Background investigations are used for a variety of purposes. They can be used for personal reasons such as: checking out the person you are dating, or even checking out what future and potential employers might find out about you.
Business background checks include both pre-employment or post-employment purposes. Lawyers can gain information about potential witnesses, due diligence or to get an insight into people with whom you might be involved in litigation.
A good investigation is quiet and discreet without the subject knowing it's even happened.
Here's a perfect example of why you need to do backgrounds. It couldn't happen here, right? Click to see the article.
(Thanks to Tallahassee Democrat at tallahassee.com)