Nowadays, with the abundance of information available on the internet, people are becoming more cautious about accepting free things. However, if you’re looking to perform a background check on someone, there are ways to do it without using a credit card. While credit cards may provide a wealth of information, they are not necessary for conducting searches. If you don’t have a credit card or prefer not to use one, we’ll show you how to find out everything you need to know about a person for free. And if you have the means, hiring a private investigator is always an option, but it’s not the only one.
Running Free Background Checks
The Chamber of Commerce has provided valuable insights on conducting free background checks without the need for a credit card. Here are some of the ways they recommend:
Using Search Engines
Simply type the person’s full name and address in the search box of any search engine, like Google, and hit the search button. This will lead you to information about the individual, including past arrests, business dealings, inappropriate photos, and social media accounts. For more accurate results, enclose the person’s name in quotes and add additional information to narrow down the search, especially if there are other people with similar names.
Dig Through Social Media Accounts
In 2016, William Evaniva, Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, emphasized the importance of combing through social media to collect and review publicly available information. This helps to ensure that those responsible for safeguarding government secrets are doing so effectively. Today, many governments have incorporated background checks through social media accounts as part of their policies when determining visa eligibility. Employers are also utilizing social media profiles to ensure that potential hires align with company values and policies. Unlike resumes and interviews, social media accounts provide a glimpse into a person’s actual life and behavior, making it harder to hide any discrepancies.
Government Websites
According to Smore, we hold the power to decide who we allow into our lives by conducting a basic background check. The government has made a plethora of public information available on their websites, such as Arrest.us for those who have had a brush with the law, and SearchSystems for birth records and property ownership information. Although some of these sites are accessible online for free, others require a special portal that can only be accessed from government buildings.
Many websites offer free background checks, but most of them are just trying to increase their traffic. Once you start the process, you may be asked to pay a fee to complete the check, which can be as high as $19.99. However, these websites will justify the payment by claiming that it’s worth it, considering the hassle of accessing government portals. While it’s true that conducting your own background check can take up to two weeks, commercial services can do it much faster, saving you valuable time. Unfortunately, some websites are unreliable and use fake county pages to keep you clicking and waste your time. Therefore, it’s essential to do your due diligence before starting a free background check.
Are Background Checks Important?
Background checks remain an essential aspect of the hiring process, even if employers do not have access to a candidate’s credit card information. Entrepreneur has outlined several reasons why this is the case, emphasizing the importance of conducting various background checks to gain a comprehensive understanding of a potential hire.
Capturing Employment History
In today’s world, it’s easy to get a glimpse of someone’s professional background and receive endorsements by simply viewing their LinkedIn profile. By verifying their employment history, employers can ensure the competency of potential hires. It’s essential to hire someone whose abilities are unquestionable, especially when the reputation of the company is at stake.
Safety
Performing a background check for personal purposes, such as before getting married, is a wise decision to ensure your safety. Criminal records provide crucial information about the reasons behind a person’s arrest. It is crucial to take precautions and avoid inviting someone with a history of pedophilia to your home, especially when you have children. On the other hand, conducting a background check for professional reasons is equally important. A person with a fraudulent past cannot be trusted with a company’s finances, and it is essential to ensure the company’s safety and financial stability.
Liability Avoidance
Just imagine the consequences of failing to conduct a thorough background check on someone who ends up causing a fatal accident while driving under the influence. Your company will have to face the difficult task of explaining why an individual with a history of alcohol abuse was permitted to operate the truck.
You Can Do Your Own Background Check
Being proactive is essential when it comes to conducting a background check, and it’s not necessarily something you should wait to do until you’re looking for a job or applying for a visa. It’s always better to be aware of any mistakes or discrepancies in your records that could prevent you from accessing certain services. For instance, you might find out that you’ve been falsely accused of being a sexual predator, which could make it difficult to rent an apartment. Additionally, even if you do have some negative information in your past that could be uncovered in a background check, being mentally prepared to address any questions that may arise is crucial. GoodHire advises that you have the right to access any information pertaining to your personal life, so you can request to see your personal records to get a better idea of what might show up on a background check, whether or not you have a credit card.
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