Background Investigations

From routine fact-checking to specialized searches to full personal or business profiles, Intertel's background investigators and research analysts can provide vital insight into the true past and current state of affairs of an individual or business, allowing you to more accurately assess risk, to make better-informed decisions, and to take action that is measured, appropriate and in your best interests.

Checking the Background of an Individual

Intertel's background checks are conducted discreetly, in a manner that protects the privacy of the individual under investigation, and ensures that the entire process takes place within the framework of the law. The most common situations that can benefit from background investigation of the individuals involved are:

Divorce or Maintenance

Preparing for divorce or maintenance hearings: to discover, identify and locate any hidden assets, undisclosed income sources and the true financial status of your spouse or ex-spouse

Domestic Workers

Hiring a nanny, caregiver or domestic worker: to verify the credentials, criminal history, past employment, references and trust-record of the person being considered for the job

Online Relationships

Starting a real-world relationship with someone you met online: to verify that they are who they claim to be, to check criminal and credit records, and to examine past conduct and relationships

Renting Property

Considering a new roommate, housemate or tenant: to examine criminal and credit records, character references, assess financial means, lifestyle and to scrutinize residential history

Job Applications

Wanting to apply for a new job: to ensure that there is no inaccurate or prejudicial information on your record somewhere that could disqualify you from further consideration

Credit Applications

Wanting to apply for a loan: to ensure that there is no adverse information on your credit record that could disqualify you (or at least, to enable you to explain it satisfactorily)

Background checks on an individual are generally focused on one or more of the following aspects of a person's past or present situation:

Identity and Bona Fides
Marital Status
Divorce Records
Residential History
Financial Wealth
Asset Ownership
Employment History
Income Discovery
Spending Patterns
Business Ownership
Criminal History
Civil Court History
Credit/Debt Profile
Education/Qualifications
Travel History
Online Footprint

Checking the Background of a Company

Intertel's company background investigations are widely used by other private detectives, forensic investigators and law firms - most often in preparation for proposed or ongoing legal proceedings, and usually focused on establishing such facts as a company's legal ownership and shareholding, identifying key decision-makers, locating and identifying assets, and assessing the liabilities and liquidity of the company.

Our company background investigation services are also frequently used by local and foreign companies that are considering an investment opportunity, joint venture, merger or acquisition of/with the company in question - often in support or fulfillment of due diligence requirements, and usually considerably in-depth and very broad in scope.

Despite the vast amount of data available nowadays, it is still increasingly difficult to gain reliable information on companies you are considering entering into a relationship with. You may already have had dealings with them, but need to know more about their circumstances, past dealings and their ability to deliver now as well as in the future.

In this situation a scant credit agency report, information from old friends or a quick Google search doesn't give you enough to proceed with confidence. Rarely do these measures satisfy the needs of smart executives who want to make informed decisions and mitigate the associated risks. Common questions we're asked to answer for our clients concern the following aspects of a company or business enterprise:

Incorporation & registration details
Office bearers and shareholders
Business overview, activities & history
Bonds, liens, mortgages and other encumberances
Financial details and assets
Liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings
Related entities, links & associations
Public profile, media sentiment & adverse press
History of litigation, prosecution and adverse reporting
Profiling products, services, solutions, brands
Assessing sales and marketing strategies and operations
Analyzing company decision-making and decision-makers
Deep Internet, grey-source and proprietary database searches
Red flags, warnings and listings
"Credible Insider" information

Screening and Vetting Services

Background screening is fast becoming standard practice in many industries and businesses across the world. Organizations are continually on the lookout for new ways to mitigate their risk, and conducting background checks is an effective and easy way to do so. Benefits of a proper background screening policy can include:

Better safeguarding organizational assets and trade-secrets
Helping promote workplace safety and appropriate behaviour
Hiring the best employees or selecting the ideal applicants
Avoiding long-term costs, absenteeism, and under performance
Maintaining your good reputation and business/brand name
Building trust within and faith in your organization
Protecting you from negligent hiring/retention litigation

Researching the histories and stated capabilities of the following individuals is always sound business practice:

Prospective and current employees
Potential and current vendors or suppliers
Temporary personnel
Business associates
Persons associated with investment opportunities

Employee Screening

Look beyond the winning smile to the real person behind that polished resume. Our employee screening service enables employers to make informed hiring, promotion, retention and firing decisions, and helps them mitigate various risks associated with hiring incompetent, questionable or even dangerous people. This is no longer a business luxury - its an imperative.

Employee screening generally covers criminal record checks, motor vehicle records/driver abstracts, credit checks, verifications of employment, education and credentials, and experience but can be expanded to include truth verification examinations (polygraph, voice stress analysis, statement analysis and silent talker), graphology, psychometric tests, aptitude tests, drug tests, skills tests and integrity assessments.

Vendor Vetting

You probably spend time considering the prices and services provided by potential vendors and suppliers, but what about other crucial factors that could be deeply embarrassing or otherwise pose a threat to your everyday operations? Potential liabilities like criminal activities, financial troubles, or unethical business practices can't always be identified by in-house procurement staff.

These liabilities are usually also absent from commercially available online credit reporting services. We can conduct detailed screening of both potential and current suppliers to provide insight into the backgrounds, integrity, and standing of their principals, the business as a whole, and who else they do business with.

Investment Scrutiny

High-stakes ventures represent not only financial or other investments and promised payoffs but can also be potential liabilities with severely negative reputational impact. Our investment screening can uncover and verify data relevant to the transaction and concerning the key players that will support sound business decision-making.

We can examine corporate entities, individuals, products and services - drilling down to the facts, examining current and historical information from multiple sources - and generating in-depth dossiers to help you assess your potential liabilities and to safeguard your interests.

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