcare's records, you will be able to relax. You will have the information you need to put your faith and trust into your babysitter or nanny. Or you will know if you need to find someone new.

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How much do you really know about your lover?

2008-12-09T19:05:00.001-06:00

How much do you really know about your lover?No matter how well you might think you know someone, all of us have a past. Everyone has secrets they hold near and dear to their hearts, without revealing them even to the most important people in our lives.

What secrets does your lover hold?

When it comes to your lover, you hope those secrets are innocuous secret crushes, a wild weekend in Vegas, or little white lies that harm no one. But what if they are big secrets?
Perhaps your lover has been married before. Maybe he or she spent time in jail. There may be serious financial difficulties tax evasion, bankruptcies, or a string of lost jobs.
Your lover could be hiding secrets that could have a profound effect on your life together. Unveiling those secrets at a later date could erode any trust you have in each other, and cause the relationship to crumble.

Break open the box of hidden pasts through the internet

Wouldn't it be better to find out sooner rather than later, if there are any questions about your lovers past?

A simple background check will give you the answers you need, giving you the knowledge to continue in your relationship with confidence. Knowing if there are any obstacles up front will give you the ability to decide if you want to try to fix them, or if they are so serious in nature that you need to move on from a shady lover.

There are several ways to go about discovering your lovers past. You can search public records for tax information, lawsuit decisions, liens, divorces, even criminal histories. You can find out whether your lover owns any significant amounts of property, or has ever had property repossessed or foreclosed upon. Find out if the IRS is going to come knocking at your door looking for taxes owed to them. Or if there is an ex-spouse who will show up unexpectedly seeking alimony or child support.

Quickly, simply, and easily find out about your lovers past

An easier way to discreetly play detective and find out the information you need is to conduct an online background check of your lover. Specialized online services, such as Net Detective, have large databases, allowing you to find all of the above information in one convenient location. A simple search from your own computer will allow you to access public records from all over the country, providing you with the facts you need to put your mind at ease.

Many of these databases can also cross-check any aliases, so you will get the information you need even if your lover is not being honest about his or her true identity.

If you do learn your lover has been involved in less-than-desirable behavior, you will have the tools you need to decide how you wish to handle the situation.

No matter how well you think you know your lover, you will be amazed at the useful information a thorough online background check will give you.

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Was He or She Married Before?

2008-12-09T18:59:00.002-06:00

In this day and age, you can never be too certain you really know anyone even those who are closest to you. Once upon a time, it was common to forge relationships early in life, and maintain those relationships for many, many years. You knew a persons history, as well as all their family and friends. However, times have certainly changed.

People are now more nomadic in nature, pulling up roots to follow work. Modern society no longer offers the safety and familiarity of close community ties.

Technology has created a global community, allowing us to meet people from all walks of life, all over the world. We find ourselves forging relationships with people whose faces we have never seen, whose family and friends we have never met.

This lack of personal history with those we are close to provides the opportunity for deceit. No longer are we certain of a loved ones past.

What secrets are in your significant others past?

When you become romantically involved with someone, it becomes even more crucial to understand that persons history. Not only could the success of the relationship depend upon it, but you might be in for some shocking surprises. Imagine suddenly meeting someone and learning they had once been married to your boyfriend or girlfriend. Imagine an ex-spouse sending court documents to your house demanding alimony or child support.

Without understanding a persons past, your own safety could even be at risk. Somehow, his or her deepest, darkest secrets must be brought to light.

Why your lover lies about the past

Reasons for being less than open about former relationships can vary from innocent to sinister. Perhaps your loved one is uncomfortable talking about someone who shared his or her life before you, or maybe they went through an emotional breakup and are still healing old wounds. Or perhaps they are afraid you will think them a failure for not being able to save the relationship.

Darker reasons for hiding a past relationship especially a marriage can include abuse, drug or alcohol addiction, criminal acts they committed, or infidelity.

Unveiling the truth about his or her past legally and easily

If you have not been given solid answers about your loved ones past, you may find yourself trying to unveil the skeletons in the closet. Luckily, most of the information you need to conduct your own background check is a matter of public record and easy to access.

Before you begin, you need to be somewhat of a sleuth. You need to know where your significant other was raised, went to college, worked, and lived. With any luck, your search will only need to encompass one or two cities or towns.

If you want to find out whether your loved one has been married before, the County Recorders office maintains a record of all marriage certificates issued in that county. A search of the Sheriffs website or of the local courthouse will reveal divorce records, restraining orders that may have been issued, and any existing warrants of arrest.

Laws vary from state to state on just how much of a record can be publicized, and in what manner the records may be accessed. Enlisting the assistance of an online agency that conducts background checks will streamline your search. Companies such as Net Detective offer the ability to search multiple databases at one time, allowing you to quickly restore your peace of mind.

With agencies such as Net Detective, you have access to millions of pieces of information, from every state in the country, without ever having to leave your own home. You can access the records you need quickly, efficiently, and very discreetly.

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Find Out About Your Partner without Snooping Through Their Things

2008-12-09T18:55:00.002-06:00

No matter how solid our relationships are, every one of us has had a moment in time where we doubt the honesty of our partner. Usually such a feeling of distrust is brought about by a sudden change in behavior.

Perhaps your loved one has suddenly lost weight, made new friends, or is staying out late after work. Maybe he or she seems to be taking more phone calls in private than usual, or just seems to be daydreaming more. Most of the time these are innocent changes that occur as part of the growing process, but they are certain to breed insecurity with the one left waiting at home.

How can you find the answers without getting caught?

As soon as questions arise about our partners, we want answers quickly. We need to put the fears to rest, or immediately confirm them so we can deal with the problem.

One of the oldest forms of spying on a partner has been the act of snooping through their belongings. From going through receipts and credit card bills to checking telephone records and hacking into their e-mail accounts, a suspicious lover will do almost anything to get to the bottom of things.

However, these actions can be dangerous. If you are snooping through your partners belongings, you are most likely suspicious that he or she is being dishonest, but you are not yet ready for a confrontation over it. So what happens if you get caught?

At times, snooping is not discreet, and it opens the window to possible discovery. Snooping also may not provide the proof that is so desperately sought.

Discover the truth without risking your cover

There is a better, faster, more discreet way to find out what your partner has been doing outside of your home. A legal, discrete computer background check can tell you a great deal - without the risk of getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar.

Knowing where to start can be tricky, though. You would have to determine which records you wanted to search, and then try to figure out where to go to access those records.

Or you could simply use an online background check service, such as Net Detective. For a small fee, these companies will allow you to access their substantial national databases. You can quickly and privately find out all the information you need in just one place.

Not only will this save you hours of picking through the mail, the trash, and the laundry, but the efficiency of it will save you plenty of nail-biting as well. You will have a whole host of information available at your fingertips, which can even include insight into your partners previous relationships. Regardless of what kind of information you seek, you will be able to put your fears to rest almost immediately with an online investigation service.

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Find Out Information on a Business Before You Sign on the Dotted Line

2008-12-09T18:50:00.002-06:00

Nearly everyone has heard the horror stories a business takes your money and runs for the hills without ever providing the expectations set forth in the original agreement.

How many times have you heard about someone who was having their home remodeled, only to have the contractor disappear with the money and a half-finished house? Or perhaps the job was finished, but the work so shoddy that someone else had to be hired to fix it. Maybe you wanted to open a retirement account and sought out a company that would help you invest your money, providing you with a healthy retirement down the road. Later on, you found out the firm had gone bankrupt, and the proprietor had absconded with your nest egg.

Buying an existing business can pose potential problems and opportunities for fraud as well. The seller may show you a profit-and-loss statement, but how do you know they have not doctored the books to make the business appear more profitable than it really is? How do you find out if it will earn enough to support your family?

Arm yourself with the power of knowledge!

Your ability to make sound financial and business decisions relies solely on the quality and accuracy of information you obtain. You may find something that looks great on the surface, but what happens when you dig deeper? Are you just as enthusiastic as when you first started out, or have you been provided with information that now makes you skeptical?

The success of your financial future depends largely upon making informed decisions, especially when you are parting with large sums of your money. In order to ensure you have the best information available, you need become proactive and take matters into your own hands.

Invest in online resources to protect your financial health!

There are many ways to investigate a business to uncover its business practices and level of profitability. The Internet offers access to an array of various public records to help you achieve that goal.

Instead of spending countless hours searching through millions of websites trying to find information that is pertinent to you, invest in a records check or background check service such as Net Detective. You will be able to search specific businesses or people to find out precisely the information you need, without wasting your time sorting through useless data.

