Instant Background Checks - What No One Really Wants to Know

What no one really wants to know, is that the new really nice guy they just let move in to the complex, is really a convicted felon. Or maybe you don't really want to know that the receptionist you just hired is on probation for theft by check. She seems nice enough and she is pretty, and visitors seem to like to interact with her.

The reason you do not want to know these things is simple. It is too late! You already like the guy that moved in to the complex. You like the new receptionist and the customers like her too. So why did you wait to run a background check? Did you procrastinate? Were you too cheap? Are you too cheap to prevent theft from your own business? I know it wasn't time. Remember, the title of this post is about INSTANT background checks. If you are reading this, you have no excuse to not conduct one. All you have to do is fill out the box on the right and start. It really is not that hard to do.

Maybe you do not like the way that one works, well then click the Net Detective link above. They both have a quality product and are easy to use.

But wait! I know that I cannot refuse to hire someone just based on a background check! That is not really the case, you can simply ask and confirm the information in the background check in the job interview.

Anyways, it is your money, your security. If you trust your gut, that is fine with me, but why not take out a little insurance (so to speak). It will be the best 30 bucks you spent this year. :)

Stay Safe!

My New Lens is on Squidoo: Be Your Own Detective

I made a Be Your Own Detective Lens, hopefully to send more traffic to my website. Google seems to love Squidoo lenses, no matter what their squidoo ranking.

Anyways, it isn't much really, just another way to try to generate a bit more traffic and recognition.

P.S. If you are a squid - please rate my lens :)) <--shameless plug

Be Your Own Detective Surveillance Tip - Conducting Moving Surveillance

OK, we are talking about the tail. If you have a TV detective car like a fancy sports car or classic muscle car, you will be noticed in a heartbeat. TV badguys are blind to such thing, but not real life people.

Not like this:

Not even like this:

This still won't cut it.

Maybe something like this...

Or maybe like this:

If at all possible have a team of at least two, if not three chase vehicles. With one car it is very hard to not be "made." With multiple vehicles you can pass the car off you are following to each other.If you cannot do that, try the following tips: (get it, following tips? - I know, bad!)

The first tip is to have a nondescript car of nondescript color. Like the pewter color sedans and such. A four door is better than a two door. In Texas, and some other places a pickup or Suburban is as "non descript" as the next car. No brite color cars with distinctive features - so those of you with your "pimped out" rides with spinners are out of luck.

The next tip is to use cover. Not hard cover as in a gunfight, but cover as in keeping vehicles between you and the car you are tailing. If they pull into a parking lot or down a neighborhood street, try to avoid using the same street and entrance. Be aware of traffic light problems. Pay attention to where the vehicle you are following is going, you may be able to parrallel it in some cities.

The point is, it is nothing like TV, do not be too close, but sometimes in traffic with signals, you need to be close enough to make the lights.

...and most of all, Be Safe!

Surveillance Tip - Static Vehicle Surveillance

When you want to be your own detective, sometimes you need to conduct static vehicle surveillance, you must be far enough away and inconspicuous. If you can see them, they can see you.




You can get close if you have the proper surveillance vehicle (like the ones shown). Otherwise, you will stand out like a sore thumb.














Here are some common things that give you away: On hot days, air conditioner condensation pooled under the vehicle. On cold days, the heated exhaust can be seen from the running engine. What am I saying here? If you need to keep the engine running - you are likely to be noticed. Where I am from in South Texas, you cannot sit in a closed vehicle in the Summer and survive. The temperature will get hot enough inside most cars to cook meat. So you will need special equipment or to keep the car running with the A/C on to keep from being cooked alive.

Here are some handy tips:

• So, stay way back. If possible become "invisible."
• An appropriate magnetic sign (like a cable company or termite service) with a hard hat and worker's vest can make you much less of a worry to people who do see you parked.
• Have a pee bottle. Yeah you may have to wait a while and a pee bottle can be a life saver.
• Do NOT take a big Gulp or other ginormous drink with you (see above).
• Make sure your camera/video recorder has good batteries
• Have a pen and pad handy to take notes. (on a clipboard is better and it goes with the hard hat)
• If you have a team (can be just a friend) Switch vehicles and locations.
• If you can park in a crowded parking lot, that gives you great cover, and you are a lot less likely to be noticed.
• The Best Tip - do surveillance from a building instead of a vehicle.

Note: if the Police come to check you out, you are busted. You may want to tell them what you are doing, since being a stalker is against the law. If they look in the car and see the notes and the camera, they are likely to know what you are doing. You could make up a story about suspecting that your spouse has a girlfriend/boyfriend in the neighborhood (unless that really is what you are doing). Or you could say you were supposed to meet someone about buying a dog. The main point is, if the Police check you out - you were standing out, and you need to try something else.

I hope these tips help you to "be your own detective"

Stay Safe!

Reverse Phone Detective VS Reverse Mobile

VS

OK, I am posting this head to head comparison for only one reason. Reverse Mobile has updated thie "home page." What is so special about that? You can now search for a cell phone number by name - not just as a reverse lookup.



Reverse Lookup Comparison:



OK, head to head, Reverse Mobile and the Reverse Phone Detective seem to match up pretty equally. The main difference, is if you want to only check one number - the Reverse Phone Detective Reverse Mobile is still your best bet. It will give you the complete report for only $14.95. That is less than Reverse Mobile's one time fee.

However, if you are looking to find someones cell phone number and you only have a name - then you need to use Reverse Mobile. I like what they did to the site, I only hope this little tid- bit helps you out.



Remeber, there is no such thing as a free reverse cell phone number lookup. You will have to pay for it someplace. If you need to do that - One of thses two is the way to go :))



Stay Safe!

My Entry in a Blog Contest to Get Free Traffic

I decided to enter in a contest here. If I win any of the prizes, I should get all sorts of cool free stuff. I am not really familiar with all of teh sites listed below, but I sure will now. Apparently advertising on those sites gets you a lot of traffic.

Here are the sites:
DatMoney.com

Carlocab.com

Garryconn.com

Theuniversitykid.com

Theblogentrepreneur.com

Bloggernoob.com

Blogaboutyourblog.com

Piggybankpie.com

Jonathanvolk.com

Winningtheweb.com

Etienneteo.com

Yimto.com

Adesblog.com

Blogpremiere.com/forum

I have no clue if I stand a chance, but why not go for some free advertizing?

Stay Safe!

PS: I have no idea what the picture has to do with the contest.

Boycott eBay on May 1st?

I found out about this boycott on Squidoo. The lensmaster has a blog here.

There are many eBay users and many who use eBay to conduct business that say to boycott eBay on May first. Apparently, eBay is trying to "clean up their act" and get rid of the "flea market" feel for the sit. Funny, it seems that they forgot what made them so big in the first place. It wasn't the big stores and power users - it was all of the occasional users and sellers of items.

I have an internet business (duh, like here) and I feel for all the little guys getting the squeeze by eBay.

I guess they (eBay) finally got too big for their britches. I have used eBay a few times, sometimes useful, sometimes not. I will likely use them off and on again, if I cannot find something elsewhere. But for now, I will join the one day boycott too. :)