OT: background check

filmy wrote on 2/4/2006, 11:31 AM

I know most of us know this but I was doing some random searhing for zipcodes and the like and one link went to this website called People Search and it begs the question - "Why is this legal?" and "How is this legal?"

Ok - so they claim all info is "Public Record" so that, at a certian level, explains how and why this is legal but to me this is somehting that used to be restricted to people like PI's and what not. The "funny" thing and partly why I am bringing this up here, is that the common person should have no reason to have access to all the information being offered here. Their own " Restrictions" state the following:

You agree to use our information only for appropriate, legal purposes, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Additionally, you agree that our databases and information may not be used to bother, stalk, harass, threaten or embarrass any individual. You may not use the service to look up celebrities or other public persons, or to locate individuals under the age of 18.

[SNIP]

In the event of using this service for criminal or civil background checks, you should not assume that this data provides a complete or accurate history of any person's criminal or civil history. You should consult state and federal laws before using this information in making decisions on hiring or firing of employees. Intelius can not offer legal advice on how to use the information contained in criminal or civil background reports, and are not responsible for any action taken by the customer based on this information.

[SNIP]

Intelius is not a consumer reporting agency as defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), and the information in the Intelius databases has not been collected in whole or in part for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports, as defined in the FCRA. You shall not use any of our information as a factor in (1) establishing an individual's eligibility for personal credit or insurance or assessing risks associated with existing consumer credit obligations, (2) evaluating an individual for employment, promotion, reassignment or retention (including employment of household workers such as babysitters, cleaning personnel, nannies, contractors, and other individuals), or (3) any other personal business transaction with another individual (including, but not limited to, leasing an apartment).

So what is the real reson for this? If I am a filmmaker or other fact finder doing something on a "celebrity" according to this site I could not use the info being offered for research. If I were some sort of business, well they say that is not what this site if for either. So that leaves what? Joe average wanting to stalk someone - oh, but wait - they say that their "databases and information may not be used to bother, stalk, harass, threaten or embarrass any individual."

What on earth is the reason for this? You don't need any SS number - all you need is a name and a state. (But really you don't even need a state - it will search nationwide as well or you can look up by phone number or SS as well.) I looked up myself and it came up, I looked up some people on this forum and for $49.95 I can get information that Includes current & previous addresses, alias names, roommates, relatives, family members, marriage, divorce, neighbors, property ownership, legal judgments & more personal profile info.

And it goes a bit deeper than that - the "Property Report" seems to include a satelite image of the property you own along with detailed land info, tax info, assement info and cenus info. And a list of your neighbors as well.

Ulisited phone number? According to this a phone report includes matches for up-to-the-minute phone listing updates, unlisted, non-published, cellular, residential, business, pager, pay phones, and other phone types. Address will be listed in report when available.

Big Brother is watching for sure and it isn't even the govt really - it is anyone with 50 bucks.

And of course thorugh all of this:

Q: Is anyone notified I am searching for them?

Comments

Jay Gladwell wrote on 2/4/2006, 11:36 AM

Actually, I've used it a few times to find people--long lost friends.

Once I used it to see if the guy my daughter was dating had a criminal record. He didn't.

johnmeyer wrote on 2/4/2006, 1:10 PM

Did a check on my name. This is what it comes back with:

==========================
Background Report for John Meyer

Includes: 20 Year History, Criminal Check, Bankruptcies, Tax Liens, Judgments, Small Claims, Relatives, & Roommates.

We FOUND UNIQUE Background data for John Meyer in CA State.

Our preliminary search returned the following information:
1 Record in CARMEL, CA

Background Check Report Also Includes: Available Phone Numbers, Maiden & Other Names, Home Value, House Facts, Property Description, and other People Search related information.
==========================

As far as I know, this information has always been available to government agencies. What has changed is WHO it is available to and how easily it can now be obtained. Used to be you had to go down to the courthouse and get the house sale records. Now, you just click and pay.

There is definitely something disquieting about this, but I think the earlier posters don't quite have it right. It definitely isn't a Big Brother thing at all. Good 'ol Big Brother has had access to this stuff for a long, long time. What is so disturbing is that "Little Brother" can get it now too. That means, you, me, your school, your employer, some neighbor who doesn't like you -- this list is endless.

I actually considered getting this information to help settle a dispute with someone on eBay, but when I got to the page where it showed all the information I would get, a little voice inside said, "What the heck are you doing??" I stopped right there.

So, as much as I detest big government and government intrusion, the real problem with this stuff is that everyone else now has it, not just the government who has had it all along.

rmack350 wrote on 2/4/2006, 2:41 PM

What if I find out I've got a criminal record? Will I ever be able to trust myself again?

Seriously though, it's annoying. It's also tempting to see what other people could know about me, but I sure as hell wouldn't give these guys a credit card number.