Whether you want to investigate the past practices of your investment counselor, find out if he has ever been investigated for fraud, or ensure that a business you are planning to purchase lives up to its claims, an online background search can provide you with the tools you need to make an informed decision.

These services work by providing you easy access via your home computer to millions of public records. Rather than trying to track each of these records manually such as tax returns or criminal histories save yourself time and hassle by completing your search through powerful investigative databases, such as Net Detective.

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Find Information about People Fast and Discreetly

2008-12-09T18:44:00.003-06:00

Human nature lends itself towards curiosity, and most of us would love to know where our old friends are. With the advent of the internet, you can now enjoy the fun of finding out what your old friends have been doing.

Or imagine standing at a crossroads in your life, as you prepare to exchange lifetime vows with your fiance. Hopefully you have already learned the secrets your significant other carries. However, what would it be like to get married - only to find out later that your spouse had hidden his devastating financial history? How shocking would it be to learn your spouse has children from a previous marriage that you knew nothing about?

Answer your questions with discrete, legal investigations

No one likes to snoop around in the lives of our loved ones, especially because we run the risk of getting caught.

However, there is a way to find out answers regarding other peoples pasts without risking discovery. For example, Net Detective is an online database that allows you to discreetly search publicly available records uncovering the secrets of your friends and family.

Friends, families, or foes all the information you need is online

Having important financial or legal information in your hands may very well allow you to make a good decision, or prevent you from making a bad decision in both your personal and professional lives.

The importance of this information can be handed down to your children as well, since you will be able to stay better informed about your childs playmates, their families, and the neighborhood as a whole.

Search your own family history. Learn why your mother no longer talks to her sister, or track down long lost relatives. Find out who has had babies, who has died, who has gotten married or divorced.

Look up an old friend from high school, even if she has an unlisted phone number. Track down your old buddies from the military. Find that mysterious friend you made, but unfortunately lost track of while on sabbatical in Florida.

All of these searches can be done easily, from the privacy of your own home and without anyone else's knowledge. The best part is that it is completely legal.

If you have ever wanted to learn more about your family tree, track down your high school sweetheart, or find out if any of your old friends ever ended up in jail, Net Detective will give you the tools you need to find the answers for yourself. How you choose to proceed from there is entirely up to you. You may find yourself reunited with your college flame, or locate a long lost uncle. The possibilities are endless.

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Find Out Hidden Secrets about Your Partner's Past

2008-12-09T18:40:00.002-06:00

It sounds like a storyline of a bad movie you meet your partner and fall in love, preparing to live happily ever after. Perhaps you even manage to live out your fairy tale life for an extended period of time. Maybe you get married and have children, or take off together to explore the world.
The hidden secrets your lover hearts holds. Suddenly one day, your whole world comes crashing down around you. Perhaps you learn your partner was involved in some shady business dealings and now has the law after him. Maybe he or she was married before, and you find yourself confronted by a jilted spouse. Or perhaps your lover owes a tremendous amount of money to his debtors.

Every day, people learn life-altering facts about their spouses. Secrets that have been hidden for years come roaring back with a hearty vengeance. In a matter of a moment, everything you believed to be true has changed. How do you handle such situations? Better yet, how do you prevent them from happening to you in the first place?

You can always try a search of your partners name on the Internet, but will it really give you the information you need? Protecting yourself and your heart with a privy investigation
A simple background check can be done through the use of public records. These checks reveal important information about someones past. You can easily find out if your lover has ever been married or owes child support, has ever been arrested, or was sued in court.

By playing sleuth on your own, you can find out important information that will ward off any future surprises in your relationship. The most effective way to do this is to enlist the power of the Internet.

The biggest obstacle you will run into during your online investigation is determining where to begin looking to find the information you want. Rather than spending hours searching thousands of websites or databases, simplify things by utilizing one of the online services for personal background checks, such as Net Detective.

With a specialized product such as Net Detective, you can access millions of records from all over the country. Even if your partner fled another state to escape his or her problems, you will be able to easily and quickly uncover those secrets.

Save yourself from becoming entangled in a situation that could prove to be costly, heartbreaking, or downright dangerous by unearthing your partners secrets now. After all, knowledge is power, and knowing your partners past gives you the power to plan for your own future.

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Check Out Your New Friends

2008-12-09T18:36:00.002-06:00

When people first meet each other, it is natural to put up a "facade" or barrier that idealizes who the person truly is. There are many motivations for this type of behavior, ranging from trying to impress a potential lover to trying to hide a checkered past.

There are those who enjoy running in social circles outside their own, trying to look and act the part to gain acceptance. Many will pretend to be someone they are not, or will make others believe they possess more riches than they really do. Others possess such riches, but are secretly on the verge of losing everything.

A few are even on the run from an ex-wife, from the law, or from debt collectors.

Knowledge about your new friends is power

Whenever you become involved with someone new, you should know everything you can about your new friend. If something in his or her past will place you in harms way, you need to protect yourself. If your new friend is a thief, you need to know that as well.

There are many ways to discover the real story behind your friends mask. Talking to mutual friends may help some, or you can run your friends name through the Internet and hope you get a hit. You can try to search the mounds of public records available for your viewing.

Or you can find one resource that will do it all for you.

For example, Net Detective can help you find out who your friends really are - and what they have been doing through an enormous database that contains millions of records. Find out where your friends were born, who they were married to, where they have lived, and if they spent any time in jail.

Conveniently verify the truth behind their stories

You can find a great wealth of personal, relevant information through publicly accessible records but physically conducting this research is difficult and time-consuming.

However, services such as Net Detective make your research easy by providing access to their enormous database. With information on over 90% of the residents in the United States, you can delve into the private lives of your new friends. Find out who has something worth hiding, and who is just acting or overreacting.

Find addresses, listed and unlisted phone numbers, and even e-mail addresses. Some of the information you can find in Net Detectives database cannot be found anywhere else, giving you an exclusive edge when piecing together a profile on one of your new friends.

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Net Detective : Get The Scoop On Anyone

Become an Online Investigator

2008-12-09T18:31:00.003-06:00

How many times have you watched your neighbor across the street through closed drapes or blinds? Something about him seems suspicious, and your instincts are on the alert regarding this shady neighbor. You see strange people coming and going at all hours of the night, and his house has been broken into three times in the last month. You find yourself wondering why.

Your best friend calls you, distraught, and tells you she thinks her husband is having an affair. She desperately wants to know the truth, but is afraid of a confrontation with him. Another friend was involved in a traffic accident, and the other driver fled the scene. She has his license plate number, but is incredibly frustrated because the police do not seem interested in her case.

If you have ever found yourself in one of these situations, and had an overwhelming urge to find out the answers, you may make a terrific online investigator.

Discover the truth through legal investigations online

Imagine being able to search local police records for your neighbors address, only to find he has been arrested four times for narcotics violations. Or, you can search the motor vehicles database and local police reports to locate the name and address of your friends hit-and-run driver. You can also find out where your friends husband has been going after work, and now you must decide whether or not to tell her the truth.

Having the ability to investigate these relatively simple situations online is easy. Many reputable databases can provide you with unlimited access to millions of public records from all across the country. You have nationwide access to documents that might otherwise never be seen.

Search court documents to find out if your next door neighbor is really a deadbeat parent, or perhaps a convicted child molester. Or search pending foreclosures to get that once-in-a-lifetime deal on a bigger home.

All of this can be done by searching public records¦legally.

Conveniently protect your family and friends with the power of knowledge

You could go to the courthouse or to the recorders office, and search all of these records by hand. Or you could use an affordable online service, such as Net Detective, that will immediately transform you from a neighborhood busy body to seasoned investigator. You can have the inside scoop, allowing you to protect yourself, your family, and your friends.

You can have "insider" information on your neighbors private lives, or you can check out a new neighbor to make sure they are not a threat to your children. You can find out about your friends and lovers past histories, and learn how to prevent others from finding out your secrets. Run your own credit check to protect yourself against theft or fraud, especially in this day and age of forgery and identity theft.

Whatever your motivations are, you can become your neighborhoods online sleuth. Within a matter of minutes, you can discover the truth behind your investigations protecting you and your loved ones with insider knowledge.

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Net Detective : Get The Scoop On Anyone

Access Your State's Criminal Records

2008-12-09T18:10:00.010-06:00

ACCESS YOUR STATES CRIMINAL RECORDS

Once upon a time, gaining access to state records was challenging. The historically primitive research methods took you through a grueling process through bureaucratic red tape. Requesters were required to contact state officials in advance. From there, a custodian would be appointed to handle the request. While calling ahead was always more time efficient, the overall process was normally a lengthy one.

