Background checks have been used for years as a way to get the details, either personal or criminal, of future employees for various companies or if new people are entering into your life as family, friends or relationships. You have probably had a background check done on you if you have filled out an application in the last few years.

We typically think of background checks as being used by companies as part of an interview process, or perhaps by a local or national government agency tending to security issues. It is true that background checks are used heavily for both these purposes, but as they become more widely available, their uses are expanding.

With the expansion of online dating services, more and more people are possibly meeting strangers. To counter this increased vulnerability, more singles are considering running background checks on the potential partner before they are emotionally invested or physically at risk.

Additionally, the Internet has become a worldwide marketplace, giving rise to scam artists and making us all vulnerable to identity theft and traditional film-flam scams. The new twists of these scams as played over the Internet have shown the importance of doing research prior to sharing any personal information. Background checks on companies you want to do business with over the net can be done online and bring you peace of mind as well as protect you financially.