They Seem Perfect. But You Have That Feeling
FL License #A1400282
It is 11:47pm and you are Googling someone you should probably already trust.
Maybe it is your fiance. You have been together for two years. The wedding is in four months. Everything seems perfect. But there was that moment last week when their story did not quite add up. That old friend who seemed surprised by something they said about their past. That bill collector call they explained away a little too quickly.
Maybe it is the nanny you are about to hire. Wonderful references. Great with your kids during the interview. But something in your gut will not let you hand over your house keys without knowing more.
Maybe it is the business partner who wants you to invest $150,000. Impressive credentials. Confident presentation. But you have heard stories about people who lost everything to someone who seemed legitimate.
You have already done what everyone does. You Googled them. You checked their Facebook and LinkedIn. Maybe you paid $29.99 for one of those instant background check websites.
You found nothing alarming. So you should feel better.
But you do not.
Because deep down, you know those searches only show what is easy to find. What about the conviction in another state? The bankruptcy filed under their maiden name? The civil lawsuit from their last business partner? The restraining order their ex filed in Georgia?
That is what we find.
Fast Affordable Investigations has conducted over 500 background investigations across South Florida since 2014. We do not search databases. We investigate people. We access court records directly, verify claims with primary sources, and uncover what online searches are designed to miss.
If there is something in their past that could hurt you, we find it. Before you say "I do." Before you hand over the keys. Before you sign the check.
You Feel Guilty for Even Being Here. That Is Normal.
You are not a suspicious person. You are not paranoid. You do not want to be the kind of person who investigates people they are supposed to trust.
But something brought you to this page.
Maybe it was a comment that did not add up. A story that changed slightly the second time they told it. A reaction that seemed rehearsed. A moment when you caught them in something small and wondered what else might be hidden.
Or maybe nothing specific happened at all. Maybe you just have that feeling. The one you cannot explain but cannot ignore.
After 500+ background investigations, we can tell you something with certainty: people who order background checks are almost never wrong to do so.
They are not paranoid. They are not untrusting. They are paying attention to signals that their conscious mind has not fully processed yet.
The woman who "just had a feeling" about her fiance and discovered he had two prior marriages he never mentioned.
The business owner who "something felt off" about a potential partner and found three prior lawsuits from other partners.
The family who "wanted to be sure" about their new nanny and discovered a theft conviction under her maiden name.
They all felt guilty for doubting. They all worried they were being paranoid.
Why Your Google Search Found Nothing (And Why That Means Nothing)
You have probably already searched them online. Facebook. LinkedIn. Google. Maybe even one of those $29.99 instant background check websites.
You found nothing concerning. Clean record. Nice photos. Normal life.
Here is what you need to understand: those searches are designed to find what is easy to find. They are not designed to find what people are trying to hide.
What Online Databases Actually Search
Public records that have been digitized and uploaded to aggregator databases
Information indexed by search engines
Social media profiles the person has made public
News articles and public announcements
What Online Databases Cannot Find
Records Filed Under Other Names
Maiden names. Aliases. Legal name changes. If they filed bankruptcy as Jennifer Smith before marrying you as Jennifer Jones, the database will not connect them.
Records in Courts That do not Share Data
Many county courts do not upload to national databases. A felony conviction one county over might not appear.
Sealed and Expunged Records
Legally hidden from public databases but still discoverable through proper investigation.
Civil Judgments and Lawsuits
That $200,000 fraud judgment from their previous business? Not in the criminal database because it was a civil case.
Out-of-state Records
If you search Florida and they have a conviction in Georgia, you will never know.
Records That are Simply not Digitized Yet
Court systems are backlogged. Recent convictions may not appear for months.
A clean online background check does not mean they are clean.
It means they are clean in the places you looked, under the names you searched, in the databases that happened to have records.
What We Have Found That Online Searches Missed
These are real findings from our investigations. Names and identifying details changed to protect client confidentiality.
Hidden Criminal History
- Domestic violence conviction filed under a previous married name
- DUI arrests in three different states, none appearing in Florida searches
- Felony theft conviction that was pled down to misdemeanor and filed under maiden name
- Sexual battery charge that resulted in deferred adjudication, invisible to standard searches
- Federal wire fraud conviction that did not appear in state criminal databases
Financial Deception
- Three bankruptcies in 10 years across three different states
- $340,000 in civil judgments from former business partners
- Active IRS tax liens totaling $127,000
- Pattern of evictions hidden by frequent moves between counties
- Exposed shell company used to hide assets from previous divorce
Hidden Relationship History
- Two prior marriages never disclosed to fiance
- Active restraining order from ex-spouse in another state
- Child support arrears and contempt citations
- Still legally married despite claiming to be divorced
- Pattern of relationships ending with financial disputes
Professional Lies
- MBA never completed despite claiming degree
- “VP of Sales” was actually a junior sales rep
- Professional license suspended for ethical violations
- Termination for cause reframed as “company restructuring”
- Reference letters from people who never worked with them
Three Investigations. Three Decisions Changed
The Perfect Fiance
The Situation
Woman in her late 40s, engaged after 18 months of dating. He was charming, financially comfortable, and wonderful with her adult children. Wedding planned for spring. She felt guilty even considering an investigation.