With paperwork, a registered citizen had to request to simply view records or obtain a copy. When approved, you would receive a huge stack of documents, including all the driving and criminal records you did not need. From there, state custodians would have to help you determine which agency held the piecemeal records.

Thankfully, accessing state records these days is a much easier task. States have made their procedures more streamlined, largely due to the increased demand of background checks; most employers require employee checks in order to carefully screen probable candidates for the job. They search criminal records for prior felonies and patterns of behavioral crimes. Many companies pay a great amount of money to researching agencies that can access criminal records. These researchers also have other methods of finding criminal information, which makes their services very valuable.

Accessing national and state records

Accessible criminal records can divided into four categories. These public records include arrest and court records, correction records, and repository records. Though an arrest record may eventually lead to a felony conviction, it can be accessed through the sentencing. Anything exceeding that may result in penalty of the search.

A very small number of databases hold complete background information on a nationwide scale, and most of them are not publicly accessible. As is stands now, the FBI holds rank as the only entity capable of legally containing these criminal records. The public can access some parts of the FBI database, but mostly the records for the high profiled criminals, including information on convictions and high-risk felons.

However, the public can access state public records, which are a very useful tool for the individual and employer. Although these public records are limited, they can still provide illuminating information for a potential employer. However, the limited scope may be a drawback for a company looking to pry deep within the criminal records of a prospective employee.

The procedures to access state records vary between each state. Some states have an online system that provides you with almost instantaneous access to state records, while others have paperwork that you must complete and mail.

By accessing state records, a person can obtain the following information, depending upon each state government:

Criminal history records

Pending court charges

Pending arrests

Conviction information

Sex offender registries

Inmate searches

Child abuser registries

Most states have free access to sexual offender databases. It is shocking to learn how many sex offenders live in each city, in every state throughout our country. These sex offenders look like "normal" people, casually strolling through the neighborhood and grocery story. With the increased access children have to the internet, combined with the rise in sex offender rates, accessing state records can help parents protect their children and neighborhood.

Having the ability to access state records is very important in today's society. Whether it is finding the right candidate for the job or combing your neighborhood for predators, this is a method of safety that should certainly be routinely performed.

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Searching for Criminal Records

2008-12-09T17:51:00.004-06:00

SEARCHING FOR CRIMINAL RECORDS

A criminal background search is perhaps the most widely used tool for finding out information about people. These records are mainly accessed by law enforcement agencies and jobs that require an employment check. While you can now easily find criminal records online, old fashioned P.I. skills typically come into play to make the search more efficient.

CRIMINAL RECORDS SEARCH: FACT AND FICTION

Many websites you stumble upon advertise access they have to a nationwide database. Although their system may be vast in records, there is only one nationwide criminal database, the FBI. This database is also known as the National Crime Information Center. These records are not for the public's eyes and can only be assessed by prominent figures of criminal justice. Gaining access to this data is strictly prohibited with severe penalties. This adheres to the party selling the records and also the party buying them. Even with that fact, a profitable black market exists with many people hosting this exclusive information. These individuals usually have close ties to other members of the NCIC who choose to profit from the relationship.

STATE AND COUNTY CRIMINAL RECORDS

The ability to search statewide criminal records is available in 29 states. Criminal records are typically accessed by the public via the state index, but can also be attained through the county. The state receives a portion of its index from the county. Without their records, a state index may be incomplete. The best method would be to check both indexes of the state and county when looking to access criminal records.

MORE WAYS TO GET INFORMATION

In the past, individuals were required to be interjected into the judicial process in order to search criminal records. This meant that an inquiring party had to be a member of the law or a court official. Many online vendors offer on the spot searches that are derived from the court; this includes driving and criminal records. The results are not instant, usually taking anywhere from 2 to 10 business days to return. However, this method is very effective in obtaining court records and criminal records.

A few courts will conduct a free criminal record check via telephone. This information can be helpful, but not necessarily reliable. You certainly would not want to put 100% faith in a court clerk over the telephone. Courts will deliver quality information by way of written requests, though this may take weeks or even months to make it back to the requester.

These days, the best way to conduct a thorough criminal check is online. There are several websites that pull together states to provide background checks and public records for requesters. These services are great tools for searching through comprehensive state public records, including background checks, court records, criminal records, and even driving records.

In most cases the cause for a criminal search is very reasonable. Crimes are being committed on a daily basis, usually in the perpetrators neighborhood. Though there are some limitations, the fact that criminal records can be searched online eases a bit of the worry. As more savvy agencies learn the prosperous potential of these searches, more effective services are sure to become available for your use in due time.

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Net Detective : Get The Scoop On Anyone!

The Reverse Cell Phone Search

2008-12-09T00:07:00.004-06:00

Keeping An Eye On Your Spouse

You and the hubby sit comfortably in front of the fire while watching a romantic movie. His cell phone rings, yet he ignores it as if nothing happened. You inquire about the call, and he blows off the incident as nothing. A few more minutes elapse, and the phone rings again. On this occasion, your husband states that he needs to take the call in private, leaving you alone with an idle mind. He does not return right away and curiosity begins to burn deep inside of you. What is the big secret? Who is he talking to?

Your husband finally returns, hesitant to speak, but eventually fumbles what resembles an excuse. The two of you continue the movie in silence, as your mind continues to wander. After the ending credits, he is quite anxious to leave your presence. Self consciously, you are drawn to the cell phone left he left sitting on the carpet. Eager to learn more about his strange behavior, you pick it up and search through the most recent phone numbers. Impulse forces you to dial the last one. Your heart beats with uncertainty as the phone rings. Someone picks up on the other end, yet there is mutual silence. Finally they hang up, leaving you with a bothersome dial tone.

Instantly, you assume the worst; your husband is cheating. You dash to the home office with haste. Vigorously you dig through the file cabinet in search of your most recent bill. You examine your cell phone records and find that the mysterious number has repeated activity. Now your mind begins to race, thinking of ways to trace that cell phone number to a specific name, preferably the woman who is claiming your husbands extra time.

Many women panic in this situation. They instantly think to tail their husbands every move by hiring a professional private investigator. While that is not a bad idea, there are other methods to employ. Performing a reverse search of your husbands cell phone calls could acquire the information and identity you seek. This method has proven effective for a curious spouse and is much less expensive than contracting a private investigator.

ONE MORE CALL

There are many ways to perform a reverse cell phone search. In the beginning, you may wish to give the number another call back. In this instance, you disguise your voice and attempt to sway the cell phone owner out of their identity. Be polite, tell them you are conducting a survey, or any topic that gets them talking. While this method is a long shot, it can work and get you one step closer to the truth.

THE INTERNET

The internet has made it possible to find all types of information. Search engines are very powerful and designed to pick up on the content you request. While you w will not be able to pull up a callers cell phone records, you may be able learn more about her identity. By simply typing in a cell phone number, you can find the owners name, location and much more. Individuals are unknowingly making it easier to perform reverse cell phone searches on a constant basis. People are selling items on Ebay or listing their cell phone number to find a missing pet. These everyday functions allow you to match a phone number to face without the expensive hassle of a private investigator.

Those seriously looking to get the dirt on their spouse have other internet options. There are several affordable sites that are designed to provide you with reverse cell phone search results. Many of them guarantee positive results in the way of reserve cell phone searches. Simply supply the phone number, and their system does the rest. You save time and money, while having the name, address, provider information, and other cell phone records delivered to your email box with reverse cell phone look-up.

After finding the required information, you may wish to pry deeper, learn more about this mysterious person playing the sideline. Online capabilities have made it possible to basically find out about anyone for the right price, including their criminal background, court and public records. We are now equipped with the tools it takes to play P.I. all by ourselves.

A cheating spouse is something you never want to discover, yet you must act if the signs are present. In order to protect your best interest in the end, you must get a head start. A thorough reverse cell phone search and many other avenues could give you the required ammunition it takes to make the most of what could be a bad situation.

Reverse Cell Phone Search

Keep An Eye On Your Spouse

ACCESSING PUBLIC RECORDS FROM HOME

2008-12-08T23:50:00.006-06:00

We all seem to be a more cautious these days, and with all of the violent events that have occurred in the past few years, there is a certain need to protect ourselves.

The crucial details you are eager to learn are available, more readily now than ever before. Perhaps you are curious about the neighbor who runs back and forth to his car at all hours of the night, or suspicious of a state representatives background. Though it is unknown to most people, local, state and federal agencies have been storing increasing amounts of public database records online, a process that began in the mid 90's.

