Basic Background Check

Nationwide Background Check for $25

Order a five-part nationwide screening search and get results the same day or the next business day.

Every order includes an SSN trace, a nationwide criminal database search, the national sex offender registry, USA Patriot Act screening and global watchlists.

$25per search
Same-day or next-business-day results
No setup fee. No monthly minimum.
BBBA+ Rated — click to verify

PBSAProfessional Background Screening Association member

D&BDun & Bradstreet verified — click to verify

What Your $25 Basic Background Check Includes

Each order runs five searches at once, so you see identity, criminal and watchlist results together.

SSN Trace

The trace returns names, aliases, dates of birth and address history tied to the number you submit.

Use those addresses to pick the right county and state jurisdictions for deeper searches.

Nationwide Criminal Database

This search scans hundreds of millions of records from courts, corrections and state repositories.

Results show the offense, the jurisdiction, the case number and the final disposition.

National Sex Offender Registry

Every order checks the public registries maintained by all 50 states and the territories.

Registry hits appear separately from criminal court records, so you can review them on their own.

USA Patriot Act Screening

Patriot Act screening flags people named in federal terrorism and financial-crime enforcement data.

Banks, credit unions and money-service businesses rely on this search for onboarding.

Global Watchlists

The watchlist sweep covers sanctions, enforcement and exclusion lists used across regulated industries.

  • OFAC
  • SDN
  • FINRA
  • FinCEN
  • EPL
  • PEP
  • OIG
  • SAM
  • FDIC
  • DEA
  • USDA
  • Interpol
  • Canadian Sanctions List

Get 3 Criminal Database Searches for the Price of One

Enter a hyphenated surname and the system searches each surname separately, at no extra cost.

You enter
Mary Brown-Whitney
We search
  • Mary Brown-Whitney
  • Mary Brown
  • Mary Whitney

Therefore a married or hyphenated name never costs you three separate orders.

Add the maiden name or a former name in the alias field when you know it.

How to Enter Names for Accurate Results

Database matching depends on exact spelling, so follow these four rules before you submit.

1

Use the legal name

Enter the name exactly as it appears on a government-issued ID.

2

Drop punctuation

Remove periods, apostrophes and spaces from compound surnames.

3

Keep suffixes out

Leave Jr., Sr., II and III out of the surname field.

4

Add known aliases

List maiden names and former names so the search picks up older records.

Name formatting examples
You know the subject as Enter it as
John St. Louis John StLouis
Jose De La Cruz Jose Delacruz

Consequently the search engine reads the surname as one token and returns cleaner matches.

Sample data — fictitious subject, for illustration only

See a Sample Nationwide Background Check Report

Here is how the two record sections look inside your secure account.

SSN Trace Results

SSN Trace & Address History
Complete
SSN
XXX-XX-4821
Name
John A. Sample
Date of Birth
04/12/****
Search ID
7734215
Date Ordered
09/10/2026
Date Completed
09/10/2026

Information from the SSN Trace service is not part of the FCRA process. Hence, details are not shown in report. It is to be used for location purposes to identify names, aliases, DOBs & address history to determine FCRA county and state criminal jurisdiction searches. Please be aware that criminal searches are based on your provided input, NOT SSN Trace results.

To view SSN Trace, Name, Aliases & Address History, you must be logged to your secure account. Go to “Detailed View” page for your applicant, Under Search Types, click “Instant SSN Trace Past Address History”, a green “Complete” link will show on right-side, click to view.

Nationwide Criminal Database Results

Record 1 of 2
Guilty
Grand Theft, 3rd Degree
Jurisdiction
Orange County, FL
Case Number
2019-CF-004821
File Date
03/14/2019
Disposition
Guilty
Disposition Date
08/02/2019
Degree
Felony, 3rd Degree
Sentence
  • $300 fine
  • $850 court costs
  • 5 days jail
  • 250 hours community service
  • 2 years probation
Record 2 of 2
Convicted
Unemployment Compensation Fraud
Jurisdiction
Orange County, FL
Case Number
2019-MM-011903
File Date
01/22/2019
Disposition
Convicted
Disposition Date
05/10/2019
Degree
Misdemeanor
Sentence
  • $200 fine
  • $400 court costs
  • Probation served concurrently with case 2019-CF-004821

Important Limitations to Understand

A database search is broad, but it is not a court search. Read these four points before you act on a report.

FCRA compliance is required

Before you deny a job or a lease, you must send a pre-adverse action notice.

Include a copy of the report and the Summary of Rights, then allow time to dispute.

Records may repeat

One case can appear twice when a state repository and a county court both report it.

Check the case number before you count two entries as two offenses.

Matching uses name and date of birth

The database matches on name and date of birth, not on the Social Security number.

Common names therefore need a county court search to confirm identity.

Coverage has gaps

Some counties report late, and a few do not sell records to databases at all.

Order a county or state real-time search when the role demands full coverage.

Strengthen Your Search With These Add-Ons

Add any of these searches to the same order, right from your account.

Hiring for a regulated role? Compare the full FCRA employment screening package.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a nationwide background check include?

The $25 search runs five components: an SSN trace, a nationwide criminal database search, the national sex offender registry, USA Patriot Act screening and global watchlists.

You receive all five results in one report inside your account.

How fast will I get my results?

Most orders complete the same day. Orders placed late in the day return the next business day.

Your account shows a green Complete link as soon as each search finishes.

Can I use this report for employment decisions?

Yes, provided you follow the FCRA. First collect a signed disclosure and authorization from the applicant.

Then send a pre-adverse action notice with the report and the Summary of Rights before you decide.

Because database matching uses name and date of birth, confirm any hit with a county court search.

What if a record looks outdated or incorrect?

Contact us and we will re-verify the record at the source court.

Applicants may also dispute a record directly, and we investigate every dispute under the FCRA.

How do I search multiple surnames at once?

Enter the hyphenated surname exactly as the subject uses it, for example Brown-Whitney.

The system then searches the full hyphenated name and each surname on its own, at no extra cost.

Is my account secure?

Yes. Every account runs over encrypted connections, and optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) adds a second step at login.

Only the users you authorize can view applicant data.

Order Your Nationwide Background Check Today

Open an account in minutes and run your first $25 search the same day.

Optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) is available on all user accounts.

Questions? Call (800) 661-0278 or email support@usabackground.com.

BCS Background Screening LLC is a PBSA member consumer reporting agency based in Coral Gables, Florida.