Why aliases are important in background checks
An alias is any other name a person might use (or have used) in addition to their current legal name. This could be a maiden name, a nickname, a shortened name, or a legally changed name.
Aliases are an integral part of a person’s identity records, and they play a critical role in returning comprehensive background checks since:
- Courts do not include all the names an individual has used in their life
- Courts do not typically and retroactively update records if someone changes their name after the conviction
- Some courts require exact name matching for a record to be returned
Increase visibility by adding aliases to your background checks
People may have records under different names. For example, let’s say a candidate provides their name “Bobby” during the background check process, but has a record under their legal name “Robert.” Not accounting for aliases could result in missed records.
When running background checks, the inclusion of aliases can provide you with a more comprehensive report.
Checkr uses aliases for the following searches when requested:
- County civil search
- County criminal records search
- Federal criminal records search
- Global watchlist search
- Nationwide criminal records search
- Pointer search
- Sex offender registry search
- State criminal records search