Posts Tagged ‘Criminal’

Neglecting Criminal Records Searches Might Cost You Dearly

Friday, April 1st, 2011

Skimping on a criminal records search will make you pay!

Recently, in a case in Naples FL, police arrested the building manager of a high-rise on theft charges.  In all, an estimated $11,090 worth of jewelry and electronics, along with prescription pain killers and “a large amount of cleaning supplies” were stolen.  Some of the stolen goods were recovered from the residence of the building manager.  Police are still investigating whether other thefts are also linked to this case.

The suspect, Robert Adamczewski, was hired 3 years ago.  The president of the condo association that hired Adamczewski claims he did a criminal records search that “came back showing no criminal history.”  He says, “We were shocked. We had put a lot of trust and faith in our manager. It was really unfortunate because a lot of people have trusted him. They like Bob.”  Right.  Obviously, liking someone is only part of the story when deciding to hire them.  The rest of this person’s character could have been revealed be a criminal background check from a reputable source.  By saving a few dollars, or saving his lazy ass a few calories by not properly researching his options, this president allowed a criminal to work in a position of trust.

It will be obvious to any intelligent person that in this instance, the lost trust toward the president of this condo association and any future building manager he hires will be far harder to replace than the over $12,000 worth of items that were stolen.  Had he conducted a criminal records search from a  reputable online company, he could have saved himself this stain on his reputation.

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Instant Background Checks Launched by eVerify

Monday, February 7th, 2011

Boston-based eVerify today announced the launch of a background check service that provides instant access to a person’s criminal record, marriage records and other information.

While technology has made everyone vulnerable to scam artists, criminals and sex offenders, eVerify gives consumers a way to fight back and protect themselves. eVerify is based on proprietary search technology that taps into more than a billion records.

“eVerify not only protects people, it provides peace of mind,” according to General Manager Alon Cohen. “While there is, of course, no guarantee that the person you’re dealing with will be honest, eVerify will identify any potential problem areas. eVerify gives consumers the information they need, when they need it.”

By entering a person’s name, phone number, address or e-mail address into eVerify’s easy-to-use background check system, consumers can learn a person’s complete history.

Simply log in, enter the information, and eVerify will search through multiple databases simultaneously, creating a report that includes a profile page with address, marriage records, date of birth and other information; any criminal records; a listing of neighbors and relatives; vital records; property ownership, and information about the area where the person lives.

A “Deep Web Search” feature enables users to dig deeper, adding information from social media and other online sources to the background check. Customer service representatives are available at no extra charge when help is needed.

Why conduct a background check? Consumers who use online dating services, who are considering making a purchase from someone or who are otherwise putting themselves in a compromising position can conduct a background check to ensure that the person they’re going to be dealing with is a reputable person without a criminal past. They can also determine whether the person is honest by, for example, validating information such as marital status and place of residence.

eVerify was created because of the growing incidence of online crime, including scams and crime relating to online relationships, according to Cohen.

Online Schools found that one out of 10 users of online dating is a scammer, and one out of 10 sex offenders uses online dating services to meet people. In its most recent annual report, Javelin Strategy Research found that fraud increased by 12.5 percent in 2009 and now accounts for $54 billion in consumer losses. Javelin has attributed increasing fraud to online scams.

All inquiries and background checks are 100% confidential. Consumers can sign up for a free seven-day trial on the eVerify Web site at www.eVerify.com.

About eVerify
eVerify of Boston, Mass., was founded to provide consumers with state-of-the-art tools to protect themselves from online scams and criminals. For additional information, visit the eVerify Web site at www.eVerify.com.

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Bogus Background Check Ruins Chances of Employment

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

A Virginia Beach resident claims his identity was stolen in El Paso, Texas and as a result he is failing employment background checks which is effectively ruining his chances at getting a job.

John Shelby lived in El Paso several years ago; he was arrested for trespassing when he went to pick up his friend from a local high school, but the charge was later dismissed. However, his information and mug shot were in the system.

A few years later, when he was working at the Tigua Indian Reservation, he applied for a promotion. He was denied and supervisors told him when they ran him name through a background check, he was listed as incarcerated in the El Paso County Jail.

