2.15 ChoicePoint: A Case Study

One of the largest providers of information is ChoicePoint, whose customers include federal, state, and local government agencies; the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). It provides access to various types of records in several formats. Its AutoTrackXP and ChoicePoint Online provide Internet access to more than 14 billion current and historical records on individuals and businesses and allow users to browse through those records instantly.

With as little information as a name or Social Security number, ChoicePoint provides access and cross-referencing of public and proprietary records, including identity verification information, relatives and associates, corporate information, real property records, and deed transfers. In addition, access is available to a staff of field researches who perform county, state, and federal courthouse searches.

Subscribers can use AutoTrack Wireless to access some of ChoicePoint's most widely used public-record databases through a variety of wireless platforms. Through their SQL Direct, batch processing can provide access to multiple databases include the following:

Credit header (identification section)
Real property records
Corporations and limited partnerships
Uniform Commercial Code filings
Bankruptcies, liens, and judgments
Telephone directory (includes reverse directory)
Business directory listings
SEC significant shareholders
FAA aircraft and pilots
US Coast Guard watercraft registrations
Physician reports
Address inspector
Federal employer identification (FEIN) listings
OSHA filings
Professional licenses
Fictitious business name registrations

ChoicePoint's National Comprehensive Report can provide the following data items:

Date of birth
Possible AKAs for subject
Possible other Social Security number
Possible other names associated with SSN
Possible addresses associated with subject
Possible real property ownership
Possible deed transfers
Possible vehicles registered at subject's addresses
Possible watercraft
Possible FAA aircraft registration
Possible UCC filings
Possible bankruptcies, liens, and judgments
Possible professional licenses
Possible FAA pilot licenses
Possible DEA controlled substance licenses
Possible business affiliations
Possible relatives
Other people who have the same address as the subject
Possible licensed drivers at subject's addresses
Neighbor phone listings for subject's addresses

At the end of the report the user is provided with the following notification:

 The following databases were searched but data for the subject was not found: ABI Business Directory, Active U.S. Military Personnel, Broward County Felonies/Misdemeanors, Broward County Traffic Citations, Federal Firearms and Explosives License, Florida Accidents, Florida Banking and Finance Licenses, Florida Beverage License, Florida Boating Citations, Florida Concealed Weapon Permits, Florida Day Care Licenses, Florida Department of Education, Florida Felony/Probation/Parole, Florida Fictitious Name, Florida Handicap Parking Permits, Florida Hotels and Restaurants, Florida Insurance Agents, Florida Marriages, Florida Money Transmitter Licenses, Florida Salt Water Product Licenses, Florida Securities Dealers, Florida Sexual Predator, Florida Tangible Property, Florida Tobacco License, Florida Unclaimed Property, Florida Worker's Compensation Claims, Marine Radio Licenses, Significant Shareholders, Trademarks / Service Marks, and state-specific databases. *** End of Report SS_009/01 ***

Lastly, ChoicePoint offers through its CORE service the ability to pull public-records data directly into the investigative databases of subscribers for data and link analysis (www.choicepoint.com).