Driving records are accessed more frequently, based upon insurance policies and certain jobs. Criminal background and employee checks have without a doubt been performed on a regular basis since 9/11 and the recent Iraq war. Seemingly harmless individuals in the community make the news for acts of violence we never new existed within them. Government officials we elect are not holding true to their claims, as we learn more unsettling facts about their past.

Finding public records

Public records in each state can easily be accessed from your very own home. A computer and internet connection helps you access these public records in two ways: Jurisdictions may post records on government powered sites, making them available for a reasonable price or sometimes even for free. Many states have websites that provide you with almost instantaneous access of all the public records, court records, driving records, and criminal backgrounds of their residents. The second way to accessing public records is through comprehensive databases, where agencies and court officials also negotiate public records to online information compilers and
brokers. The latter method is generally more in-depth, as well as easier in saving you time and energy.

Access information while you still can

The freedom of public records is created on the general public's behalf. Criminal records and background checks were made available for citizens and businesses to stay abreast of the reality of other people, ranging from elected politicians down to modest civilians. As these public records splurged onto the internet, the public has even more opportunity to hold others accountable with documented proof.

However, the act of accessing public records via the internet has recently been debated. These records can expose a great deal of personal information about individuals. Here are a few examples of how public access records attained through the courts may not appear partial.

- Family court battles can be accessed through public access. This could expose sensitive information about children. Heated debates amongst spouses are typically fueled by emotion and may or may not be true.

- Crucial information from high profiled criminal cases can be leaked via public records. They contain documented statements from witnesses and victims that could possibly put them in the risk of danger.

Government and court officials are said to be working diligently on solutions to regulate the access of public files. Limiting the content online is where they wish to start, but there are some public records that should be accessible by the general population for security purposes. When it comes to the security of your family, accessing public records online is a great way to empower yourself with knowledge and information.

PUBLIC RECORDS

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VIEWING NATIONWIDE COURT RECORDS

2008-12-08T23:41:00.004-06:00

Having reservations about a potential tenant for your rental property? Curious to know if they had any recent evictions or other disconcerting issues? Gaining public access to court records is now easier than ever before. The ability to access court records will give you information about recent criminal records, driving records, and court records. Anything related to the law is documented, and you can access it through several methods.

Arrest and criminal records are processed by law enforcement, then by the court and sent to the state for documentation, making them accessible to the public. Thus, these criminal records, court records, and driving records are all part of public documentation for background checks.

Having complete details for the individual or event you seek will certainly assist in the goal of accessing court records. Keep in mind that full court records will never be available to the public. Only general information can be released when concerning high profiled criminal cases. However, attaining case summaries and dates for civil and small claims typically is not a problem.

A great way to begin the mission of accessing court records is your trusty search engine. While this method may be a long shot, it can also prove efficient, with accurate, detailed information. Search engines are designed to pick up content that is keyword rich. Since many public records are now stored on websites, this makes it more possible to find court records within your search.

There are an abundant amount of online sites that provide access to nationwide court records for a fee. These thorough services scan literally hundreds of sites per day in search of verdicts and decisions made in court. The availability of these public records provided people with information on court systems that was generally difficult to attain.

With the easy access of criminal records and court records via the internet comes concern. Law makers who regulate the court system are hesitant to expose all files for good reasons. Sensitive files available to the public could be potentially hazardous and expose information, such as the residence of a witness that could lead to intimidation. A judicial council in California has already assigned rules which forbid courts to post criminal records online, and many other states are attempting to follow suite. Court records in California also have special stipulations when it comes to online posting.

There may be several reasons for individuals to access court records on a nationwide scale, causes that expand much further than legal research. Court records can be attained to help develop a business, check the history of an employee, or even view the profile of an attorney or judge. Most importantly, they can be accessed as background checks for personal use.

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HOW TO INVESTIGATE ANYONE AT ANYTIME

2008-12-08T23:32:00.005-06:00

There's no place like a home. While this phrase was coined years ago, it holds true to most individuals. A personal residence is your rest haven, your place of peace, your kingdom. Every now and then, we lower our defensive shield, and put away that protective armor to allow someone into our home. That happens when the plumber needs to take a look at those clogged pipes, or the communications technician may need to check the phone lines from inside the home. To install that great plasma TV, the cable man or satellite installer will certainly need to step inside and make sure the reception box is functioning properly. All these requirements and luxuries of life call for you to give trust to a complete stranger, the same trust you would never put in just anyone walking the streets.

We will now view the situation from a worst case scenario. Lets say the plumber gave you the uncomfortable eye during a repair. Perhaps the communication technicians conduct was not appropriate in your eyes, as he moseyed around your hallways looking for the "bathroom." Maybe the satellite installer violated company policy by offering you a discounted service that would benefit only them. Many businesses often conduct an employee check, but sometimes they do not. When eerie individuals cross your path, you may choose to take a different plan of action. Being able to find out anything about anyone would certainly ease the worry of allowing strangers into your home.

One may have some legitimate concerns about accessing records and conducting their own background check. Some may think this cannot be done because of all the required forms and possible penalties. Be assured that it is 100% legal to attain background checks and public records information. You have the right to find out about anyone at anytime. Finding the right service to perform this type of search is the real issue.

TRUTHS ABOUT RECORD CHECKS

When performing your search, be aware that no database will allow you to instantly access ALL criminal records. This function is strictly limited to the FBI. These records are mainly off limits, with the exception of federally insured banks, nuclear power plants, and various branches of the government. Many services may claim to have access to these extensive databases, but that is a topic certainly worth arguing.

Many services advertise that they are capable of accessing criminal records anytime from everywhere; some claim anytime, anywhere and anyone. Choosing a company that advertises the capability to find out anything about anyone at anytime is one you would prefer.

Several services freely use the word "nationwide" for promotion. In actuality, with the exception of a few companies, these searches are typically limited in capability and falsely advertising. There are a few companies that have contracts with government departments to provide the background check information to the general public.

You can also conduct your own people search investigation to find out about anyone. Search engines are a powerful tool that scans all web pages for relevant information linked to a persons name. With a bit of time and diligent research, you can uncover the background information and find out about anyone.

There is simply one thing you cannot get enough of these days: safety. Though it is very common to allow a stranger inside of your home to make a service call, you have the right to remain weary. Never feel guilty about conducting your own private search on anyone. Public records are available for you to access at anytime. Make the most these rights and use them whenever you feel the need to protect yourself.

HOW TO INVESTIGATE ANYONE AT ANYTIME

THE DISCREET PEOPLE SEARCH

2008-12-08T23:20:00.005-06:00

For sometime, you have been uncomfortable at the job. A co-worker on the night shift strikes you as odd. At times, he totally he freaks you out. Reporting the situation to the law or management may be somewhat overboard at this point, yet you are still concerned. You recently heard of the people search that can be performed online. Though very interested ,you are worried about the background search getting back to you, or even worse, the shady individual are researching. Is there actually a way to be discreet when finding out information about people? Yes, you can certainly conduct a background check and people search discreetly. Lets first discuss how public records are accessed to find people.

When looking to conduct a people search, one must first understand the definition of private and public records. Personal files containing social security numbers, birth dates, medical and financial information is considered private and not intended to be accessible during your people search.

From public records, people searches can be performed all over the web, both free and fee based. Finding out almost anything about anyone can be done on your basic browser via a typical search engine. Below are six methods that work as great people finders, helping you to be discreet with the search, while providing quality information at the same time.

JOT IT DOWN

Document every available fact about the person you are looking to find. This includes previous addresses, schools, names of relatives, nicknames, a profession, and any other personal information that may be relevant to the individual. This information will certainly aid when seeking to conduct a people search in a search engine.

WHITE PAGES

The white pages are one of the first people searches you should conduct online. This free service is very reputable with its ability to search public records within all 50 states and most cities. You can also search strictly by last name, which may help find relatives of the actual person you are seeking.

REVERSE SEARCHES

In the instance where you have a phone number or address for a person, you can perform a reverse people search. You can perform the people search for free through a search engine, but many companies offer this service online and provide you with more robust details.

MUTUAL ASSOCIATES

Contacting a mutual associate who also has ties with the person you are looking for is a good idea. Whether it is a friendship or colleague, this could certainly help. They just may have the missing information you need to perform an effective people search.

SOCIAL NETWORKS

Accessing popular social networks is perhaps the most underrated method of finding people. Individuals are frequently posting personal information about themselves on various websites. This includes photos, current jobs, professional backgrounds, aliases and much more. Some of themost commonly used social networks to find people are Myspace, Facebook and Crushspot.

