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Picture this…

Your client requested a background investigation.

Let your fingers do the walking …

You know the names, the on-line services, promise the most comprehensive, most powerful, locate anybody, public information retrieval systems in the world.

Just sit there … information is available at your fingertips.

Accidents on the information highway …

The electronic highway has many hazards. Accidentally, information has been corrupted, misapplied, or omitted. Sometimes the subject provides incorrect information.

The information has not been confirmed and verified.

Let the buyer beware…

The information brokers provide caveats with their information.

"While the information broker believes the information provided is correct, they accept no responsibility for the accuracy of the information." The only liability the information broker accepts for inaccurate information is the charge from the incorrect information.

"Do not release this information to third parties" (that means your client). The information provided by the information broker is compiled from public records. Why can't the investigator release the information to third parties? Chances are—the information contains incorrect data!

In recent litigation one of the big three consumer credit reporting agencies admitted that they receive approximately 25,000 complaints each week from consumers.

Those complaints were from the consumer upon whom the credit reporting agencies had generated incorrect information.

Let the investigator do the walking…

Data provided by information brokers should only be used to screen subjects.

Get out of the office, contact sources in person, confirm and verify information. Conduct an investigation.

Your client needs a careful search, examination, and systematic inquiry into the subject. That is why the client called an investigator. Otherwise, the client could have called an information broker.

Your client really needs an investigator!

© 1996 Dan James, CFE. Printed with permission.

Dan James, a TALI member and a regular instructor at TALI Continuing Education Seminars, is the owner/manager of Dan James Investigations. He has been a licensed investigator since 1973. He has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, with a minor in chemistry, from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Dan has extensive experience investigating fraudulent agents, fraudulent insureds, and fraudulent medical schemes in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Dan is an expert witness in insurance code, agent licensing, rules, regulations and insurance company operations in Texas. He has written underwriting and procedures manuals, claims procedures manuals, life insurance agency training manuals and special investigative unit procedures manuals. You may contact Dan at (817) 232-3754.