There are many reasons why companies and individuals may need to hire a professional to conduct a  background check investigation on a Russian citizen.  Some of these reasons include a new employment opportunity, friendship, romance or a new business deal.  With the high risk of fraud in Russia, most people now know it’s better safe than sorry.  Vetting individuals and businesses is not only cautious, it’s a  smart move that is becoming  a normal risk management tool.  Regardless of the case or the specific needs of information, the important thing to consider is that having reliable and accurate information should be the main goal of any background check investigation in Russia.

In developed countries like the United States, verifying that the person you are dealing with is trust-worthy and who he or she claims to be may seem easy. People turn to popular databases to find the information they need, especially those who are just looking for a phone number or contact information only. But checking important information like criminal, court, reputation,  background and bankruptcy records in a database is not a wise thing to do in developing countries such as Russia and the Ukraine, and in most cases it isn’t even an option, because the database doesn’t exist.

People with no experience in private investigation assume you can check a database in any country in the world to verify an individual, and nothing could be further from the truth.  Proper verification of an individual or business in any developing country requires trained investigators.

Not all countries are equal when it comes to the accuracy and reporting of their records. This means that in many countries even the official records are quite hard to obtain, and may not be accessible to the public. Either they are available only in physical form (paper files) and not in any digital database, or they are outdated. Databases are mainly fed by digital information, but the fact that the information has never been entered into a system is not a guarantee that it doesn´t exist. In Russia, for instance, the parliament passed a law forcing internet companies to store the personal information of Russian citizens on Russian based servers, restricting the access and making things even more complicated for people and investigators outside of Russia. It most cases, a professional investigator in Moscow or the city of origin actually has to go directly to the source and verify the information.

Another problem encountered with databases is the language barrier. Assuming you were able to access and find the information you are looking for, it will most likely be in Russian. Getting a decent translation could be more trouble, and a simple mistake can give a completely different meaning to the information retrieved. Having someone that knows the language check the information is better.

If you need to know the reputation and background of an individual, a trained investigator with access to local records who can make discreet inquiries is going to be key to minimizing risk.  Professional investigators based in Moscow have contacts with government and police, and can verify identifications, passports, travel records, birth, marriage and criminal records, reputation and more.

Another major issue  – the one that represents a serious risk and that is often overlooked – is that databases in Russia may or may not be official sources, but may be accessed and reported by a third party or company.  In other words, the information you think are accessing is not really from the source, and whatever data or “evidence” you think you are obtaining is outdated or wrong.

Russia PI investigators recommend that when searching for a reliable background check investigation or due diligence provider in Eastern Europe, Russia or the Ukraine, the first thing to do is make a list of the companies or websites that offer the service, and then research them.  Check to see if they have experts on the ground in the country where you need them.  If not, you are about to lose your money!  Internet searches are of little or no value when it comes to countries like Russia, so you better have someone local who can get the facts and clear evidence.  With the increasing internet restrictions, the problem and lack of transparency will only increase. Make sure you hire real investigators who can help and not a website claiming to check databases in Russia!  Having someone with professional experience and knowledge of the language and the local laws will make all the difference.

Do you need someone in Russia verified?  Contact us today for a free quote!

C. Wright
© 2015 Russia PI™

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