PUBLIC RECORDS

When all other sources have been exhausted, there is always the benefit of public records. These public records are now available online and include registered sex offenders and other individuals in your community.

IN CONCLUSION

If you are looking to shell out money, there are services that can provide you with a plethora of detailed information for your people search. You can conduct the people search yourself, and you will not obtain as much information as a paid search, it is still effective nonetheless. With a bit of time and creative effort, you can find out information through your people search, either protecting you from a crazy co-worker or connecting you with your high school sweetheart.

www.PeopleLocatorPro.com

www.NetDetective.com

How to Check Up on New Friends

2008-12-08T23:04:00.003-06:00

HOW TO CHECK UP ON NEW FRIENDS

After moving into a new town or neighborhood, you may have the tendency to feel incomplete. If you do not know anyone in town, you end up being complete stranger, left feeling like an intimidated new kid on the first day of high school. As time progresses, residents of the neighborhood begin to open up to you, making you feel a bit more welcome. Eventually, associates at the job are more receptive. You establish a group of your own that gathers faithfully in the
break room. Some of them you have even grown close to; close enough to label friends.

After a while, things begin to change. One of your friends in the circle becomes a cause for concern. Perhaps his behavior has grown erratic; he has become suddenly depressed and his actions are strange. While some may think you are overreacting, your need for worry is genuine. By way of national and local news, we are witnessing more senseless violence on the job. More
innocent victims lives are being claimed by co-workers, people they casually associated with on a daily basis. Once the story hits the press, we typically find that the suspect had a shaky past, one that could have been thoroughly looked into with an employee or criminal background check.

When suspicions arise, you may need to take the situation in your own hands. Checking into your friends prior record before getting too involved in the relationship is certainly a wise idea, especially in consideration of the times in which we live.

Contrary to popular beliefs, you do not have to be a seasoned private investigator to conduct an individuals background check. One of the best resources to find out anything about anyone has to be the internet. On the web exists a large amount of tools to help you learn more about your new friends. In fact, the mission of finding information on anyone is performed with more efficiency on the internet than any other platform. These online searches are fast and fairly
accurate. With enough of the basic information, you will be able to find out practically anything about new friends, including criminal records and even driving records!

When you are looking to find out about anyone, even strangers, the internet gives you many options. Net Detective is the most popular people search engine online. This five star ranked service is frequently used by law enforcement agencies all over the world. Anything about anyone can be accessed through criminal records, family history files, birth and death certificates, adoption records, social security numbers, telephone numbers, email domains, and much more.

There are many other great services available that allow you to find out about anyone. With in depth information, background checks, and criminal records, you can rest assured that your new friends have no dark pasts or that if they do, you can steer clear of the danger.

When you are conducting a background check on a new friend, you certainly hope to be proven wrong about your doubts. However, it is best to remain on the safe side. By using a little web savvy, you can instantly jump online and find out about anyone who strikes you as suspicious. The tools on the internet are very effective in helping people search the past of a new friend.

Check Up on Your New Friends Now

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INSTANT ACCESS TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM

2008-12-08T22:52:00.005-06:00

Your family has just happily moved to a new city. You have a great job, beautiful home, and the neighborhood seems friendly. You enroll your children into the local school district, which has received great national rankings. Before long, your daughter has been invited for sleepovers at her friends house. Although you have met the friends parents several times, and they seem like nice people, you have read too many horror stories to feel comfortable allowing your daughter to sleepover. Needless to say, she is devastated and blames you for moving her to a new place, where she has no friends. What is a parent to do?

Safety is the best policy, and accessing the legal system is a critical step in keeping your family safe. Every day, there are more stories reported about unsuspecting victims who have been harmed by criminals, who may be your neighbor or the parents of your daughters friends. The cases are real; the charming father may be a sexual predator or deviant, and he may sexually
harass or even rape your daughter. Looks are very deceiving, and the only way to know if that friendly smile is authentic is by accessing the legal system to conduct a background check.

Getting the information you need has been made incredibly easy by the internet. By performing a people search online, you can basically find out almost anything about anyone. Both court records and criminal records can even be accessed via public records.

Depending upon the state in which you live, you may instantly access public records online. With a simple internet connection, you can browse through a persons public records, including criminal records, court records, and even driving records! Find out whether the parents of your friends child have clean background checks, or if they may be hiding a deep secret from the community behind their friendly smiles and freshly baked cookies.

If you are in a state where you cannot access the legal system online, then you have two options. First, you can conduct a people search through the search engines; you can find out anything about anyone online, and the parents of your daughters friends are no different. Input their names and phone numbers, and a plethora of information may be revealed about their criminal records.

However, the power of determining the history and background check of a person comes from the legal system. If you cannot access online the government public records of your state, then there are several services that have contracts with government departments and courts to provide background checks and criminal records. With a click of a button, you can instantly access the legal system to discreetly find out about anyone through their criminal records, court records,
and driving records. Not only do you save time, but you protect your family definitively against criminals who threaten the safety of your children.

Many people may believe that records of the U.S. government are confidential, but that is not necessarily true. Knowing just where to search can provide you with important information and direct access to the legal system. By working with specialized services, you can instantly access legal systems and obtain all of the background check information you need to give you peace of mind.

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InfoRegistry - Information Authority

Missing Persons

2008-12-08T22:47:00.002-06:00

Finding Missing Persons: How New Online Searches Can Help You Locate Someone Who Has Dropped Out of Sight

Every day, in towns and cities across the country, people go missing. Sometimes they're the victim of crime. But in most cases, they drop out of sight on purpose. Usually they're trying to escape some problem or avoid some responsibility.

People who disappear can include those who are:

- Responsible for an accident but do not want to pay for damages or face legal action
- Avoiding alimony or child support payments
- Deeply In debt and unwilling to work out payment
- Running from Law Enforcement or the Courts
- Evading taxes or liens or other obligations

If you are looking for a missing person, you should be aware of how searches on the Internet can now help you locate them.

You Can Now Get Access to Data while Sitting at Your Computer that Before Could Only Be Uncovered using Costly Private Investigators

It used to be expensive to track down a missing person. You had to hire a private detective and pay them by the hour to do a "locate."

Not any more - not now that so many public records and business databases are available through the Internet. Anyone with online access and a bit of determination can do the same kind of investigative work themselves. There are no guarantees you'll find the person you're searching for, just as there were never any guarantees with paid investigators. But the cost is minimal and no one will be more motivated than you to keep at it until you succeed.

What makes it so easy is a new breed of web-based investigative search services. Sometimes referred to as Internet Detective or Personal Search services, these specialized services give you the speedy, accurate access to all kinds of formerly hard-to-get information.

Note that these search services are not the same as the general search engines you may already use, like Google or Yahoo. The general search engines are not the best way to hunt for someone who's missing. The private search services are best because they're optimized for finding people. Rather than a search making you scroll through thousands of unrelated listings, they take you directly to the data you need.

Basic Techniques You Can Use to Locate Someone

When you begin looking for someone, the first step is to collect as much physical information as possible about the subject. If the person is part of your own family, you'll probably already have personal information available. Pull out any old files and records. Look for clubs or organizations they belonged to. Get bank or investment account numbers. In particular look for any type of identifying records like a driver's license, employee id, etc. A Social Security Number is the most important identifier you can have.

If the person you're searching for is not someone you knew personally, gather information from anyone who did know them, if possible. If you aren't able to get this information, there are ways to get it online through the search services. It just makes it easier if you have some information to start with.

Organize what you collect and analyze it for any hints at where the person might have gone. Sometimes you'll find a clue to where the subject is hiding right in this first batch of information. It just wasn't apparent earlier because no one had examined the material closely enough.

What's more common, though, is to find links to other people or organizations that can assist you in your search. That's the professional investigator's secret - to find a missing person, first find other people who know them and can lead you to them.

At times, finding a missing person is as easy as calling up a former associate. The associate knows and can tell you the subject's current whereabouts.

If these basic steps don't result in locating the missing person, the next step is to move to the Internet. Below are some of the common steps that professionals use to gather information online that helps them track down a subject. You can use these same techniques by conducting your own hunt through an investigative search service.

Techniques Professional Investigators Use Online That You Can Use Too

1. Do a profile search. Look up all people with the same initial and last name, city and state. If you don't get promising results at first, and the name isn't too common, expand the search to other cities and states. In particular, look in the areas where the subject had relatives, friends, business dealings or other connections. Once you get a list, try contacting them. One of them may well be who you're searching for.

