Background Checks International & Global - 101
Posted: Tuesday, March 08, 2011
by S. Birch
Global and international background checks are a relatively new service. Globalization and overpopulation, coupled with the widespread use of the internet, has created an environment where business is global, and people and firms are connected like never before. Companies and businesses can now easily have relationships with anyone in any location on the planet. Match-making and social networking sites like Facebook, Match.com and eHarmony are connecting people from all over the world like never before. Small business and corporations are also crossing borders at never seen before levels. Multi-national corporations are now facing competition from small business and even individuals in the global marketplace. This new playing field has new risks and unknowns. To hedge the risk, individuals and businesses are relying on international background checks.An international background check is the investigation process of verifying an organization or individual in a foreign country or countries. The goal of the international background check is to mitigate risk from fraud, scam, misrepresentation and the unknown. The service is a tool used to verify if a person is who he or she claims to be, or if a business is what it claims to be. On the business side, this is often known as due diligence. International relationships inherently have more risk, and businesses and consumers should be aware of the threat from scams and fraud. It's wise to minimize the risk when possible, and that's where international private investigators and background check firms come in to play. International background checks are normally conducted by a professional private investigator or background check firm. A true background check is a comprehensive verification process and customized service. It may cover factors such as criminal records, education and employment, address verification, identity check, document and passport check, visa verification, fraud screening, travel profile, civil records, marriage and divorce history, resume and professional associations verificiation, local government records, media and public records, immigration and travel records, and even discreet testimony from neighbors.
The Growing Threat from Scams and Fraud
Criminal activity on the internet is skyrocketing, and scams and fraud are at high levels worldwide. Law enforcement and private investigators estimate the problem is likely to worsen. Developed countries are reporting increased business fraud, internet fraud, romance scams, advance fee fraud, investment scams and more. Developing countries are booming with criminal operations working from places such as Moscow, Russia; Kiev, Ukraine; Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Bogota, Colombia and more. World class cities like London, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong are not immune from the problem. Both FBI field agents and Interpol report that international scams and fraud are rising. Companies and individuals should be aware of the growing risk, especially in international relationships via the internet. The threat is real.
The Hard Part - Choosing an Investigator
There are many companies or websites claiming to offer international background checks, and many are frauds themselves. Searching public or criminal records alone is not a background check, it is merely a tool in the investigation process. A real background check is a professional investigation conducted by professional investigators, so expect to pay a fair price. International background checks require international offices or international field investigators; there is no other way to verify an individual or organization in a foreign country. If the company or investigator has no office or investigator in the country where you require the investigation, keep shopping! To truly verify the facts, and verify if an individual is who he or she claims to be, it is essential to have someone in the same country who speaks the same language, who has local contacts and access to local records. Generic database searches can yield inaccurate results, and are not even available in many countries. Consult with an experienced private investigator or background check company with offices or field investigators where you need them.
1. Look for trust seals such as McAfee, BBB and Truste.
2. Check the Contact Us page for a real address and phone number.
3. Be skeptical of payments via PayPal, bank transfers or Western Union.
(These payments forms are preferred by criminals, and can be difficult for clients to recover losses in the event of fraud. PayPal is more commonly used by individuals rather than firms. Most professional companies will accept payment directly via their secure website.)
4. Ask for a client referral and search Google for references on the company.
5. See if the investigator is available for a phone conversation.
6. Expect to pay a reasonable price for a professional investigation service.
7. Verify there are field investigators or offices where you need them.
Business leaders, law enforcement and private investigators agree. International private investigators and international background check services are here to stay.
This Article has been viewed 683 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.