How to Run a Background Check on Yourself (Free and Paid)

Why Running a Background Check on Yourself Matters More Than Ever

Every time you apply for a job, sign a lease, or even start dating someone new, there's a good chance someone is looking you up. But here's the uncomfortable truth: the information they're finding might be wrong, outdated, or taken completely out of context. In 2023, the FTC received over 5 million consumer reports, with employment and background check complaints ranking among the top categories. That arrest from your college years that was dismissed? It might still be showing up. That address where your identity thief lived? Could be linked to your name.

Running a background check on yourself isn't paranoia—it's basic digital hygiene. Think of it as a credit report for your reputation. Just as you'd check your credit score before applying for a mortgage, you should know what's in your background report before a potential employer, landlord, or romantic interest does their research. The difference is that while credit reports are regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the broader information ecosystem—data brokers, people search sites, and public records aggregators—operates in a much grayer area.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to conduct a comprehensive self background check using both free and paid methods, what to look for, how to correct errors, and how to prevent inaccurate information from spreading across the thousands of databases that compile information about you.

What You'll Need Before You Start

Before diving into your personal background check, gather these essentials to make the process thorough and efficient:

Personal Information Inventory:

• Full legal name (including any previous names, maiden names, or aliases)
• Date of birth
• Social Security number (for official reports)
• Current and previous addresses for the past 7-10 years
• Driver's license number
• Professional licenses or certifications

Digital Tools:

• Secure email address (preferably one you check regularly)
• Spreadsheet or note-taking app to track findings
• Secure password manager for any accounts you'll create
• Scanner or smartphone camera for documentation
• Credit or debit card (for paid services, if needed)

Time Commitment:

Plan for 3-5 hours if you're doing a comprehensive check across multiple sources. Free methods take longer because you'll need to request reports individually and wait for responses. Paid services can compress this to 30-60 minutes of active work, though some reports may take 24-48 hours to generate.

Legal Considerations:

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681), you're entitled to one free "file disclosure" per year from consumer reporting agencies that compile your information. Many states offer additional rights—California's CCPA, Virginia's CDPA, and similar laws in Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah give residents expanded access to their personal data.

Step-by-Step: How to Check Your Background (Free Methods)

Step 1: Request Your Official Consumer Reports

Start with the federally mandated free reports. These are the same reports that employers, landlords, and lenders use to make decisions about you.

Annual Credit Report (AnnualCreditReport.com):

While technically a credit report, this often contains employment history, addresses, and inquiries that reveal who's been checking you out. Visit the official site—not the many imposters—and request reports from all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Review for:

• Addresses you've never lived at
• Employers you've never worked for
• Inquiries you don't recognize
• Accounts that aren't yours

Specialty Consumer Reporting Agencies:

Most people don't know these exist, but they're crucial. Under FCRA, companies that compile reports on you must provide free annual disclosures:

LexisNexis Personal Reports (consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/request):

• Navigate to "Request Your Personal Reports"
• Order both the "Full File Disclosure" and "Personal Reports"
• Expect 5-7 business days for mail delivery
• Contains: Criminal records, employment history, property ownership, professional licenses, and associates

Checkr (candidate.checkr.com):

If you've ever had an employer use Checkr for background screening, request your report. This shows exactly what past or potential employers saw.

HireRight Consumer Portal (hireright.com/for-candidates):

• Click "Access My Report"
• You'll need details about when/where you were screened
• Shows employment verification, criminal records, education verification

CoreLogic SafeRent (saferent.com/free-annual-file-disclosure):

Specifically for rental history—crucial if you're apartment hunting. Shows:

• Previous rental addresses
• Eviction records
• Landlord-reported payment history

Step 2: Search Criminal and Court Records

State Court Systems:

Every state maintains online court record databases, though access varies. Search your state's judicial website plus any state where you've lived:

• PACER (pacer.uscourts.gov): Federal court records ($0.10/page, first $30/quarter free)
• State-specific portals: Google "[your state] court records search" for the official site
• Search by your full name and date of birth
• Look for: Criminal cases, civil judgments, liens, bankruptcies

County-Level Records:

Many serious crimes are prosecuted at the county level and may not appear in state databases:

• Visit the county clerk's website for each county you've lived in
• Search criminal, civil, and probate records
• Note that some counties charge $5-10 for online access

Step 3: Check Sex Offender Registries

Even if you know you're not on these lists, it's worth verifying—identity theft victims have occasionally found their names incorrectly associated with offenders.

National Sex Offender Public Website (nsopw.gov):

• Searches all 50 states simultaneously
• Enter your name and check for any matches
• If you find an incorrect match, document it immediately

Step 4: Review Your Online Presence

What appears in Google is often what people see first, even before official background checks.