2. If you have a Social Security Number, do an SSN trace through the credit bureaus. Credit bureaus are the most likely place to find anyone's most current address and phone number. Professional investigators say this is usually the best way to locate someone who's trying to hide. That's because most people don't realize all the different types of activities they do that trigger address updates to their credit record. Everything from filling out an employment application, to renting a new apartment and getting the utilities turned on.

3. Search Voter Registration databases. This one is frequently overlooked but often effective. The reason is that those who disappear tend to build a new life based on their old one. If the voted before, they'll likely register to vote again. The records are kept by state offices but collected and available through better specialized search services.

4. Search Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings. These are lien notices filed locally and maintained by each state. The Search Services collect the data so you can access it more easily. UCC's are created to document a lien placed on property for which a loan has been made. It's valuable in tracking a missing person because it can lead you to a business that has had dealings with the person. It's possible you can get contact information through them.

There are a variety of other databases you can access easily through an online Investigative Search service. From post office Change of Address records to Driver's License Information to Vehicle Registrations for the missing person's car or truck -- even records of traffic tickets. Any one of these database searches can either provide a current address for your subject or a link to someone else that can eventually lead you to them.
Final Word

If you need to find someone who's missing, you can now use one of the new Investigative Search services to help you locate them. These services collect the data in one easy to use database or provide easy to use look up tools with automatic tie-ins to the public databases you need to search. That makes searching for a missing person faster, easier and more likely to end successfully.

Missing Persons

Sex Offender Background Check

2008-12-08T22:43:00.002-06:00

Sex Offender Criminal Checks: Now Internet Services Can Help You Keep Your Children Safer

One of the most disturbing trends of our time is the increase in sex offenses against our children.

A study by the US Department of Justice found
- 67% of all victims of sexual assault were juveniles, under 18 years old
- Thirty-four percent of the victims were younger than 12
- One of every seven was less than 6 years old
This is such a tragedy but at least parents are becoming more aware of the problem. They're taking steps to safeguard their children by keeping them from going out alone or from going anywhere unsupervised.

If you're a parent, now there's even more you can do to protect your children.

How the Internet Can Help You Protect Your Children

Your computer and the Internet can play a major part in helping you keep your children safe. If you're like most folks, you probably have at least some experience looking up information online, using Google or Yahoo search perhaps.

What you may not realize is how much information you can uncover online about sex offenders and other criminals who pose a threat to your family.

Specialized background checking services now exist that take you directly to criminal histories and sex offender records. While the common search engines are good for finding general information on a variety of topics, they're not so helpful when you want to search for criminal records. The specialized services make it a whole lot easier and faster.

I became familiar with these criminal background checking services from my work as a professional writer and researcher. If you're a parent trying to protect your children, you'll want to find out as much as you can about what's available.

You Can Now Find Out Secrets Once Deeply Hidden While Sitting at Your Computer

It used to be time consuming and costly to check someone's background to see if they had a criminal history. You had to hire a private detective or go through some expensive reporting agency. Not today - not with Criminal record databases so readily available to us.

Sometimes referred to as Internet Detective sites, or Personal Search sites, these web-based search services give you the low-down on all kinds of formerly-hidden information.

They let you make complete criminal background checks and give you access to detailed information including:

- Sex Offender Status Records
- Geographic Locations of Registered Sex Offenders
- Criminal Records for all kinds of crimes
- Prison Records
- FBI and other Law Enforcement Agency Files
- Criminal History

Why Checking Criminal Backgrounds Can Help You Spot Crime Before It Happens

The unfortunate truth is that many offenders commit crimes again and again. The DOJ tracked one sample group of around three hundred thousand offenders and discovered an amazing fact. This one group of felons has so far accounted for nearly five million arrest charges over their recorded careers.

Here are more disturbing findings from US Department of Justice studies:

- When criminals were arrested for a new crime, more than half of them were out on probation, parole or pretrial release for a previous crime.
- 39% of jail inmates had already served 3 or more prior sentences.
- Of the hundreds of thousands of criminals released from prisons during a one year period, an estimated 67.5% were rearrested for a felony or serious misdemeanor within 3 years, 46.9% were reconvicted, and 25.4% resentenced to prison for a new crime.

And the most chilling statistics

- Sex offenders were about four times more likely than non-sex offenders to be arrested for another sex crime after their discharge from prison.
- Of released sex offenders and child molesters arrested for committing another sex crime, 40% perpetrated the new offense within a year or less from their prison discharge.
It's extremely troubling but the very fact that so many criminals are repeat offenders is what makes using criminal background checks so effective. Those past crimes leave a trail. Access to that trail, that criminal history, is easily available through the specialized background check services.

The criminal history you can easily find out there can forewarn you. You'll know if someone has a criminal background and is therefore likely commit a crime again. It's not pre-judging. It's just being realistic and practical.

Experts Recommend Parents Use Criminal Background Checking Services

Safety experts are starting to recommend that parents use a criminal background checking service regularly. By running a criminal background check on anyone you find suspicious or even anyone your child might come into contact with, you'll know if there's anything to worry about. You'll be armed with the knowledge you need to take appropriate action.

You can use the search services to check out your baby sitter, nanny, au pair, day care center and staff, and even school teachers and workers.

You can use it to search geographically and find out if known sex offenders live near you. It's now possible to determine exactly where they live.

When You Choose a Criminal Background Search Service, Here's What to Look For

To help you find the best possible service for criminal background checking, here are the things I've found important to consider during a review:

1. Free versus Paid

I've been disappointed by the free services. Better to pay the small fee and get quality information you can trust. Many of the better services have special offers of multi-year memberships for a low one-time fee. The cost can be less than what you'd pay for a low-priced blouse or golf shirt.

2. Speed

You want a service that responds quickly and gives you exactly the information you need. Make sure you try it out. Check both speed and accuracy!

3. Proprietary Database

If a service compiles their own database, it's a sign they're more likely to be in the business for the long term. That's because a proprietary database is costly to build and maintain. A company wouldn't invest if they didn't expect to stay in business.

From a usability standpoint, a dedicated database is better too. You get a single interface that you can quickly learn.

(One note: I've never seen a free service that has its own database. Most of the free services I've checked out are really just link farms - they just point you at some public or government database. You could get that from the general search engines.)

4. Training and Support

Be sure you can easily learn to use any service you choose. Actually, you'll find that the better services are pretty intuitive: you'll know what to do just by looking at it. But better services will also provide extra, in-depth searching. If you ever need the extra, it might require you dig into it a bit before you can fully use it. Just make sure your service has easy, accessible ways to learn, like tutorials.

And don't ignore support. Sooner or later you'll have questions or there will be something you need help to get resolved. The best services offer free, live support with a phone number or live chat where you can talk directly with a person.

Final Word

It's a threatening world but fortunately, you can use modern technology to better protect your children. Like the experts recommend, sign up for Criminal Background Checking service and use it regularly.

Sex Offender Background Check

Criminal Background Check

2008-12-08T22:38:00.002-06:00

Criminal Background Checks: How To Expose the Bad Guys and Protect Yourself and Family

It's unsettling - the truth about crime... The likelihood that you or someone you love will, within the next 12 months, become a victim of crime is frighteningly high.

If you live in the US, you've got a 1 in 5 chance of becoming a crime victim in the next 12 months. In the UK and much of Europe, the rate is 1 in 4 or worse. Australia or New Zealand? Nearly one out of every 3 people will be victimized within a year. These facts come from respected research publisher, Nationmaster.com.

The facts are unavoidable. You or someone close to you will likely soon be the target of a robbery, burglary, car theft, even a physical attack or sexual assault.

And there's more unsettling news. The numbers don't begin to account for all the fraud, scams and computer crimes the modern underworld throws at us every day. No one even knows the full extent of the problem. Add in the estimates, though, and the likelihood that you'll be victimized in the next year shoots up past fifty-fifty.

Unfortunately, law enforcement can't help until after the crime's been committed.

The cold hard truth about crime is: it's up to you to do whatever you can to protect yourself and look out for your family.

The 21st Century Solution to this Growing Problem

I came across these crime-rate facts while doing my work as a professional writer and researcher. I admit I was stunned.

When I looked into the subject more deeply, two findings emerged which can help us avoid victimization.

First, criminals are frequently repeat offenders. Their past crimes leave a trail. The good news is, in the age of the Internet, access to that trail is available. The information is out there to help us protect ourselves.

Second, criminals often show up in our lives before they attack us. We know them in some way. Not necessarily on a personal basis, but through work or shopping or hired help or through an online connection. Many times we're being cased. Our value as a target is being coldly calculated. Our living patterns are being studied: when we're home and when we're not; when we're alone.