What Made Her Call
His college roommate made an offhand comment at a dinner party that contradicted something her fiance had told her about his past. Small detail. But it stuck with her.
What we Found
Two prior marriages, not one as he claimed. Chapter 7 bankruptcy filed 4 years earlier. Active civil judgment of $89,000 from a former business partner who sued for fraud. Pattern of relationships lasting 2-3 years, each ending with financial disputes.
How She Felt
"Devastated but grateful. I kept thinking about what would have happened if I married him without knowing. I would have combined our finances. I would have been liable for his debts. I would have been wife number four."
The Outcome
Wedding cancelled. Within three months, he was engaged to someone else.
The Trusted Caregiver
The Situation
Family hiring live-in care for elderly mother with early dementia. Candidate had 12 years of experience, glowing references, warm personality. Online background check came back clean.
What Made Them Call
One reference was enthusiastic but vague. Would not provide specific details. Said she "preferred not to discuss particulars." That hesitation triggered concern.
What we Found
Civil judgment for financial exploitation of an elderly person, filed in Broward County under her maiden name. The vague reference was actually a family she had worked for who suspected theft but settled quietly to avoid litigation.
How They Felt
"We almost handed her the keys to my mother's house. She would have had access to her checkbook, her credit cards, her medication. The online search showed nothing. Nothing."
The Outcome
Candidate not hired. Family contacted the previous employer who confirmed suspicions. Estimated avoided loss: $50,000+.
The Business Opportunity
The Situation
Investor considering $200,000 in a real estate development. Developer had professional presentation, impressive website, testimonials from satisfied investors. Claimed 15 successful projects.
What Made Him Call
"Something about how eager he was. How quickly he wanted the money. I have been in business long enough to know that legitimate opportunities do not require pressure."
What we Found
Two prior developments that failed, resulting in litigation from investors. Judgments totaling $340,000. The "testimonials" on his website were from the two projects that actually completed, not from the ones that failed. He had changed company names after each failure.
How He Felt
"I was 48 hours from wiring $200,000. The background investigation cost me $800. It saved me everything."
The Outcome
Investment declined. Within 18 months, the development stalled and current investors filed suit.
When a Professional Background Check Is Worth Every Dollar
Before Marriage or Moving In Together
You are combining your life with someone. Your finances. Your home. Potentially your children's lives. You deserve to know who they actually are.
Pre-matrimonial investigations reveal: undisclosed prior marriages, bankruptcy and judgment history, criminal records including domestic violence, ongoing child support obligations, and whether they are actually divorced from their previous spouse.
In 15% of our pre-matrimonial investigations, we discover marriages the client did not know about.
Before Hiring Anyone Who Enters Your Home
Nannies. Housekeepers. Home health aides. Caregivers. Contractors. Anyone who will have access to your home, your children, your elderly parents, your valuables.
Household employee investigations reveal: criminal history across all states, civil judgments including theft and abuse cases, actual employment history versus claims, verified references versus fabricated ones.
The average household theft loss is $5,000 to $15,000. The average background check is $150 to $400.
Before Investing Money With Anyone
Business partners. Investment opportunities. Private lending. Anyone asking you to trust them with significant money.
Business due diligence investigations reveal: bankruptcy and judgment history, litigation from previous partners or investors, actual business track record versus claims, regulatory actions and license status.
In 20% of business due diligence investigations, we uncover fraud indicators or significant undisclosed history.
Before Trusting Someone You Met Online
Dating apps. Social media connections. Online business opportunities. The internet makes it easy to present whatever version of yourself you want.
Online relationship investigations reveal: whether they are who they claim to be, whether they are actually single, criminal and civil history, and whether their story matches reality.
Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022. A $300 background check is cheap insurance.
When Your Adult Parent Has a New "Friend"
Your elderly parent has met someone new. They are spending a lot of time together. Maybe money has started moving. You are worried but do not want to seem controlling.
Elder protection investigations reveal: whether this person has a history of financial exploitation, criminal background, civil judgments, and pattern of targeting vulnerable adults.
Financial exploitation of the elderly is the fastest-growing form of fraud. Early investigation prevents catastrophic loss.
What Happens When You Call Us
Step 1
Most clients say this conversation itself brings relief. Someone is finally taking their concerns seriously.
Step 2
Step 3
• Access court records directly, not through aggregated databases
• Search under all known names, aliases, and variations
• Check federal, state, and county records across relevant jurisdictions
• Verify identity matches before including any findings
• Contact primary sources for employment and education verification
• Analyze patterns, not just individual records
We find what databases miss because we look where databases do not.
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
What a Professional Background Investigation Costs
Transparent pricing. No hidden fees. No surprises.
Basic Background Search
$150 to $300
National criminal database, sex offender registry (all 50 states), SSN verification, address history.
Best for: Initial screening, low-risk situations, verifying basic claims.
Standard Background Investigation
$300 to $500
Everything in Basic plus: direct county criminal court searches (up to 3 counties), civil court records, bankruptcy search, judgment and lien search.
