How can I do a back ground check on someone that lives in England. All I have is a name and address.

Suggestions? 

OO7 

I was thinking Q, he probably has an app for that.

I would call a local Houston, or Texas, guy and ask for a referral. They all refer each other back and forth and the local guy probably gets a referral fee or a part of the fees for his trouble.

Just like lawyers do. 

Why would you do that?

Seems like if thats all the info you have, you are Following a stranger? 

Why would you want a back ground check on someone? Is he bothering you? 

Companies do it all the time. Surely one of them would be able to do one for an overseas hire. 

Without going into to much detail. He is a guy that has been talking to my DS on X-box live. He has asked me if he can send my DS a Christmas gift. I am just a protective mother wanting to make sure things are on the up and up with this stranger. I have his age, and it just seems weird. I know he goes to college and has a girlfriend. But you never know when you are talking to strangers on the internet or X-box live. 

Without going into to much detail. He is a guy that has been talking to my DS on X-box live. He has asked me if he can send my DS a Christmas gift. I am just a protective mother wanting to make sure things are on the up and up with this stranger.



How old is she? There are tons of pervs out there. My instinct is hell to the no! 

Do a google of international background checking. You will probably pay a nice little penny, but if you want security that is the only way I can think of. 

And I agree with Sifi, 

Once he sends a gift then he has your home address...just saying. Even a background check could come back clean but doesnt mean he is. 

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS ON AN OLDER MAN - WHO IS CORRESPONDING WITH YOUR DAUGHTER???

Not only no, but absolutely NEVER...

You could look at the local predator lists - if you want to see this type of person... 

Please do not give him your address....this doesn't sound reasonable.

Remember...online anyone can pretend.

Protect your daughter from the potential predator. 

He may not even live in England. He may live just down the street from you.Just be careful. 

It could be that he has a big brother/little brother type of relationship with your son and he honestly cares about him in a safe and appropriate way, or he could be a pedophile out to hurt a child. There is no way to know. I would probably just say that the rule is we don't give out identifying information online, to anyone, ever, for any reason. If someday he comes to the states and they want to meet, just make sure you are there as well.

DS means darling SON, DD means darling DAUGHTER ;) 

The UK does not have the same open personal information as US. Most property records are private and the National Insurance number is only used for payroll purposes. You can try searching on FB and Google, but you may not get very far. Most addresses can be found through the post office website, but you will have to register and have to pay a small fee if you go over your monthly search quota.

With regard to receiving the gift, do you know anyone with a PO Box, or perhaps you could send it to a work address. 

It is probably innocent but I would not encourage any kind of relationship at all. Once a gift a given then a thank you is involved and the relationship is on a whole other level. I actually worry about these games that kids play with adults and whoever, and what kind of information kids might exchange with a total stranger. Of course, I am from the dark ages and don't understand these games at all.

How did you obtain his name and address? Do you automatically get this info when playing these games with people? I find the whole thing to be uncomfortable, but that is just how I am. 

I would say hell no to exchanging info.

How old is your son? 

Not only no, but absolutely NEVER...

Ditto!!! 

What kind of gift does he want to send?

It could be that the child is a big fan of something British like a football (soccer) team and wishes to send an item of national pride. I'd find out what it was first.

Europeans aren't as paranoid as we are when it comes to being friendly to strangers so keep that in mind. 

It's a bit foreign to a lot of adults now days but current generations are growing up online. These cases happen more and more every day. I know a lot of people online and have several gaming friends online younger than me (never any that lived with their parents still though). I have met up with several of my age appropriate online friends. We have gotten very close and bought each others gifts for birthdays and holidays well before ever meeting in real life. Never had a negative experience.

However, this has all been with adults. Unless you have seen this person live via webcam or similar to confirm what they have told you then share nothing. Even then you still really know nothing about this person.

If you really want to let him send a gift have it shipped to a UPS / FedEx store in Humble for pick-up. Do not give out anything personal. Open it there at the store and immediately report it to the store if it is anything unusual or inappropriate.

As with all cases there are good and bad people online and you mostly hear about the bad. I've known some of my online friends (gaming buddies, folks from online communities, as well as work) for over 15 years.

You have to be extremely suspicious in these cases, if it feels weird then don't do it.

Online meeting will become more and more common place. Parents need to be diligent and get to know these people just as you would if your son brought a new friend over at home.

BTW, a background check is fairly useless without the proper documentation / ID to backup that the person really is the name given. Even then, if they do have bad intentions they may have just never have been caught. I would never let them get a picture or talk via video chat. It's pretty easy now days to scan the internet via facial recognition software to find out names and much much more personal info just from a picture. Its also easy to fake online IDs.

As always, your son's safety comes first so if it feels off don't do it. 

NO NO!! Just say no. You cannot do a background check on a fake name and address and a fake country......it will come in clean.

Please don't do it....... 

Thank you for your suggestions. I am discussing with my husband. I mean no ill will but I will not even discuss on here the age of my son. I do not like locking topics, but this one personally upsets me so I will lock. Thank you everyone who responded. I am going with my gut and stopping them from talking. My DS might be upset with me, but it is my job as a mom to protect my family. Even if I am wrong.