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Its the digital age, and we all leave a digital trail. Enter BeenVerified.com, a site that aggregates all of the public record databases available for any given person. Their background checks include an address history (property records, addresses, appraisals), names of relatives, criminal records, and social network data (site memberships, links to profiles, pictures). Right now, they have a free Android and iPhone app where you can get a free background check every 30 days. (The site offers a 7-day free trial, but the apps dont require any credit card or personal info.)
They warn that these checks should not be used for employment, tenant screening, or any FCRA related purposes. That last part about the Fair Credit Reporting Act means you cant use them to decide whether to provide things like credit or insurance. BeenVerified.com is not a credit reporting agency, and really all theyre doing is scraping a bunch of stuff from the internet that may or may not be accurate at all. This is all disclosed in their lengthy Terms of Service, so be careful.
So what do you use it for? Well, for one you can see what personal info about yourself is out there. Their target audience include people checking out potential dates or household workers like babysitters or contractors.
More: Techcrunch, Gizmodo