Google Yourself Thoroughly:

• Search "your name" in quotes
• Search "your name" + city
• Search "your name" + profession
• Use Google Images to find photos
• Check Google's second, third, and fourth pages—not just the first

Social Media Audit:

• Review Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok
• Check privacy settings on each platform
• Search for old accounts you may have forgotten
• Use tools like Namechk.com to find accounts across 100+ platforms

People Search Sites (The Data Broker Problem):

This is where things get messy. Sites like Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, and hundreds of others compile public records and sell access to your information. Search for yourself on:

• Whitepages.com
• Spokeo.com
• BeenVerified.com
• PeopleFinders.com
• Intelius.com

You'll likely find addresses, phone numbers, relatives, and associates—often with alarming accuracy. Note what you find; we'll address removal later.

Step 5: Check Professional Licenses and Certifications

If you hold any professional licenses (medical, legal, real estate, contracting, etc.), verify the information is current:

• State licensing boards maintain public databases
• Search for your name on your state's professional regulation website
• Verify: Current status, expiration dates, any disciplinary actions

Step-by-Step: How to Check Your Background (Paid Methods)

Paid background check services offer speed and comprehensiveness that free methods can't match. Here's what you need to know:

Consumer-Grade Background Check Services

GoodHire (goodhire.com):

• Cost: $29.99-$99.99 depending on depth
• Turnaround: 24-48 hours
• Includes: Criminal records (county, state, federal), employment verification, education verification, driving records
• Best for: Seeing what employers might see

Checkr for Individuals:

• Cost: $29.99-$49.99
• Turnaround: 1-3 business days
• Includes: National criminal database, sex offender registry, county records
• Best for: Quick, employer-grade screening

BeenVerified (beenverified.com):

• Cost: $26.89/month subscription
• Instant results
• Includes: Public records, contact info, social media, photos, relatives
• Caveat: More comprehensive for contact info than criminal records

Professional-Grade Services

Infomart (infomart.com):

Used by Fortune 500 companies for employee screening. You can order your own report:

• Cost: $50-150 depending on package
• Most comprehensive criminal record search
• Includes: 7-year criminal history, employment verification, education verification, credit check (optional)

Sterling Talent Solutions (sterlingcheck.com):

• Cost: Custom pricing
• Enterprise-grade accuracy
• Best for: High-stakes situations (executive positions, security clearances)

What to Look For in Paid Reports

Regardless of which service you use, scrutinize these sections:

Criminal Records:

• Accuracy of charges: Is the charge description correct?
• Disposition: Does it show dismissals, acquittals, or expungements?
• Dates: Are arrest and conviction dates accurate?
• Jurisdiction: Is the county/state correct?

Employment History:

• Verify dates of employment
• Check job titles for accuracy
• Confirm employer names (companies change names)

Education Verification:

• Degree types and dates
• Institution names
• Graduation status

Address History:

• Look for addresses you've never lived at
• Check for addresses associated with identity theft

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Running a Self Background Check

Mistake #1: Only Checking One Source

The background check industry is fragmented. A criminal record might appear on LexisNexis but not on Checkr, or vice versa. County records might not feed into state databases. Always cross-reference multiple sources.

Why this happens: Data brokers and consumer reporting agencies purchase data from different sources, update at different intervals, and use different matching algorithms. A record with a slight name variation might appear on one service but not another.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Data Broker Sites

Many people focus exclusively on "official" background checks and ignore people search sites. This is a critical error. When someone Googles you, these sites often dominate the first page of results. Potential employers, dates, and even scammers use these sites because they're instant and don't require the legal compliance of FCRA-regulated reports.

The problem is scale: there are over 2,100 known data brokers operating in the United States. Most privacy services only address 35-500 of them, leaving massive gaps in coverage.

Mistake #3: Not Documenting Errors

If you find incorrect information, screenshot it immediately with the date visible. Save PDFs of reports. Document the URL and access date. You'll need this evidence when disputing errors or requesting corrections.

Mistake #4: Assuming Expunged Records Are Gone

Even if you successfully expunged a criminal record, it may still appear in private databases. Data brokers often purchase bulk public records and may not update when records are sealed or expunged. This requires active monitoring and removal requests.

Mistake #5: Using Sketchy "Free" Background Check Sites

Many sites advertise "free background checks" but are actually:

• Phishing operations collecting your personal information
• Bait-and-switch scams that require payment after you enter details
• Malware distributors

Stick to official sources or reputable paid services. If a site looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Mistake #6: Forgetting About Old Social Media

That Twitter account you created in 2009 and forgot about? It's still there, and it's searchable. That forum where you posted under your real name? Archived. Use tools like Namechk or KnowEm to find old accounts, then either delete them or update privacy settings.

