Ok, Let’s Talk About Net Detective
So ya wanna be a net detective/netsleuth/cybercop, etc? First of all the claims these types of software packages make are false! Out and out lies. I had written an article about background checks several years ago and included some of the flaws with their advertising. I will go over some of the bigger lies here.
1) The EASY WAY to Find Out THE TRUTH About Anyone!
Bull! You can not find out the truth about anyone! First of all not every piece of information is available on the Internet. Second, not every person is on the Internet. If the person does not have any type of record you will not find out anything.
2) Verify EMPLOYMENT applications.
Hahaha! NO! Do not count on any type of Internet software like this for employment screening. You must abide by the laws set forth in the FCRA. You can get into some very hot water if you do not know what you are doing. A judge will laugh you out of court if you tell him you conducted a background check using “Net Detective”.
3) Claims you can check your own FBI Record
No, you can not. At least not in the way they make you think you can. You do not need this software to check your FBI record. You can write to the FBI and check it yourself.
4)Check driving records!
Again, no. They only provide a list of places to either write or contact to get your driving record. If you want to run someone else’s driving record then you must follow the letter of the DPPA.
They have changed their site and how they advertise. For example they used to claim that Robert J. Carlson was a private investigator that loved their product. I tried many times to locate this investigator that was supposedly out of Minnesota. The licensing bureau had no record of him and neither did 411 in that area.
They also claim that hundreds of law enforcement agencies use Net Detective! I will say once again Hahahahahahaha! I know hundreds of investigators and law enforcement professionals. Not one has come out and said that they use Net Detective.
The bottom line is use a good search engine and educate yourself and you can do better than Net Detective.
