A senior finance hire with a convincing CV and glowing interviews. Six months later the audit finds he left his last two roles after "unexplained discrepancies", and the MBA on his profile was bought online. The warning signs were public all along. Nobody checked.
Our background check services help employers, investors and compliance teams verify people and companies before they trust them with money, data or reputation. As an international background verification company headquartered in Dubai and backed by the 30+ years of GREVESGROUP®, we run checks in more than 100 countries, including markets where records are not online and verification means visiting the source in person.
What Is a Background Check?
A background check is a structured verification of the facts a person or company presents about themselves. For individuals, it usually covers identity, education, employment history, professional licences, directorships, litigation, media and reputation. For companies, it covers registration, ownership, management, financial standing and track record.
The value of a background check lies in its independence. We verify information directly with universities, former employers, registries and courts, rather than relying on documents supplied by the subject. That is how fake degrees, inflated job titles and undisclosed disputes come to light.
Why Background Screening Matters
CV fraud
Is common, and it is getting harder to spot. Fake degree certificates, invented employers with working phone numbers and AI-polished profiles all look convincing on paper. A bad hire at senior level costs far more than the salary: it can mean fraud, regulatory breaches, lost clients and reputational damage.
Pre-employment screening
Also protects existing staff and customers, supports regulatory requirements in banking, healthcare and other regulated sectors, and shows boards and investors that key appointments were properly vetted.
Our Background Check Services
Pre-Employment Screening
Our pre-employment screening checks verify the candidate's identity, address, education, employment history and references before an offer is confirmed. Packages are tailored to the seniority and risk of the role.
Education Verification
Education verification confirms degrees, diplomas and professional qualifications directly with the issuing institution, and checks whether the institution itself is accredited. This is how we identify diploma mills and forged certificates.
Employment Verification
Employment verification confirms dates, job titles, responsibilities and reasons for leaving with former employers. Where companies have closed or will not respond, we use alternative lawful sources to confirm the history.
Executive Background Checks
Senior hires and board appointments need more than a standard screen. Our executive background checks add directorship and shareholding searches, litigation checks, regulatory records, adverse media, reputational enquiries with industry sources and conflict-of-interest analysis.
Criminal Record and Litigation Checks
Where the law permits and with the subject's consent, we obtain criminal record checks through official channels. We also search civil, commercial and insolvency court records to identify disputes, judgments and bankruptcy history.
Vendor and Third-Party Background Checks
A vendor background check confirms that a supplier, distributor or agent is real, properly registered, owned by the people it claims and free of serious red flags. It is an essential part of anti-bribery and supply chain compliance.
Adverse Media and Social Media Screening
We search news archives, regulatory notices and public social media, in local languages, for information relevant to the role: fraud allegations, sanctions links, public misconduct or conflicts of interest. We report only what is lawful and relevant, not personal opinions or private life.
International Background Checks
Candidates increasingly bring careers from several countries. Our international background checks verify education and employment in each jurisdiction through in-country investigators who know how local records work.
Red Flags We Commonly Find
Many of the discrepancies we uncover are not dramatic lies, but they matter. Typical findings include:
- Degrees from unaccredited institutions or diploma mills, or qualifications never completed
- Employment dates stretched to hide gaps or short, unsuccessful roles
- Job titles upgraded from "assistant" to "manager" or "manager" to "director"
- Undisclosed directorships in companies that compete with or supply the employer
- Past dismissals, disputes or regulatory action omitted from the application
- Identity documents or addresses that do not match official records
Each finding is confirmed with the source before we report it, so you can act on it fairly.
How Our Background Screening Works
Define the scope
We agree the level of check with you based on the role, the risk and local legal requirements.
Consent and compliance
For employment screening, we obtain the candidate's consent and comply with data protection law, including the UAE Personal Data Protection Law, the EU GDPR and local rules in each jurisdiction.
Verification
Our team verifies information directly with institutions, employers, registries and courts, and conducts media and reputational research.
Discrepancy review
Where findings differ from what the candidate declared, we flag and confirm the discrepancy before reporting it.
Report
You receive a clear, colour-coded report showing verified, discrepant and unverifiable items, with sources. Turnaround depends on the checks and the countries involved.
What You Receive
Each background check report opens with a one-page summary that shows, at a glance, which items were verified, which showed discrepancies and which could not be verified, and why. Detailed sections follow for each check, with the source, the date of verification and copies of supporting evidence where available. For executive checks, we add a narrative profile covering career, business interests, reputation and any areas of concern, so decision-makers see the full picture rather than a checklist.
Background Checks by Industry
Different sectors carry different risks. Banks and financial institutions need fit-and-proper checks for regulated roles. Healthcare employers must verify medical licences and qualifications. Technology firms screen for access to sensitive data. Logistics and retail companies screen high-volume and cash-handling roles. Legal and professional services firms verify partners and lateral hires. We tailor each package to the real risk of the role and industry.
Why Choose Risk Investigators for Background Checks
Direct source verification
We confirm facts with the original source rather than trusting copies supplied by the candidate.
Coverage in 100+ countries
Our in-country investigators handle records that no global database holds.
Compliant by design
Consent, data minimisation and local law are built into every check.
Depth when it matters
Standard screens for everyday hires, investigative depth for executives and high-risk roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a background check include?
A typical employment background check includes identity, address, education and employment verification. Senior or high-risk roles can add directorship searches, litigation and criminal record checks where lawful, credit or financial checks, adverse media and reputational enquiries.
How long does a background check take?
It depends on the checks required and the countries involved. Some verifications are quick, while others depend on how fast universities, employers or courts respond. We give you an expected timeline for each package.
Do you need the candidate's consent?
For employment screening, yes. Consent is required under data protection law in most jurisdictions, including the UAE and the EU. We manage the consent process as part of the check.
Can you verify foreign degrees and qualifications?
Yes. We verify qualifications directly with universities and awarding bodies worldwide, and confirm whether the institution is genuine and accredited.
Can you run background checks on companies, not just people?
Yes. We run company background checks on suppliers, distributors, agents and partners, covering registration, ownership, management, litigation and reputation. For deeper work, see our due diligence services.
What is the difference between a background check and due diligence?
A background check verifies specific facts about a person or company, such as education, employment or registration. Due diligence is broader: it assesses ownership, reputation, integrity, sanctions exposure and business risk, usually before an investment, acquisition or major partnership.
Do you conduct background checks for individuals or tenants?
We work only for businesses and organisations. Property companies and landlord businesses can use our screening for commercial tenancy decisions, but we do not accept personal requests from private individuals.