The word 'free' catches pretty much anyone's attention. However, conducting a background check is a crucial procedure that requires a lot of time and effort. Thus employers are advised to be extra careful while dealing with offers for free background investigations. The Internet provides a plethora of information relating to agencies that provide free background searches. However, upon a closer detailed examination of these 'free' offers, it is apparent that information that a person needs is not really free at all. Though finding out if a person has any outstanding warrants, any criminal charges may be possible but in order to examine the details of the findings paying a fee is a must. It is possible for employers to find the information by themselves. The Internet provides a number of public records, which are searchable online. Apart from this, another method is to contact the local police or sheriff?s department.

A free people search on the Internet generally starts with one of the many free people finders that a number of websites offer today. Often, this type of free people search offers little if any useful information. Often the information tends to be old, outdated or just plain wrong. Availing of such free information depends on the laws of a particular state and the employer's needs. Depending on such laws information may be acquired for free from one of these agencies. Privacy advocates advise people to be cautious while dealing with companies claiming the ability to find out anything about anybody. Often these companies may be violating federal laws regarding privacy. It is advised that the hiring company knows as much about the investigating company's practices prior to their hire.

In spite of the many drawbacks exhibited by a free background-checking agency there also exists a few plus points. Casual and less complicated data can be easily obtained by these agencies. Often the database existing with such agencies also tend to be pretty informative.