Background checks protect you www.PersonalSecurity.TV

28 Aug 2007 · 2 min

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The CBS2 news report, anchored by Kirsten Cole, warns viewers about the hidden risks posed by people who enter their homes—such as nannies, coaches, landscapers, and handymen. Security experts explain that while corporations have long used background checks for hiring, consumer‑focused services like MyBackgroundCheck.com now let ordinary people run checks with just a few personal details, often without the subject’s knowledge. The segment follows Ted Stone, who paid about $20 for a nanny background check, illustrating typical costs that can rise to $100 depending on the depth of the report. Experts advise checking criminal records, sex‑offender registries, motor‑vehicle histories, education verification, and Social Security numbers, while noting that written permission is legally required before screening a prospective employee. The report also highlights concerns about data accuracy, urging consumers to verify that screening companies source information directly from courthouses or official records. Overall, the piece promotes proactive background screening as a means to gain peace of mind and protect families.

Chapters

—people having access to your home, even your children. Security experts warn what you don't know about them could hurt you.
CBS 2's Kirsten Cole has the details on how you can do a background check to put your mind at ease.
Your child's soccer coach, your landscaper, the handyman.
There are essentially, you know, unhealthy people out there, predators that come into our lives looking like and acting like that they're just good-natured people.
So to be sure you know who you're dealing with, security experts say Take your own precautions. For years, major companies have used background checks to look into prospective employees. But these days, business from the general public is booming at services like MyBackgroundCheck.com, where you need only a few bits of information to research somebody without their knowledge.
Now we easily do hundreds of thousands of personal background checks a year.
Ted Stone used a service when looking for a nanny for his infant son.
For the amount of time that it's going to take you, um, you know, it's well worth the, um, you know, the feeling you're going to have afterwards.
The peace of mind cost Ted about $20, and reports can run up to $100. It all depends on the scope of information you need.
You might want to verify that they graduated from college. You definitely want to do a criminal record check. Um, if they're going to be driving your children, you want to check their motor vehicle record.
You can also have a sex offender search or confirm a Social Security number. But if you check into someone someone who will be working for you, you must by law get written permission first.
I expect it. How can they really trust someone that's walking into their house without seeing their complete background?
So you want to make sure that the background screening company that you're using is a good screening company and they can give you good information.
Because some companies strictly rely on database searches, which may not always be 100% accurate, ask for all those details to be confirmed.
When they talk about criminal records research, you want to make sure that they're going to the courthouse or going to the source of the information to find out if the person does or does I have a record.
And as you send your kids back to school next week, understand that under state law, it is your right to check out a teacher's, even a coach's background, including disciplinary actions, salaries, education, attendance records. To find out how, log on to our website, WCBS-TV.com. I'm Kirsten Cole, CBS 2 News.