After some research, he found out another man named Jason Newton, who had been arrested, told police his name was John Shelby. Since he was in the system, they arrested Newton under the alias of Shelby. Shelby made several calls and eventually received a letter from the police department saying the real John Shelby was not in jail and this was a case of identity fraud.

Years later, Newton continued to use Shelby’s name, and was accused of crimes such as robbery and engaging in organized criminal activity. Newton is now serving a life sentence for attempted murder in McKinney, TX. But even after moving away and attempting to have his record expunged, Shelby says he is still failing background checks because of this ordeal.

Point is, if you are being repeatedly turned down for jobs and not being told exactly what is going on, you need to find out what’s going on. Employers are required to tell you if a background check is the reason you are not getting a job. However, if they are conducting a background check using an online service, you’ll never know and can’t do anything about not being hired.

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Posted in Background Check, Virginia | 1 Comment »

When Background Checks Don’t Prevent Acts of Extreme Violence

Sunday, November 21st, 2010

a string of grisly murders in Mount Vernon Ohio emphasize the need for community interaction and show that background checks and sex offender searches aren't always the answer.Every so often a crime so heinous, that it casts doubt on the sanity of people, occurs. Often times they are associated with quiet people or neighborhoods where absolutely nobody saw it coming (yes I realize that’s a stereotype, but it illustrates a point). It also seems that extremely violent crime is on the upswing, which has also been illustrated by past articles.

Living just south of Minneapolis, Minnesota, out of the turmoil of the cities used to make me feel safe, but sadly that’s in the past. These days I deadbolt my doors at night and keep a dog in the house to warn of any intruders. I’m even thinking about acquiring a .308 Winchester in the interest of safety. Mind you, I’m not a gun-toting NRA member (for the benefit of the illustration), but rather just your average citizen who feels the social climate in the country is taking a drastic turn towards the violent.

Recently, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, such a crime I speak about occurred that had chills running up and down my spine. Two women and an 11 year old boy were repeatedly stabbed until dead, then dismembered, and their remains tossed into garbage bags and stuffed into a hollow tree. This occurred in a small, quiet town. The type of place that used to enjoy quiet nights, crime free neighborhoods, and the peace that went with knowing practically everyone else. Even the family dog was killed and sent the way of the others. I don’t know about you, but this hits really close to home and makes me wonder about everyone, including my neighbors.

The victims disappeared November 10 along with a fourth person, the 13 year old daughter of one of the victims. She was later found, bound and gagged in the basement of a local unemployed tree-cutter named Matthew Hoffman, who is being accused of this string of grisly murders. Hoffman provided information to authorities which lead them to the bodies of the victims inside a 60 foot tall American Beech tree, within a wildlife preserve in Fredericktown, Ohio. As a tree-cutter Hoffman had his own climbing equipment which helps explain how he was able to dispose of the bodies in this manner. As yet, Hoffman is the only suspect in the case.

These disappearances, followed by the discovery of the bodies, have unfolded much the same way a horror film would. Local residents also formed search parties in the hopes of being able to find the missing victims. Local residents have absolutely no idea why the victims were targeted and the killer certainly hasn’t made it clear either. However, the local sheriff did say that Hoffman had spent 6 years in a Colorado prison for arson…among other charges. Colorado is considered an open records state, so you could easily find out.

A relative did say the victims suspected they were being watched in the months leading up to the attack. A person sometimes sat across the street in camouflage staring at the house. Other times, someone would knock on the door and run away. However, this is an extreme case of 20/20 hindsight, and the fact remains nothing was done to address this issue and it turned into a grievous nightmare. The victims could have asked the neighbors to keep watch and alert them if someone was acting strange. However, a trend that I have noted is the individualization of our society. This is so extreme that often neighbors have no idea who the people living next door are.