As much as that may make your skin crawl, it should also give you hope. It means you have a chance to identify others who could possibly be threats. You have the opportunity to investigate them before anything happens.

That's where your computer and the Internet can play a huge role. If you're like most people, though, you probably don't realize just how much information is available to you - especially about criminals. I was familiar with background checking sites from my work. I'd just never thought of using this kind of service as a crime deterrent. Turns out that such services are premier sources for the kind of information that can help keep us safe.

Secrets Once Hidden that You Can Now Find Out While Sitting at Your Computer

It used to be expensive to check into someone's background to see if they were hiding anything. You had to hire a private detective or go through some expensive reporting agency. Not today - not with Background Check databases so readily available to us.

Sometimes referred to as Internet Detective sites, or Personal Search sites, these web-based search services give you the low-down on all kinds of formerly-hidden information.

The general search engines like Google or Yahoo aren't good places to search for criminal history. Use one of the private databases instead. There may be a small fee but it's usually tiny compared to the value you're getting in return.

You want a service that lets you make complete criminal background checks and gives you access to information like:

- Criminal Records
- Prison Records
- FBI Files
- Criminal History
- Sex Offender Status

Below I detail the kinds of background checks you can and should be making to help keep you and your family safer...

Run Criminal Background Checks on People You Do Business With|

Any time you're dealing with someone you don't know, you should run a quick check to see if they have any criminal history. Always get identification. Always check to make sure you're dealing with someone you can trust.

In Central Florida, flyers for a pressure-washing service were a front for a burglar. If the victims had simply gotten identification before hiring the young man in the t-shirt, they would have discovered he had a history of burglaries. It's probable that just asking for identification would have chased him off.

Run a Criminal Background Check on People You Meet Socially - ESPECIALLY ONLINE!

A Pasadena woman discovered that a man she met online through a dating service had already spent time in jail for defrauding other widows just like her. In fact, he was violating his parole just being in California! She turned him in -- right after she made him pay for what he didn't realize would be their last romantic dinner. Unbelievably, he tried to continue the relationship by writing her from prison!

Criminal Check Anyone Who Has Contact with Your Children

One of the most troubling trends of our times is the increase in sex offenses against children. It's amazing so many parents continue to entrust their children to others without first checking them out. Use the search services to check out your baby sitter, nanny, au pair, day care center and staff, and even school teachers and workers. You can also search geographically to find out if known sex offenders live near you and where.

Other Criminal History Checks You Can Make

You assume your employer is legitimate but that could be a mistake. Find out for sure about people you work for. Do they have a troubling past or illegal activity in their background? While you're at it, check out your work associates.

You should also check into the background of any medical providers, physicians, clinics, hospitals and nursing homes you rely on. Investigate local government officials, your landlord, tenants for property you rent, even the people asking for money at churches and charities. Money attracts criminals who sometimes use good organizations to hide misdeeds.

Final Word

The truth is that we live in a threatening world. Fortunately, you can use 21st century technology to better protect yourself and your family. Review the Personal Search services on the Internet and pick one that suits you. Use it regularly. The world is only going to get more threatening...

Criminal Background Check

People Search

2008-12-08T22:33:00.005-06:00

People Search: How to Quickly and Easily Find Someone You Lost Track Of

Recently my wife's sister got curious about what had happened to her first husband after they split. That marriage had ended badly and they hadn't been in contact for nearly thirty years. She tried searching for her ex-husband's name on Google and Yahoo but didn't get any hits. Knowing I do research online in my work as a professional writer, she asked if I could find out anything.

I write for business and technical publications, so I use a number of high-priced databases for in-depth research. But I suggested she try a simpler alternative - a solution I use myself when I want to find someone quickly and easily. I recommended she try one of the people search database services. Even the better ones cost so little, they're practically free. Most offer a trial period. I gave her the name of one to try.

She was dubious. She's not very comfortable using her computer for much more than email. Her stab at the search engines had already left her flustered. Now she was going to have to "sign up for something and learn something completely new... oh my goodness," was the way she put it.

Yet, later the same day I suggested it, she emailed back excitedly. In just minutes, she'd found out all kinds of information about her ex. It turned out that he'd done something of a turnaround after they'd broken up. Their divorce resulted from fights over his serious drinking problem. After they broke up, though, he'd eventually gone back to med school, gotten his MD and become an orthopedic surgeon. He'd even been instrumental in developing some sort of device used by other surgeons in his field.

Unfortunately, the poor fellow had passed, but at least my sister-in-law found comfort in knowing that things had worked out for him after all. She remarked that even though their relationship ended in the worst imaginable way, it had started from a good point. She said she hadnt really wanted to contact him. She just wanted to know what had happened to him.

Sometimes all we want is just to satisfy our curiosity about what happened to someone we've lost track of. Most of us have an old friend or acquaintance we still wonder about.

A Better Way to Find People

I suspect that's what makes people searching so hot. As many as half a million times a month, someone searches on Google alone, looking for a way to find a lost person. Whether it's someone from the past with whom we've lost touch, or someone we met last weekend and yearn to see again, were always searching for others.

Unfortunately, most general searches fail. Just like Googling failed for my sister-in-law. The information is out there, somewhere. But being forced to sift through so many unrelated results makes it nearly impossible.

That's why I recommended she use a people search service - sometimes they're called Internet Detective services. They pull all the information spread across thousands of servers and combine it into people-specific search databases. Then when you drop in a name or an address or a phone number, whatever bit of information you have, you get instant gratification. Up pops the latest scoop about your person.

Thats totally unlike the cold mechanical response a Google or Yahoo gives:

Results 1 - 10 of about 55,100,000 for joe smith. (0.06 seconds)

You can almost hear the search engine yawn.

By the way - most searchers don't know this - search engine results don't actually extend beyond about a thousand entries. Even when the search engine results page says they found millions and millions of hits, they don't actually bother to dig it up and give you access to all of it. They're really just estimating from their own database tables. Even they know it's a waste of time.

Yawn, yawn, yawn

On the other hand, it's exciting when you do a person search on a dedicated database. You find what you're looking for in seconds. Plus, you not only get current information, often you get historical data too. You find not only where the person is now but also where they lived or worked before that and before that and before that.

You can sort of see your old friend's life laid bare. (Now what in heaven's name was George doing in Poughkeepsie, New York, in winter. He always hated the cold)

Sometime you find a person's life didn't turn out the way you'd have thought. That's when the Criminal Check part of the service can help you find out what prison they ended up in!

When You Choose a Personal Search Service, Here's What to Look For

If you decide to try out a personal search database, here are the things I've found important to consider during a review

1. Free versus Paid

I've been disappointed by the free services. Their main concern seems to be to try and get you to click on some of the pay-per-click ads they're displaying - so they can make a little money.

2. Speed

You want a service that responds quickly. Make sure you try it out. A fun test is to do a search on yourself. You get to check speed and accuracy!

3. Proprietary Database

If a service compiles their own database, they must be fairly successful. It's costly to build and maintain. Such well-funded providers are much more likely to stay around. From a usability standpoint, it's better too. You get a single interface that you can quickly learn.

And I've never seen a free service that has its own database. Most of the free services I've checked out are really just link farms - they just point you at some public or government database.

4. Training and Support

Be sure you can easily learn to use any service you choose. Actually, you'll find the better services are intuitive - how to search will make sense as soon as you look at it. But better services will also provide extra, in-depth searching. If you ever need the extra, it might require you dig into it a bit before you can fully use it. Just make sure your service has easy, accessible ways to learn, like tutorials.

And don't ignore support. Sooner or later you'll have questions or there will be something you need help to get resolved. It's best if they offer free, live support.

Final Word

Join the millions using the web to track down old friends and new friends. But make it easier on yourself by using a People Search service rather than a general search engine. Have fun finding out exactly what did become of your old friend (or even your old, not-so-friendly ex)

People Search

People Locator Pro

Business Background Check

2008-12-08T22:27:00.004-06:00

Background Checks: How They Can Help Better Protect Your Small Business Against Crime

If you run a small business, you've got a lot of worries. Besides all the normal concerns like competition and pricing and location and customer service... now security has become increasingly important. You face the threat of theft, fraud, embezzlement, scams... the list seems almost endless.

When you're in business, you can run up against...

- Suppliers who provide shoddy goods that you don't discover until after you've paid for them
- Customers whose orders you promptly fill but who wiggle out of paying
- Employees who rob you of everything from supplies and equipment to cash and services.

