A background check/ investigation is just one of the multiple research services a Cyber Investigator will perform in Canada.
Performing a Canadian background check will consist of discovering or verifying historical facts regarding a Canadian citizen, or sometimes a Canadian organization.
However, background checks in Canada are often conducted on Canadians for the purpose of employment screening.
The amount of time a CA background check takes will be dependent on how deep the check goes.
Background checks in Canada can involve researching criminal history (RCMP/ local), credit history, social media presence, past education, employment history, references, and a Canadian's personal history. These CA background check investigations often occur at a desk and utilize the internet (cyber background check) in-conjunction with multiple phone calls.
Canadian Background Check Databases
A big part of performing a Canadian background check will involve verifying a Canadian's past using CA databases, some paid databases and also free to use ones. An Investigator typically uses a paid Canada government database to access information regarding criminal history.
However, just simply discovering Canadian court records is usually a service that many local CA government jurisdictions offer for free.
Often, an Investigator will lookup a Canadian's court record for free and resort to paying for a CA gov criminal record check if court records are found. Unlike searching for Canadian court records, a credit history check will often require the Investigator to pay for accessing the CA database that holds financial records.
Canadian Cyber Background Check Resources
Phone Calls in Canada
When conducting a background check on a Canadian, an Investigator will often perform a fair amount of phone calls. This happens a lot when verifying educational degrees.
Often, the Investigator will contact the Canadian educational institute via phone and validate the degree with the school's records department.
However, some Canadian universities and colleges protect these records.
In this case, the Investigator will have to contact the Canadian who is the subject of the background check and get them to contact the CA post-secondary institution themselves in order to access this information. The individual will then be asked to request an educational transcript from the CA school and get the school to mail it to an address of the Investigator's choosing. This will mitigate tampering of the records document. As with education, researching references will also require phone calls. The Investigator will have to validate that the references are who they say they are and contact them in order to hear their opinions on the subject of the check.
Google.ca Background Check
Lastly, and often the largest part of a Canadian background check, the Investigator will utilize the internet as an investigative tool to research the Canadian's personal history:
Obviously, searching social media platforms will be an important part of this background check process.
However, a lot of information can be found on a Canadian outside of social media. There could be many mentions of the Canadian on various websites. Many Canadians have a rudimentary grasp on searching the internet. A Canadian could find a few pieces of information when searching on the internet. However, a skilled Investigator will be able to find all relevant information and be able to accurately verify and document it properly. This is why, even with a simple background check task, an experienced and skilled Canadian Investigator should always be utilized.
Canadian Background Investigation Services
Alberta
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
About the Author
Peter Sandru is an Instructor & Co-Founder of NDIL with over 14 years as a Canadian Professional Investigator. Peter Sandru has spent more than a decade conducting investigations throughout the world, primarily for corporations, law firms, and government agencies. Peter has assisted in the creation of many investigative training programs in various capacities. Over the length his career, Peter has performed numerous background checks on individuals and organizations.