Backgrounds Online Blog | Employment screening information at your fingertips

FBI Background Check Results on Steve Jobs

Posted on February 17, 2012

Last week, the FBI released results of background checks they had compiled on Apple’s late CEO, Steve Jobs. The background checks were released due to a request by the Wall Street Journal under the Freedom of Information Act. They were done on Jobs because he was being considered for an appointment by former President George Bush. Some of us may be surprised at the contents.

Diploma Mill Uses Loophole in Texas Law to Cheat People Out of Money

Posted on February 10, 2012

KHOU in Houston, Texas recently investigated a private school who is allegedly selling bogus high school diplomas using a loophole in their state’s law.

FTC Warns Companies that Background Check Apps May Violate the FCRA

Posted on February 7, 2012

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a press release today, announcing they sent letters to six marketers of mobile applications which provide background checks. In the letters, the companies were warned that because they compile and release information on consumers, particularly criminal histories which can reveal a person’s character and general reputation, they could be violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act with their apps.

Café Manager Killed By Employee with a Criminal Record

Posted on February 1, 2012

The Flying Biscuit Café, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, hired Mark Anthony Cox, a felon who was just released from prison in November. He served almost two years for robbery, as well as breaking and entering at his previous employer, Sonic Restaurants. The Flying Biscuit’s owner did not conduct a pre-employment background check and now one of his managers is dead.

Employee Arrested & Accused of Stealing $1 Million from Archdiocese

Posted on January 31, 2012

A bookkeeper employed by the Archdiocese of New York has found herself arrested and accused of stealing over $1 million in education money during the course of her employment.

Former Domino’s Pizza Employees Proceed with Class Action Against Company for Alleged FCRA Violations

Posted on January 30, 2012

Two former Domino’s Pizza employees, Adrian Singleton and Justin D’Heilly, are pursuing a putative class action lawsuit against their former employer for alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

The Importance of Background Checks in Schools

Posted on January 26, 2012

Last week, a janitor in a Texas school was arrested during a “warrant roundup” staged by police. Darrel Patrick Clover Jr. gained employment as a part-time janitor in 1998. In 2001, he was moved up to full time. Since 2000, he’s been arrested six times for drug related charges.

EEOC Says a High School Requirement Might Violate the ADA

Posted on January 19, 2012

An “informal discussion letter” released by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in November of 2011 stated that employers who require a high school diploma in order to be hired by them may be violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Pepsi Beverages To Pay 3.1 Million To Settle Racial Discrimination Case

Posted on January 11, 2012

It’s been no secret that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has been cracking down on hiring policies which they believe can cause a disparate impact on minorities and now they’ve taken Pepsi Beverages Co to federal court under charges of racial discrimination.

Prison Inmate Charged with Operation of a “Diploma Mill”

Posted on January 11, 2012

Kenneth Shong, a former inmate at the Oshkosh Correctional Institution in Wisconsin was formerly charged this week with “felony fraudulent writings.” He is being accused of starting a fake university while serving time in prison.