Do you suspect that someone in your circle has broken the law and is hiding something from you? Have you ever encountered someone who presents themselves differently than they really are? Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to lie about their financial situation, education, or even their criminal history. This can have serious consequences, especially when it comes to hiring new employees or getting married. But how can you find out the truth without relying on pure speculation? The solution is a background check. We’ll explain what this is, when and how it’s used, and highlight its role in both personal relationships and business.

The most important information in brief

• A background check is an examination of a person’s personal, professional, and often criminal background in order to verify their credibility and trustworthiness.
• A background check is useful when it is necessary to verify the authenticity and integrity of a person for professional, financial, or personal decisions.
• For example, life partners can be checked before marriage or if there is suspicion of infidelity, financial fraud, or a double life.
• Background checks are particularly useful in companies to verify the authenticity of information provided by applicants and to ensure the integrity of existing employees.
• Background checks are best carried out by detectives. They are specially trained to conduct in-depth and discreet investigations and uncover information that far exceeds their own capabilities and general methods.

What is a background check?

Definition Hintergrundüberprüfung

A background check refers to the process of verifying a person’s past in order to confirm their identity, actual living circumstances, employment history, criminal record, educational qualifications, and other aspects of their past. This allows you to find out whether the person has provided accurate information or is pretending to be someone they are not.

Such checks are often initiated by employers before hiring a new employee—and not only at management level. However, such a check is also useful in many other contexts, e.g. when renting an apartment, conducting financial transactions, or before deciding to get married.

What happens during a background check?

A background check examines various aspects of a person’s or company’s background. The aim is to determine whether the information provided by the person in a private or professional context is true. For example, the following aspects are researched:

• Personal background (e.g., date of birth, origin, parents)
• Actual living circumstances (e.g., home address, marital status)
• Personal history
• Professional career (education, jobs)
• Certificates and references (e.g., from previous employers)
• Other documents

The internet can be used as a source for this. This information is freely accessible to everyone. However, the investigations carried out by our experienced detectives go much deeper and they use resources that are not available to you as a private individual. For example, former employers or people from the person’s private sphere can also be interviewed (even covertly) and our international network enables investigations to be carried out worldwide.

Who performs background checks?

A private investigator ensures that the background check is conducted comprehensively and discreetly..

A private investigator ensures that the background check is carried out comprehensively and discreetly. A background check can be carried out on both private individuals and companies. Private and commercial detectives are equally trained to find out the desired information. Of course, care must always be taken to ensure that the personal rights of the person under investigation are protected. When a detective conducts secret investigations, there must always be a “legitimate interest” on the part of the client that outweighs the right to privacy. This could be, for example, a suspicion that someone is undermining your private, professional, or financial rights, and you are therefore seeking evidence to protect your position.

With a detective, you can be sure that thorough and discreet background checks will be carried out. Detectives have special skills and resources. Their experience enables them to uncover information that is difficult for laypeople to access, while at the same time respecting the legal limits of data protection and privacy. Hiring a detective therefore provides a professional and comprehensive assessment of a person or situation.

When are background checks useful?

A background check can be useful in a wide variety of situations. In relationships, for example, it can be helpful to find out whether your partner has a history of violence, is having an affair, is using a false identity, is leading a double life, or is trying to defraud you financially. As soon as there is concrete suspicion, it is advisable to check whether there is already a history or evidence of this. As trained, professional detectives, we investigate whether there are any previous convictions.

But even when it comes to hiring new employees, a background check can help provide clarity: Is all of the applicant’s information correct? Do they have a criminal record or have they lied about their educational qualifications? A detailed background check can give you certainty and protect you from the financial consequences of making the wrong decision.

Whatever situation you find yourself in, a background check is always a good idea if you have specific suspicions or want to be sure that someone is telling you the truth and not providing false information.

Are background checks permitted in Germany?

Anders als in Amerika, darf in Deutschland nicht einfach das Führungszeugnis untersucht werden.

In principle, such background checks are permitted. However, as with everything, there are exceptions and rules that must be observed and complied with.
In Germany, for example, it is generally not permissible to examine an applicant’s police clearance certificate, as is customary and permitted in background checks in the USA. The applicant’s right to privacy and the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) serve as protective mechanisms for the employee.

However, in certain occupational groups and depending on the job profile, a police clearance certificate may be requested. To do so, the employer must be able to demonstrate a legitimate and protectable interest. This applies to the following scenarios, for example:

• Pharmacists: Screening for drug offenses
• Bank employees: Screening for financial crimes
• Youth workers: Screening for sexual offenses

In general, such requirements must always be based on a so-called “legitimate interest” that outweighs the individual’s right to privacy.