Weapons for Defense of the Workplace:
Security ABCs Begin with “ID”
By Joseph Mahfet, Jr.
America’s business and its citizens find
themselves on the front lines in a new kind
of war. Background screening firms, such as
InfoLink Screening Services, Inc.,
furnish an immediate and legal means to
identify dangerous individuals, thus
creating a more secure environment for
employees and customers alike.
“Verification is basically a simple
subject when you keep in mind a person using
false I.D. knows they have something to
hide,” states
Barry Nadell, President/CEO of InfoLink.
“The only variables are the quality and
extent of their falsification efforts. Any
action that alerts you to a possible
falsification immediately disarms these
persons as they can only be effective when
operating in secrecy.”
Background checks readily verify several
forms of identification. These include
fingerprints, driver’s license and social
security number. Backup data such as
employment, education, military history and
criminal background can also be correlated
with the verification of ID to uncover
discrepancies.
“The demand for fingerprinting has
dramatically increased recently, especially
for youth groups,” states Mark Englander of
AccuPrint, a California fingerprint services
company. Access to fingerprint files varies
from industry to industry according to
federal and state law.
Fingerprinting is mandated for some
licensed processionals such as airline
pilots, teachers or notaries; for those
employed by the government and for other
security sensitive position like airport
employees, banks and healthcare.
Youth groups are category eligible by law
for fingerprinting, but are not required to
do so. Other employers or groups can apply
to their state department of justice on a
case-by-case basis, a process that may take
a couple months to decide. If granted,
applicants are assigned a requestor number
which allows them to process fingerprints.
Approximate fingerprinting costs include
rolling fees (collection expenses) of
$15-25, state Department of Justice
processing fees of $32 and, where
applicable, FBI processing fees of $24.
Government processing fees may be waived for
non-profit organizations.
The turnaround on fingerprint card is six
weeks to four months. However, California
has instituted a system for the secure
electronic transmission of fingerprint
scans, thereby reducing processing to as
little as 72 hours.
Social security checks cost as little as
$5.00 or less and are returned immediately
upon request. Two databases may be accessed
in connection with a number. One, from the
Department of Social Security, indicates
whether a social security number has been
issued and is valid. If issued, the issuing
state and approximate year of issue are also
provided.
The other database is accessed from any
one or all three of the major credit
bureaus. The credit bureau trace matches
the social security number to the name
provided. It gives an individual’s last
three address and also shows any “a/k/a”
(also known as) names used. Importantly,
the trace will note if the social security
number has been used in a death benefits
claim or if a claim of fraud has been issued
in relation to the number.
Photo IDs such as driver’s licenses are
effective since the person presenting the ID
must at least resemble the photo. Even
photo IDs have shortcoming if applicants are
not required to properly identify themselves
when obtaining one. Similarly, an applicant
can sometimes present false paperwork and
obtain a card which has his or her photo,
but someone else’s background information.
The concept of a national ID card
enlarges on the concept of a photo ID with
embedded personal information that only the
correct user would know, or by including
definitive biometric identification factors
such as fingerprints, DNA, or retinal scans.
“Much has been said about the ways
identification can be falsified,” observes
Mr. Nadell, “but Americans should also know
there is workable technology for detecting
false identification that is readily
available to them by phone, fax, or the
Internet. This is one advantage of this
country’s vast electronic infrastructure.”
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