The Federation of Small Business - a British business group reported that over half (58%) of all small businesses in the UK suffered at least one crime during a recent two year period. They concluded:

"Crime, and the fear of crime, can directly impact on day to day business activities. It can damage a business image, resulting in the loss of existing customers and deterioration in the quality and range of services offered by the business, which will limit turnover (profits) and
restrict business development."

When you run a small business, it's up to you to look out for your company. But how?

Background Search Services on the Web Provide an Economical Answer

Many of the problems that small businesses face in trying to deter crime can be helped with information available on the Internet. You can use 21st Century technology to get the better of the crooks and thieves and scam artists.

But if you're not familiar with whats available, you may not realize all the important things you can find out with a good background checking service.

It used to be expensive to check into someone's background to see if they were hiding anything. You had to hire a private detective or pay big bucks to an investigative agency. Not today - not with Internet databases so readily available to us. Some of the services are free. However, a business will benefit most from the more in-depth background checking services.

These higher quality services usually charge a fee to subscribe, but it's smaller than you'd expect - especially considering the volumes and usefulness of the information they provide. A year of service is often less than what you'd pay to bring in lunch for a staff meeting. Plus, the paid services are kept more up-to-date and are typically faster and easier to use.

Sometimes referred to as Internet Detective sites, or Personal Search sites, the website based services give you the low-down on all kinds of formerly-hidden information.

Here are the types of things you can and should be looking into for the protection of your business...

Criminal Background Checks

Any time your business is dealing with someone you don't know, you should run a quick check to see if they have any history of criminal activity. It's very simple to find out about:

- Criminal Records
- FBI Records
- Prison Records
- Sex Offender Status

You have access to their entire criminal history if there is one. With violence in the workplace such a major issue, a simple criminal check can be a very effective way to avoid problems before they happen.

Background Check for Employment (Pre-Employment Screening)

If you've got a small business, you should be pre-screening each person you consider hiring. No matter how professional, or how harmless, they appear.

A small print shop franchise in Florida hired an especially friendly fellow as their bookkeeper after the owner got too busy to handle it himself. The new employee didn't offer much in the way of references but he sounded like he knew what he was doing and - big plus - he agreed to work cheap. The owner figured he would save money hiring the guy. He figured wrong.

The bookkeeper drained more than a hundred thousand dollars out of the company before they found him out. Turned out he'd previously been charged with embezzlement. Something a criminal background check would have quickly turned up.

Background Check Existing Employees - Make it a Condition of Employment

You shouldn't check only new hires. Over time, employees can develop habits and get involved in activities you'd never suspect. So you should regularly check on existing employees. Note: this is something you should get legal advice for - but generally if it's a condition of employment and you let them know in writing, it's not invading privacy. You entrust employees with company funds or materials that can be stolen, or negotiating and purchasing power that can be abused. Keeping an eye on existing employees is just being prudent.

Too many small business owners think of their company as an extension of their family. They don't want to think ill of the people they give jobs to. Truth is, most employees are trustworthy. They just want to do a good job and get paid fairly - but they see you as the boss, not their daddy. Even in real families, the black sheep will have absolutely no conscience about turning your good will to their good fortune. Don't be so kindly that you end up getting taken for everything you own.

Background Check Each Company or Individual You Do Business With

You should investigate every supplier or contractor who serves your business. If the possibility of harm exists, then you need to know if someone you're in business with is likely to harm you. You can check credit, check backgrounds of the owners and managers, check the company itself for any past criminal or questionable activity.

Also check customers if your dealings with them permit. Most non-retail businesses will have the opportunity to look at their customer's backgrounds for any warning signs. Don't get left without payment for your products or services when a quick look up on the computer can resolve questions.

Check both suppliers and customers out. It's just good business.

Real Estate Business Transactions Are Often Easy Targets for Crime

Real Estate often involves significant investment, both initially and over time. Whether you're a landlord or a tenant, you need to check out those with whom you're doing business. Using a background check service, you can:

- Check Credit and determine if Social Security Numbers provided are valid
- Check Tenants for past problems or criminal activity
- Check Landlords for tenant actions against them or other legal problems

Charity and Other Community Support

Businesses frequently get called on to support their community. Charitable organizations often solicit donations, many times in sizable amounts. Before you give money freely to anyone, be sure they're legitimate by running a background check on their organization and the principals involved. Otherwise the help you think you're providing could turn around and hurt your business.

Final Word

Running a small business is more of a challenge today than ever before. Use online database search services to help you protect your business and keep you, your customers and your employees more secure.

Business Background Check

Reverse Phone Search: How You Can Find Out Who's Hiding Behind Any Phone Number

2008-12-08T22:20:00.002-06:00

Got a phone number but don't know who it is? Maybe you've seen strange numbers showing up on your teenager's cell phone bill. Or maybe you picked up a number to call about an investment - but you suspect a scam. Or maybe you found a mysterious number in your wife or husband's things. For dozens of reasons, we find ourselves with a telephone number - but no name.

You're itching to find out who it is. Not just for curiosity's sake. The safety of your family or the security of your bank account could be at stake. You need a way to discover just whose phone number you have.

There's good news. You've got options. I'm a professional writer and researcher. I've discovered four different ways you can find out who's hiding behind any phone number. You can:

- Call, pretending to be someone else
- Look it up in a published crisscross directory
- Befriend (or trick) someone at the phone company
- Go online and search

Let's see what's involved with each approach and discover when they work best...

Call the Number

It's the simplest thing you can do. Pick up the phone and call. But pretend to be someone else to avoid recognition. When they answer, ask for a person with an unusual name not likely to be there. Say something like "Hello, is Lilly Becky there? No? Are you absolutely sure? Well, who am I talking to then?" Be a little forceful. Even sound angry, as if you think they're lying to you. This approach can rattle the other person and make them reveal their identity.

Avoid this one if you're not comfortable acting. And make sure you don't call from a number that can be traced back to you!

Look in a Crisscross Directory

Crisscross Directories have been around since the late 1800s. They're like phone directories. But they organize their listings by phone number, or street address, instead of name. These directories are still available in print form even though most of the information is also now available by computer.

Such cross-references are primarily designed for business use. Usually, sales departments rely on them to conduct direct marketing, build lists of sales leads and gather business intelligence.

The drawback is that they're expensive - costing in the hundreds of dollars or more. Still, you can usually find copies in your library, especially for the local area you live in. If you're looking beyond your own town, you probably won't be able to use the free version in the library.

Get an Inside Connection

Having a buddy on the inside of the phone company was classic approach for TV detectives. If you recall the Rockford Files or Mannix or any other old private eye show, they were forever pulling over to a pay phone and calling their friend, Ginger or Susie or Maggie, at the telephone company. The friend would dutifully give them whatever information the PI needed to pursue the case.

Interestingly, this method actually works - even if it's a little on the shady side. If you know someone at the phone company, you can probably talk them into helping.

Unfortunately, they probably won't help you once a week like on the TV shows. At some point your friend's better judgment will take over. You'll be left with nothing but numbers again. (Makes you wonder, doesn't it, just what the detective had that you don't)

21st Century Answers - The Internet Search Solution

When it comes to finding out who's hiding behind a phone number, the best way I've found is online search. Yet, search takes time. And not finding what you want quickly gets very frustrating.

To help, a number of businesses exist to make reverse phone searching quicker and easier. These businesses have already found the best sources for reverse phone searching. They take you directly to the databases that have the information you need. You can find out names, addresses, and much more, starting with just a phone number.

Some of these Reverse Phone Lookup services are free. The better ones cost a little. Quality always does, in my experience.

If, in your case, it's not that important to get accurate information fast, then give the free services a shot. They're mostly supported by pay for performance advertising, like Adsense, which doesn't earn them much. That means the free services rarely have the money to invest either in buying data access or in creating more usable interfaces.

In my case, as a professional, getting quality information quickly is important. I pay the small fee and get reliable information.

But, even if I didn't write for a living and were just casually looking up phone numbers from time to time, I'd still go with a paid database service. The cost is minimal. Often a small, one-time fee covers one to three years or even longer. If I only looked up a number once or twice a year, it would still be worth it in time saved.

Final Word

As important as it can be, finding out personal information with just a phone number used to be nearly impossible. Today it can be quick and easy. I've found four approaches that work, but one proved the simplest and most effective. It's using a quality, reverse-phone-search service online.

In a future article I'll talk about some of the reasons reverse phone search can be so important in these times. You might be surprised to hear how it not only can satisfy curiosity, it could even save your life.

Reverse Phone Search