Mistaken identity in background checks can cost applicants job offers (video)

pbs newshour ^ | 8-23-2014 | MEGAN THOMPSON

[Citizen Zed]

MEGAN THOMPSON: Great news for the divorced 58-year-old father and professional driver who needed the extra money to help pay child support. Jones filled out the paperwork, submitted a drug test and waited to hear when he could start. Instead, he got a different kind of call.

KEVIN JONES: And Human Resources said, “There’s a problem with your background check.” And I said, “What problem?” “Yeah, there’s some criminal stuff going on. You need to talk to them.”

MEGAN THOMPSON: It turned out the background check – conducted by a company now called Sterling BackCheck – showed convictions for drunk driving, attempted petit larceny and forgery, and two stints in jail. A few days later, Jones got a letter in the mail saying unless he could clear the matter up, his job offer was being revoked.

MEGAN THOMPSON: Do you have any kind of criminal history?

KEVIN JONES: None.

[Vendome]

Well, I wondered why the gal didn’t charge me for services, when all of a sudden I couldn’t find my wallet...

/s

[tbw2]

This is another problem with illegal immigration and the pass they get on identity theft.
When they use a fake SSN to work, get a driver’s license or do anything else, someone innocent may end up with a fake criminal history tied to their SSN - even if it isn’t even in their name.