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How to Run a Background Search on Someone You Are Dating (Legally & without Them Knowing)

clock Updated: 3 days ago

How to Run a Background Search on Someone You Are Dating (Legally & without Them Knowing)

There are certain reasons that you may want to perform a background search on someone. If you’re wondering how you can do this, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll guide you to do a background search legally.

Personal reasons for doing a background search on someone

A thorough background search consists of information about education, criminal records, credit history, driving records, etc.

Compared to background checks in a professional setting, background checks for personal reasons don’t necessarily require consent from that person. You can perform it secretly without violating regulations. Below we’ve gathered specific reasons for running a background search on someone.

1. Before starting a personal relationship with someone

Nowadays, meeting your significant other online is becoming a norm. But before you decide to start a relationship with that person, you should be cautious to avoid being catfished. The information written in the bio or what he/she told you online might not be real. To check if that person is trustworthy, you can run a background check.

2. Just out of curiosity

There may be no specific reasons for running a background search on someone. You may just be curious when a new family moves to your neighborhood. Or before you move to a new apartment where you’ll share the public space with others, you might be interested in learning about them and their history.

In addition to the reasons listed above, you may also opt to run a background check on your business partner. This can significantly reduce the risk of doing business with someone who has low credit scores, which helps you minimize financial loss.

Now you’ve got your reasons, the next thing you need to know is how you can perform a background search on someone.

How to do a background search online

With access to the internet, you just need to invest some time and patience in order to run a background check. But the depth and breadth of information you can acquire will vary when you do it on your own or use some background search services (recommended).

Search on your own

Below are several ways that won’t cost you a dime.

If you know the basic information about that person such as full name, date of birth, and birthplace, simply do a Google search. To get the best results, put the texts you enter in “quotes”. This will tell the search engine to only return exact matches. If you’re presented with too many results, use more keywords to narrow the search.

2. Look at social media accounts

Many people use social media. So odds are the person you’re trying to run a background check on has at least one social media account. You can search for their name on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn (work history), etc. What they write on their bio or what they post provides a glimpse of their life.

3. Use government-maintained databases (especially for criminal records)

Background checks, especially criminal background checks, can be performed by browsing government websites. You can directly go to the local, county, and state courts to specifically look for criminal history.

Do a background search by using some online services

Although there are many ways you can acquire someone’s personal information without spending a penny, this process is time-consuming, and sometimes nerve-wracking. Besides, the information you can acquire is usually quite limited or even inaccurate. In this case, you should try using some online background search services. It just takes a matter of seconds.

TruthFinder

When it comes to online dating background check services, TruthFinder tops our list for the comprehensive information it provides. Running a search on TruthFinder can help you find out whether someone has a criminal or traffic record and you have access to lots of information.

Below are the steps you can take to run a background check on someone.

  1. Navigate to the TruthFinder’s search page.
  2. Select a search option based on the information you have. Then enter the information into the corresponding field and click SEARCH.
  3. When it finds your match, unlock their background check report.


    The above image is from a sample TruthFinder report. Actual TruthFinder reports may contain more or less information.

BeenVerified

Most people leave a public record footprint. To verify if a person is who he or she claims to be, do some public records searches.

A BeenVerified background search often reveals a person’s:

  • current address and phone number
  • prior addresses, email addresses
  • other people or family members who may have lived with the person
  • social media records
  • information about a person’s criminal history and more
  1. Navigate to the search page.
  2. Enter the corresponding information into the text field and click on the Search button. (You may not need to provide all the information. But the more information you have about that person, the more accurate the result is. Or you can search by the person’s phone number or email. )
  3. If there are too many results that can match up with the information you provided, you’ll be required to offer more information such as living addresses to narrow down the search.

    But if you really have little information about that person, you can simply click on I’m not sure. You’ll be presented with myriads matches and you have to check them one by one.

  4. Check the box and click I agree.

Then you’ll be required to enter your email address to receive the background search report. Then it will take seconds or minutes to generate the report.

Once the process is finished, you’ll be taken to the sign-up page. There, simply select your membership plan and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the sign-up process.
(Discounts available may vary from time to time. )

Spokeo

Another background search service we recommend is Spokeo. It has 2 price plans:
(Discounts available may vary from time to time. )

Spokeo price plans

Once you select your membership plan and finish the sign-up process, you’re good to go. Enter the information required and start creating your report.

*A bit of reminder: To narrow down your search, use the filter.

If neither BeenVerified nor Spokeo suits your preference, give People Finders a try. It is a legitimate service that provides accurate background check information on people.


That’s it – the complete guide to running a background search on someone. If you have any ideas or questions, feel free to drop us a line in the comment section below.

*vector created by freepik – www.freepik.com

All product names, logos, brands, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

exclamation-blueThere’s no guarantee you’ll find the information you’re looking for with the tools discussed in this article. They all source their information from publicly available data sources, such as county, state and federal courts, government departments, and police records, and those sources may contain incorrect or incomplete data. It’s illegal to use these tools to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. Read the Fair Credit Reporting Act to learn more....

About this article

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Sammi Liu

Writer

Greetings! I'm Sammi, and my journey as a content writer began right after graduation. While my initial academic focus was in Public Finance, I later pursued a major in English Literature. This diverse educational background has equipped me with a unique skill set that combines analytical thinking with a passion for creative expression.

My career path has led me to become a proficient content writer with a keen eye for research. Intensive training in Microsoft Office, coupled with a natural curiosity, has allowed me to incorporate design principles and advanced internet search techniques into my work seamlessly.

What truly sets me apart is my knack for research. I've dedicated time to mastering advanced internet search techniques, inspired by countless articles and video tutorials on the subject. This has transformed me into a seasoned researcher, skilled at uncovering reliable and valuable information.

In addition to my professional pursuits, I'm a tech enthusiast who stays current with the latest trends through YouTube. Listening to podcasts of various genres has been a hobby of mine, especially in every morning. I balance my professional life with an active one, enjoying badminton, table tennis, tennis, and yoga. On weekends, you'll find me lost in the pages of books in the local library or soaking in the beauty of nature on bike rides. I'm also passionate about culinary arts, frequently experimenting with recipes and crafting delightful beverages like smoothies.

About this article

round-success 48 Revisions

file-success Reviewed by BeenVerified

Sammi Liu

Writer

Greetings! I'm Sammi, and my journey as a content writer began right after graduation. While my initial academic focus was in Public Finance, I later pursued a major in English Literature. This diverse educational background has equipped me with a unique skill set that combines analytical thinking with a passion for creative expression. My career path has led me to become a proficient content writer with a keen ey [...]

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