Instead of trying to get to know their neighbors, many people are turning to background checks and sex offender searches to make sure there isn’t a predator living just feet away from their doorstep. Unfortunately, this isn’t a good substitute for good old fashioned friendships and getting to know other folks in the neighborhood. So, if you truly want to feel at least a little safer, don’t just get a background check on the locals, but also make sure you get to know your neighborhood and who lives there. This might be somewhat inconvenient, but is necessary, especially today. Murderers and rapists just don’t fit into traditional molds anymore and the person you least suspect could have a history of violent crime. On the other hand, the person you most suspect could be the most peaceable individual you will ever meet.

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Posted in General News and Opinions, Ohio | 1 Comment »

Personal Background Check Before Employment When Criminal Records Are a Problem

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

How to Conduct a Personal Employment Background Check.

A job seeker recently wrote to me and presented a rather unique problem that required a little thought, and I thought that more people might have need of the advice I gave him.

His original question was: “Over 20 years ago I was arrested on a warrant from ***** County IL but never went to court. I met with the State’s Attorney and thought the matter was dismissed. I recently found out that I have an arrest record and it is affecting a job that I am attempting to secure. They want me to prove that I don’t have a conviction. How can I find out what the outcome of this situation was since all of the records in Chicago were destroyed? I really need a place to start.”

This is of course a different kind of problem, but there are actually quite a few places where one can proceed with obtaining records. The first place I would start of course is the county where your transgression took place. If a background check dredges up records that were supposedly destroyed, they have obviously not been disposed of. Had they been truly destroyed, then they wouldn’t be showing up and biting you in the wrong places every time you try to get a job.

If you can’t go to the county courthouse yourself and have a little money to spare, I would recommend an on-site county records search either by a detective agency or an online background check provider. Currently, the only online service I recommend for this is eFindOutTheTruth. While USSearch and Intelius offer such a service, they don’t compete on this particular product.

Another thing you can try is a nationwide criminal records search. This is once again a reference check, and won’t necessarily turn anything up. I say this because there are a number of closed-records states, which means they don’t allow automated indexing of their criminal records. So if you do get a criminal records search, make it a nationwide search as there might be something bogus on your records in a different state from where you reside. As an aside note, do not take any special offers from any background check service. All they do is sign you up to a monthly subscription.

If you are willing to spend the money to check if there are criminal records on your records fairly quickly and hassle free, use the ideas above. You can also use the resources offered by the law enforcement in the state where you live, and even the FBI. These types of searches can take up to 8 weeks, but are the real McCoy as far as your record is concerned.

You can also visit the state criminal justice information authority website for the state you live in. Their websites will usually have everything you need to know. Usually you’ll find information on how to obtain your records and how to get records expunged as well. They should also be able to answer any questions you have about submitting proof of dismissal, acquittal, or whatever else you may need for employment purposes. To get there, just proceed to Google and type the name of your state followed by “criminal records”. For example, if I lived in Texas, I would go to Google and type “texas criminal records”. The url will often include state.(two letter state acronym).us if it’s an official state law enforcement website. WHATEVER you do, do NOT go for the free records offers. I was looking around yesterday in preparation for this article and found myself clicking on such a link being offered by a typical scam site. I was very surprised at, because I have been in this business for over 2 years, and thought I was past all that.

The next step, if nothing turns up, is to check your FBI records. There is a chance you have a criminal records on file with the FBI. This wasn’t so common years ago, but these days many state law enforcement agencies report felonies to the FBI, as well as putting them on record in the home state. When I say FBI, I’m referring to the NICS. Since it was only started in 1998, there is the possibility that older criminal records might not be included. However, you should be aware that the FBI maintains a number of records databases as well. You can visit the link below at the FBI’s website for instructions on obtaining your own record: www.fbi.gov.

Hopefully these steps help you with clearing up your own records in the event there is some discrepancy that can’t be pinned down. Or, if you just need to check on your personal history, this is also a good way to ensure you don’t have anything negative on your record. Another step you can take is to check and monitor your credit report and score. Millions of Americans have been turning to credit monitoring in this age of massive identity theft to help avoid a personal catastrophe.

Get started with some very good background check services at the home page.
If you would like to check your credit score or obtain credit monitoring services proceed to EquiFax and get started with a credit report.

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