What can a background check find out about you?

With a digital era upon us, it’s no surprise that people are becoming protective of their information online. With fraud and identity theft on the rise, safeguarding and protecting our details is important. Most professionals know the importance of using a reputable platform to have a background check done (we recommend using checkpeople.com)– it’s a great tool for monitoring inconsistencies or problems that pop up.

But if you’ve never performed a background check, you may be wondering what information it can find out about you.

Here’s a list of just some details the report may include, should you opt to invest in the service:

Driving Records

Whether you’ve had a few infractions or a major DUI charge, most background checks will include some form of driver’s abstract on the report. Depending on state regulation, these records can go back as far as ten years. Use this opportunity to review anything it pulls to verify the details. If something doesn’t look right, make sure to have it corrected as soon as possible.

Employment History

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been with a company for six months or ten years. Chances are a background check may have the details of your employment on file. This can also include any educational background you hold and drug test records within the company. Make sure to check your history for any discrepancies. Although dates are not a huge red flag, if you notice employment histories that don’t match your personal history, there’s a chance you’ve been a victim of identity theft.

Credit Report

While you may be on top of your bills, reviewing your credit account is always a good idea. A background check will typically indicate any accounts or loan information you have, any defaults or delinquent payments, bankruptcy (within the last ten years, depending on state regulation), and civil judgments against you.

The credit report will also include any accounts that have been sent to collections too, giving you the chance to verify everything in one place.

Social Security Number Validation

An employer will always confirm an employee’s ability to work in the United States before sending an offer of employment. This is a normal inclusion with a background check, giving the name and address history connected to the SSN. Make sure you verify any names and addresses attached to your SSN. If you find any unknown addresses in your file, always report the discrepancy immediately.

Sex Offender Registry

Most background checking platforms scan the name entered against the National Sex Offender Registry, which includes all registries in the country. You’ll likely know if you’re on this registry, but it never hurts to verify another person with the same name has been attached to your identification. These reports will typically show independently and under the criminal history section of your report.

Criminal History

Your criminal history is something most people don’t think about daily, but it definitely shows up on a background report. Although it depends on the type of report being evaluated, most criminal history will, at minimum, be disclosed.

These may include prior incarceration (any jail time you’ve served), sex offenses, court records and documentations, convictions of misdemeanors, convictions of felonies, and any arrests made under your name. The report will also include any current or outstanding warrants in the system.

These records will show any history that you have had, so it’s wise to check out what’s on file before submitting to an employment scan. Always confirm that expunged records or removed charges are no longer showing on your file. If you see anything that shouldn’t be disclosed (like an expunged record), make sure to submit an appeal.

Social Media Accounts

Long gone are the days of remaining invisible online, especially as social media becomes commonplace for connecting with friends and relatives. Background checks can scour the internet for any online social media accounts connected to your personal information. You’ll be able to monitor any new profiles, keeping your online image secure through these platforms. Always report these accounts as spam or fraudulent if you come across accounts that aren’t yours.

Business Assets

Although not every background check will include this information, some reports will contain any business assets or accounts associated with your name. This may include any registered businesses you are connected to, previous or current. To ensure that your name isn’t being used for identity fraud, always check the records.

Educating yourself on information included in a background check is only the initial step. For anyone adamant in keeping their information safe, secure, and confidential, running background checks can help you monitor for any sudden changes attached to your name. Keep an eye out for address changes, new accounts, social media profiles, or emails registered to your name – these are major red flags for identity theft. By staying current on your information, you’ll keep yourself protected and minimize the damage that comes with fraudulent accounts.