this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2025
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Privacy

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Do background check sites actually work? (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 months ago by TheTwelveYearOld@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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Fastbackgroundcheck. com says there's info on me on truthfinder, spokeo, peoplefinders and instantcheckmate. When I try going through all four of those sites takes a super long time, including a few times in the past when I tried getting reports on myself.

The progress bars reach 100% and reset continously. If these sites are legimate like some reddit users claim, then why or be upfront about wanting me to pay? Right now I'm convinced that these sites are snake oil, maybe they work if you pay but the behavior of the free options turn me off. They act 100% like typical scam websites, the kind that asks you to complete three surveys on external sites with fake progress bars.

Basic info like my full name, address, age, and siblings can be found with search engines easily but I feel like there's no point in trying to wipe it if there aren't methods that could definitely work.

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[–] sad_detective_man@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 4 months ago

they work if you're a call center looking for elderly people to grandpa scam or a political campaign to canvas for

[–] Retro_unlimited@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Back in the day those websites used to be free. It was basically like a phone book but online. Hit or miss if they found the correct person or anyone at all.

Years later I noticed when they did that fake search and 100% turn off. Never paid them and never will with that sketchy slow fake search.

[–] limer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 4 months ago

There are plenty of legit paid services. Company hr departments use them to find criminal and address and other records

Pretty sure the ones you mentioned are scams?