We all have
someone in our lives with whom we feel we can share all of
our thoughts and secrets. Usually it is a member of our
family, or a schoolmate whose friendship has endured through
the decades. These people have usually seen us at our best
and at our worst, and they have been right there by our
sides to see us through it all. Such friends and family
share in the triumphs and suffer through the sorrows. There
are no ulterior motives.
Many of us also have friends we have known for quite some
time, who are always open and friendly, but never really
help carry the burden when the going gets tough. Or we have
family members who suddenly pop into our lives from
seemingly nowhere.
How many of these people do you trust? Would you trust them
with your life? Can you trust them with a secret? Or do you
trust no one?
Be careful who
you trust – your welfare may depend upon it
When it comes to matters of great importance, we must be
very cautious with our secrets. How many times have you
heard stories of the trusted caregiver stealing his or her
elderly charge blind? Suddenly a helpless senior citizen
with no family to speak of is left destitute, their life’s
savings stolen from them by the very person who was supposed
to care for them.
Or, how many times have you seen one person suddenly
befriend another, only because they wanted something they
couldn’t otherwise attain? Remember Selena, the singer? Her
trusted manager and friend not only stole from her, but she
eventually killed her.
How do you know who you can trust, or if you even should? In
cases of close family, you most likely already know who has
stood by you through it all and who has not. However, when
it comes to other people, use caution and trust your
judgment.
Research their
intentions and past, easily and legally
If you feel someone has befriended you because they want
something from you, play detective and try to find out what
that person’s wants and needs are. Learning what they lack
in their life may very well hold the key to what they are
looking for from you – giving you the knowledge to protect
yourself and your assets.
If you suspect your newfound friend is in financial trouble,
try looking into
court records to see if any bankruptcies
have been filed, or any judgments have been made against
that person. Look for property foreclosures, IRS or other
tax liens, or court-ordered wage garnishments. Try to
determine if your friend has a gambling problem.
On the other hand,
you may suspect your new friend is a thief, or running from
someone. A personal background check should reveal secrets
about your friend’s life, including any criminal misconduct.
Most of this investigation can be done via the Internet by
searching public records. However, you may have to dig into
many different databases to get the answers you want. If you
are looking for an easy, quick way to search an individual’s
true history, an online background check service, such as
Net Detective,
is an affordable way to search all available databases from
one location.
Looking into someone’s past may not seem necessary, but it
will be well worth it if it saves you the headache of a
stolen identity or an empty bank account. It will also be
worth it if you are able to forge one of those rare,
lifelong friendships. |
