background check

Should You Run a Background Check on a Potential Partner?

There was a time when it was extremely difficult to run a background check on anyone, let alone a potential partner. However, with advances in technology and the rapid growth of the Information Superhighway (a.k.a. the Internet), you can now almost instantly find out anything you want to know about literally anyone if you have the right information and great resources.

One fast and easy way to run a background check on a potential partner is on Background Digger where you can find everything you need to know right down to having the ability to find arrest warrants online. This makes it really convenient. Even so, this still leaves the question, should you run a background check? Here’s some of what you might want to consider.

What Kind of Partner Are You Referring To?

In today’s society, the term ‘partner’ can be referring to either a business or a personal relationship. When defining the term, therefore, you really need to know what it is you are looking for. You will not necessarily want to know the same kinds of things about a potential business partner as you would in someone you are interested in sharing your intimate life with.

Therefore, the first thing to do is define what kind of partner you are looking for background information on. The type of searches you run may depend on exactly what you are looking for.

Does Something Feel Off?

Next, do you have a gut-level suspicion that something isn’t quite like it seems to be? Perhaps a potential business partner’s references all check out, but a gut feeling still tells you there is something they are hiding. You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to provide false references and if your potential business partner has less-than-reputable partners of their own, those references could be very easily faked!

As for a personal partner, that’s something else again. Sometimes, it’s only loneliness and a fear of never finding love that drives someone to lie about who they are and their personal background, but other times they are looking for some kind of gain.

What Do You Stand to Lose?

Knowing whether or not to run a background check on a potential partner can be best answered by knowing what it is you stand to lose. In business, as well as in personal relationships, if you stand to lose financially, then by all means, run a background check! All you need is the right information and you can get everything from arrest warrants to credit history.

Sometimes you can start an easy search with just a name and perhaps a current or past address. At other times, something more is needed, which would take a bit of professional help. In any case, it is always better to err on the side of caution and any reputable partner, business or personal, should understand that. We no longer live in a small-town society. Few people stay their entire lives in the cities and towns in which they were born, so you never know who it is you are dealing with. After all, wasn’t Ted Bundy often referred to as looking like the “boy next door?” He was handsome, polite, quiet and yes, a serial killer.

Should you run a background check? When in doubt – DO – run that check!

 

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