In today's society, background checks have become an essential part of many different industries. Whether it's in the hiring process, the loan application process, or the housing application process, background checks are used to verify information and help prevent fraud. But why exactly are background checks so important, and how do they help protect public safety? In this article, we'll explore the answers to these questions and more.
The Basics of Background Checks
Before diving into why background checks are so important, let's take a moment to discuss what they actually are. In essence, a background check is a process of looking up an individual's criminal, financial, and/or personal records to verify their information. Depending on the industry and the reason for the check, the information that's looked up could include criminal history, credit history, employment history, education history, and more.
Background checks can be conducted by a variety of different entities. For example, employers may conduct background checks on prospective employees, landlords may conduct them on prospective tenants, and lenders may conduct them on loan applicants. In some cases, individuals may also choose to conduct background checks on themselves as a preemptive measure.
Why Background Checks Are Important
So why are background checks so important in today's society? There are a variety of different reasons, but one of the primary ones is that they help prevent fraud. By verifying an individual's information, background checks can help ensure that they are who they say they are and that they have the credentials they claim to have.
For example, let's say that a company is hiring for a position that requires a college degree. Without conducting a background check, the company may take a candidate's word for it that they have a degree. However, if the company conducts a background check and discovers that the candidate doesn't actually have a degree, they can avoid hiring someone who may not be qualified for the job.
Additionally, background checks can help protect public safety. By looking into an individual's criminal history, employers, landlords, and others can ensure that they are not putting others at risk. For example, if an employer discovered that a prospective employee had a history of violent crime, they may choose not to hire them for safety reasons.
Of course, background checks are not foolproof. Just because someone passes a background check doesn't necessarily mean that they are completely trustworthy or that they won't commit fraud. However, background checks are a valuable tool that can help mitigate risk and protect individuals and organizations.
Real-Life Examples
To better illustrate the importance of background checks, let's look at a few real-life examples.
1. Uber and Lyft have implemented background checks as part of their driver vetting process. This has helped to prevent incidents where passengers were harmed by drivers with a criminal history.
2. The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) discovered that an employee had falsified their education credentials during the hiring process. The employee's position required a degree, and they had supplied a fake one. Had a background check been conducted, this fraud may have been discovered earlier.
3. In 2018, it was discovered that a man who had been working as an airline mechanic had ties to ISIS. He had falsified his background check, and if he had been caught earlier, he may have been prevented from accessing secure areas of the airport.
Conclusion
In conclusion, background checks are incredibly important in today's society. They help prevent fraud, protect public safety, and mitigate risk. While they are not perfect and may not catch every instance of fraud, they are a valuable tool that should be used by individuals and organizations. By conducting thorough and comprehensive background checks, we can help create a safer and more trustworthy world.