Rob Mack

Coursedesign wrote on 2/4/2006, 2:47 PM

...and did you check out his Maiden Name?!?

That alone was worth the $19.95!

:O)

farss wrote on 2/4/2006, 3:25 PM

There's another side to this, being able to prove who YOU are.
Working in the hire business this is becoming an increasing problem. We don't have social security numbers and no legal requirment that you carry idnetity cards or have a passport.
That sounds like a good thing until at 4PM on a Friday you want to hire a camera from us and unless you can provide identification it isn't going to happen. Being able to access this kind of data from the one place could be a godsend if it covers down here which it probably doesn't.
If you think we're being paranoid, well some of my own gear ended up in the hands of the Russian marfia. The gent had a very legit looking drivers licence but when finally caught it turns out he had many legit drivers licences, all with different names but the same photo. He also had several passports of different nationality with names that matched the drivers licences, all with the same photo.

Bob.

Steve Mann wrote on 2/4/2006, 3:41 PM

"As far as I know, this information has always been available to government agencies. What has changed is WHO it is available to and how easily it can now be obtained. Used to be you had to go down to the courthouse and get the house sale records. Now, you just click and pay."

Slight correction here - it's always been available *from* government agencies. The WHO has not changed at all. Any citizen has always been able to go to the county courthouse to look up any public information about property, recorded contracts, court rulings and judgements, wills, birth and death certificates, and your voting registration. They just didn't make it easy. You used to be able to look up license plates data until a Hollywood personality was stalked and killed about ten years ago. You still can, but you have to identify yourself and why you want the data.

Steve Mann

filmy wrote on 2/5/2006, 6:07 AM

Just to clear up a few things on my end -

Jay said he had used this service to look up some old school friends...now I ask why on earth would anyone have a need to get so much info? I can understand doing a phone number or addy look up for someone you went to school with but is there a real need to also get their criminal records? Their marrige/diveroce records? Their roomate information? Their property information? And so on. Not only is it overkill I think it is disturbing.

John restated exactly what I was said very well. Everyone and anyone has access to all "public info" with ease now...at least much more ease than they used to have.

Bob - according to the "FAQ" the service is only available to find people in the United States. So unless your potential cusotmer came in with a valid ID from the U.S you would be SOL. And of course this leads to the question what is someone has left the country? Would the info reflect that? Or is there some international "cone of silence" that would prevent that so called "public information" from being given out?

My other point in my post, and I admit is was somewhat hidden, was that this, and probablt other sites, offer informaiton that is "public information" yet they also claim to have access to things like unisted phone numbers. To me an unlisted phone number is just that and it is not public but according to the site i metion they say that anytime someone put informaiton on things like an application it becomes public. I also question that. ..what i might put down on a loan application or a job application is not in any way public information and I always understood that disclosing that information to someone was agaist the law.

With identity theft on the rise this kind of stuf should be even more of a concern. last week their was a disturbing piece in the paper about a rising trenn in Identity thieves- they are taking kids information and using it. The scam is to find information on children, get their SS info and open up CC accounts. Run up bills and declair bakruptcy. Suddenly the "kid" becomes an "adult" and they are told they cannot get credit or loans or such. Now I know this site in question says you can not look up minors and my daughters name did no come up however her dance teachers daughters name did - came up saying there was an unlisted phone number and address available. I also looked up several "celebrites' and got hits on all of them as well...and even though the site says you are not allowed to do that sort of thing what is to prevent someone from doing it? Unless it is a higly visable person I doubt the service has any cross referance for knowing who a person of intrest is, or isn't.

DrLumen wrote on 2/5/2006, 9:57 AM

When I have run across these sites, it always surprises me the amount of information that is available. It is a bit scary ...

However, all the info they get is publicly available. The kicker is that they compile all the publicly available info. Hence it is not against the law but these type companies skate the line of ethics. Can they do it? Yes. Should they do it? IMO No! Also, if they make money from selling info about me, I should get royalties. ;)

There are steps that you can take to cut down on the info that is available. For example, you can write to your state drivers license administration and "opt-out" them providing your license info to the general public. Someone in Texas can anyway... Opting out or requesting info be kept confidential will cut down on any new information about you. But these companies, like Lexis/Nexis, have archives so once it is public info, they can keep the records even though you now may have an "opt-out" provision. To use the above example, they have your drivers license info from last year on record but they "shouldn't" get any new license info once you opt-out.

As to real estate records, county tax records, lawsuits, judgements, divorces, etc... There is no way (short of getting a judge to seal your records which is not very likely) to get rid of those as they are truly public records.

If you ever run across any info that shows your SS#, credit report(s) or medical info, you need to nail the info provider and their source to the wall with a very obnoxious lawyer. A SS# and medical records are not public record and is against the law to release... Credit reports can be gotten but whomever requests them must have a "permissible purpose" and the law provides for fines that can be collected is someone gets a credit report outside the reasons provided by law.