Many Americans seek reassurance that the person they are letting into their homes or lives is who they say they are. To find that reassurance, many turn to online background check companies looking for quick answers. But just how accurate are these background checks?
We tested three of the most popular consumer background check websites—BeenVerified, Spokeo, and TruthFinder—to see what they were able to find and, more importantly, what they missed.
The Reality of Background Checks
Despite promises to pull all available records, these background check websites often fall short. Cybersecurity expert Matthew Jakubowski, CEO of Warp World, explains how these sites work and their limitations.
We searched the names of seven Chicago men convicted of serious crimes such as sexual abuse or home invasion in recent years. Despite these men’s criminal histories being documented in various online news articles, the paid background check reports frequently came back incomplete or entirely blank.
For example:
• TruthFinder and BeenVerified had no record of Christian Valcich, a registered sex offender convicted of sexually assaulting a woman he met through Tinder. A quick Google search reveals several news articles about the crime.
• Spokeo and BeenVerified could not find any record of Leon Seville Taylor, whose criminal history spans decades with crimes ranging from battery to public indecency.
• In 2020, police issued a community alert for Forrest Petersen after he sexually assaulted a woman while posing as a delivery driver. Petersen was later convicted of home invasion, yet the most recent criminal record uncovered by Spokeo was from 1998.
Limitations and Cautions
Each of the background check sites cautions that the data they provide may be outdated or incomplete, and none of the reports should be used for employment, rental, or credit decisions. This disclaimer underscores the importance of not relying solely on these reports for critical decisions.
Opting Out
Consumers can “opt out” and have their information removed from the background check sites for free. Here are the links to do so:
• BeenVerified: Opt-Out
• TruthFinder: Opt-Out
• Spokeo: Opt-Out
Conclusion
Both our experts and the websites themselves advise that these reports should not replace your own due diligence. While background check websites offer a convenient way to gather information, their accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. For critical decisions, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research and verify information through multiple sources.