An Address History Trace, sometimes called a Social Security Number (SSN) trace, is a common starting point of a background check. This solution isn’t what you might think of as a traditional background check—returning criminal records or confirming past employment—but without it, employers might be left in the dark about a candidate’s full history.
The truth is that people sometimes try to hide from their past, which could result in hiring someone who isn't a good fit or, worse, dangerous. One woman, who used a fake name to get hired as a sonographer, was later found to have a long history of medical fraud. Or the 25 rideshare drivers with criminal histories in California who used fake names to become drivers.
How employers benefit from an Address History Trace
Three out of four employers order this powerful tool during their screening process. The results from an Address History Trace could include information about the candidate that they may not have disclosed on their background check application, including:
- Additional names like AKAs, maiden names, nicknames, and alternative spellings.
- Current and previous addresses associated with the candidate.
Essentially, the Address History Trace looks for potentially undisclosed names and locations associated with the SSN provided. The system then applies data found as search criteria for other background checks. That means the system can auto-add additional names or jurisdictions to search for criminal history that could have initially been skipped over. Verified Credentials’ own research shows that Address History Trace results include an average of 1 additional name and three additional locations to search.
Set it and forget it
The last thing you want is to miss potential records that could impact the well-being of your organization, employees, and customers. That's why Verified Credentials allows our customers to order background checks based on Address History Trace results automatically.
We see 20% of our business clients using auto-order for at least one additional background search, but some use it for up to ten additional searches. The background checks set to auto-order vary by organizational need but may include:
- County Criminal Search
- Federal Criminal Search
- Statewide Criminal Search
- FACIS ® Report
- Government Watch List
- Global Watch List
- National Criminal Database
- National Sex Offender Public Registry
- GSA Excluded Parties List
- OIG Sanction Report
This allows flexibility for employers with specific screening needs.
An Address History Trace is a good solution for employers who want a thorough look into their candidate's history. But it’s only as good as how it’s used. Automating the process with auto-order settings is the only way to ensure you get the most out of Address History Trace results.
Want to learn more about Verified Credentials’ workflow solutions that can help you find more records quickly? Contact us now to schedule a quick conversation ›
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