Best for: Pre-employment screening, tenant screening, moderate-risk decisions.
Comprehensive Background Investigation
$500 to $800
Everything in Standard plus: expanded county searches (unlimited), federal court records, employment verification, education verification, professional license verification, social media deep dive.
Best for: Pre-matrimonial investigations, business partnerships, hiring decisions, significant financial decisions.
Executive Due Diligence
$800 to $1,500+
Everything in Comprehensive plus: deep financial analysis, corporate affiliations, media and litigation search, reference interviews, field investigation when warranted.
Best for: Major investments, executive hires, business acquisitions, high-net-worth situations.
The Math That Matters
Average comprehensive background investigation: $600
Average loss when trusting the wrong person: $15,000 to $500,000+
Cost of peace of mind when investigation comes back clean: Priceless
A background investigation is not an expense. It is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy.
What If the Investigation Finds Nothing?
This is a question we hear often. “What if I spend $500 and you find nothing? Then I wasted money and feel guilty for doubting them.”
Here is the truth: a clean comprehensive background investigation is not wasted money.
It is permission to trust.
Right now, you have doubt. That doubt will not go away on its own. It will surface every time something seems slightly off. Every time they are late and their explanation feels thin. Every time money is mentioned. Every time you wonder if you really know them.
A thorough investigation that comes back clean eliminates that doubt.
You will know you did your due diligence. You will know that a licensed professional looked in the places online searches cannot reach and found nothing concerning. You will be able to move forward with confidence instead of lingering uncertainty.
Some of our clients are relieved when we find nothing. They WANT the person to be clean. They just need to verify.
“I knew she was probably fine. I just needed to be sure before I proposed. Now I know for certain.” – Client, Boca Raton
That certainty is worth every dollar.
Questions You Are Afraid to Ask
Will they find out I investigated them?
No. Background investigations using public records are confidential. The subject is never notified. There is no alert, no record of the search, no way for them to discover it. If we need to conduct interviews, we use professional pretext that does not reveal who requested the investigation.
Am I a bad person for not trusting them?
No. You are a careful person who is about to make an important decision. Verifying information before making major life choices is not distrust. It is due diligence. You would not buy a house without an inspection. You would not invest in a business without reviewing financials. Investigating someone before combining your life with theirs is equally reasonable.
What if I find something and do not know what to do?
Our investigators walk you through the findings and provide context. A single old misdemeanor might not matter. A pattern of financial judgments probably does. We help you understand what the findings mean and how they should inform your decision. The choice is always yours.
Can I investigate someone I am already married to?
Yes. We conduct investigations for spouses who have discovered concerning behavior or who need information for divorce proceedings. We also handle asset searches, surveillance, and other marital investigations.
How is this different from online background check services?
Online services search databases. We investigate people. We access court records directly rather than relying on aggregated data. We search under all name variations. We verify matches before reporting. We analyze patterns. We find what databases miss because we look where databases cannot.
How long does it take?
Basic searches: 1-2 business days. Standard investigations: 3-5 business days. Comprehensive investigations: 5-7 business days. Rush service available for time-sensitive situations.
What information do you need to get started?
Full legal name and date of birth are essential. Social Security Number, addresses, and known aliases improve results but are not always required. We can discuss what information you have during your free consultation.
Can you investigate someone in another state?
Yes. We conduct nationwide background investigations. We search federal records and can access court records in all 50 states. Location is not a limitation.
Is this legal?
Yes. Investigating someone using public records for personal decisions is completely legal. For employment screening and tenant screening, specific regulations apply (FCRA compliance). We advise on requirements during your consultation.
The Longer You Wait, The Harder It Gets
Right now, those doubts are manageable. You have not signed anything. You have not combined finances. You have not given them a key or said "I do" or written a check.
But every day that passes, you become more committed. More invested. More entangled.
The wedding gets closer. The business deal progresses. The relationship deepens. The caregiver becomes part of the family routine.
And the harder it becomes to walk away if you discover something.
We have had clients call us after the wedding. After the investment. After the theft. After the damage was done.
"I wish I had called you six months ago."
"I knew something was off. I should have trusted my gut."
"It would have been so much easier to walk away before."
Get the information now. While you can still act on it without catastrophic consequences.
A background investigation costs a few hundred dollars. Finding out too late can cost you everything.
Know Who You Are Really Dealing With
You came to this page because something does not feel right.
Maybe you can articulate it. Maybe you cannot. But you have that feeling, and it will not go away.
You have two options:
Option 1: Ignore it. Trust that the online search was enough. Move forward and hope you are wrong about your doubts.
Option 2: Make one phone call. Talk to a licensed investigator who has handled 500+ background investigations. Find out what it would take to get answers. Then decide.
Call (954) 404-3446 right now.
A licensed investigator will answer. We will discuss your situation, explain what level of investigation makes sense, and give you a clear cost estimate.
No pressure. No obligation. If we cannot help, we will tell you.
But make the call before you make the decision.
Because right now, you can still choose to walk away if you need to.
After you sign the license, write the check, or hand over the keys, your options get much more limited.