Advanced Tips for a Comprehensive Self Background Check

Use OSINT Techniques

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) methods used by professional investigators can reveal information you'd never find through standard searches:

Reverse Image Search:

Upload your photos to Google Images, TinEye, and Yandex to find where they appear online. This can reveal:

• Forgotten social media profiles
• Dating site profiles (yours or imposters)
• Professional directories
• News articles or blog posts

Username Search:

If you've used the same username across multiple platforms, search for it in quotes on Google. Tools like Sherlock (on GitHub) can automate this across 300+ sites.

Email Address Search:

Enter your email addresses into:

• Have I Been Pwned (haveibeenpwned.com) to check for data breaches
• Hunter.io to see where your email appears publicly
• Google in quotes to find associated accounts

Check Archived Versions of Websites

The Wayback Machine (archive.org) stores historical versions of websites. This is crucial for:

• Finding removed content that might still be cached elsewhere
• Documenting when incorrect information first appeared
• Proving that you requested removal (if the site archived the page)

Monitor Ongoing Changes

A background check isn't a one-time event. Information changes constantly:

Set Up Google Alerts:

• Create alerts for your name in quotes
• Add alerts for your name + city
• Set up alerts for your phone number and email address
• Choose "as-it-happens" delivery for immediate notification

Regular Monitoring Schedule:

• Monthly: Google yourself and check top 5 people search sites
• Quarterly: Request free reports from specialty CRAs
• Annually: Run a comprehensive paid background check
• After major life events: New job, move, legal matter

Understand State-Specific Rights

Privacy laws vary dramatically by state:

California (CCPA/CPRA): Right to know what data is collected, right to deletion, right to opt out of sale

Virginia (CDPA): Similar rights, effective January 2023

Colorado (CPA): Right to correct inaccurate data

Connecticut (CTDPA): Right to appeal denied requests

If you live in one of these states, you have enhanced rights to access and delete your information from data brokers. Use them.

Request Law Enforcement Records

Under state public records laws, you can request your own records from police departments:

• File a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request at the federal level
• Use state-specific public records requests for state/local agencies
• Request: Arrest records, incident reports, 911 calls, body camera footage

This is especially important if you were arrested but not convicted—these records may not appear in court databases but could surface in background checks.

How GhostMyData Automates the Background Check Process

Running a comprehensive background check on yourself reveals a fundamental problem: the sheer scale of data proliferation makes manual management nearly impossible. You might spend hours finding and documenting your information across dozens of sites, but that's just the beginning. The real challenge is removal and ongoing monitoring.

This is where automation becomes essential. GhostMyData approaches this problem differently than traditional privacy services:

Comprehensive Coverage:

While most privacy services scan 35-500 data brokers, GhostMyData monitors 2,100+ data broker sites—the most comprehensive coverage available. This matters because data brokers you've never heard of are often the sources feeding information to the sites you do know. Removing your data from Spokeo means nothing if 50 other brokers are continuously re-populating it. You can compare our coverage to see the difference.

AI-Powered Automation:

GhostMyData uses 24 specialized AI agents that continuously:

• Scan data broker sites for your information
• Submit removal requests using each site's specific requirements
• Monitor for re-appearance (data brokers often re-add information)
• Adapt to changing removal procedures as sites update their policies

Integration with Background Checks:

When you run a self background check and discover your information scattered across dozens of sites, GhostMyData provides a systematic solution. The free scan shows you exactly where your data appears across the 2,100+ broker network, giving you a comprehensive view that complements traditional background check reports.

Ongoing Monitoring:

A single background check is a snapshot. GhostMyData provides continuous monitoring, alerting you when:

• Your information appears on new data broker sites
• Previously removed information reappears
• New public records are associated with your name
• Your data appears in breach databases

The reality is that checking your background is only step one. Managing what you find requires sustained effort that's nearly impossible to maintain manually. Understanding how it works can help you decide if automated removal is right for your situation, and reviewing pricing options shows how affordable comprehensive protection has become.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I run a background check on myself?

Run a comprehensive self background check at least annually, with more frequent checks during major life transitions. Before job hunting, apartment searching, or starting a business, conduct a thorough review. For ongoing monitoring, check the top 5-10 people search sites monthly and set up Google Alerts for your name. If you're in a high-profile position or have experienced identity theft, quarterly comprehensive checks are advisable. The key is consistency—irregular checking means you might miss errors until they've already caused problems.

Can I remove negative but accurate information from my background check?

Generally, no—accurate information cannot