
Protect yourself and your business with automated background and criminal records checks. Use these powerful and reliable API to accesses data from public, civil, and criminal records
This service is especially useful for Mobile app developers, website developers, staffing agencies, human resource departments, collections, law firms, real estate, financial services, eCommerce, marketing, and insurance companies.
- Instant, Real-time Results
- Ease the pain of Online Fraud and
Identity Theft - Validate People in Seconds
- Avoid making Irresponsible Hiring decisions
XML or JSON Format
Fast & Reliable
No Contracts
Minimum $5
Secure and Private
Data Handling

API - BACKGROUND CHECK
Obtaining background check information on people is simplified with this API. Our extensive background check consists of a Background Search AND a detailed Background Report. Obtain a more thorough background check with access to data from public, civil, and criminal records. Get a list of current and previous addresses as well as phone numbers for a person. In addition see matching social profiles and weblinks for your target subject.
Great for web and mobile developers in dating applications, staffing applications, HR applications, recruiting apps, legal apps, and others.
THIS IS A TWO API CALL PROCESS
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Background Search
The first step in our background check API process is a background search to correctly identify your subject (the person). This step requires you have your subject's full name and location.
If you have the subject's social security number use it to search for more accurate first step matches. Note: only Verified business users can search by SSN.
The first step results will typically include matching names, addresses and dates of birth.
Cost: $0.75 per query.
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Background Report
The second step in our background check API process is the actual detailed report. With the information obtained in Step 1 (person ID), you can access Background Detailed Report in Step 2.
Cost is $5.00 per query.
Output example: HTML

API - CRIMINAL RECORDS
Obtaining criminal records is easy with this API. Find out if someone has a criminal record and obtain the case details. Criminal Records typically include jurisdiction, charge, offense, disposition type, sentence, probation and conviction.
Search by name, location and date of birth.
Our Criminal Record Developer's API is a great way for developers or webmasters to include our raw criminal data into applications or websites.
Cost is $1.00 to $0.25 per query, depending on volume.
The rate automatically goes down as your monthly volume increases. The price resets on the 1st of each month.
Estimate your cost
Output example: XML
(also available in JSON)

API - Terrorist Watch List
Use the Searchbug Terrorist Watchlist API to find out if someone is on a Government Terrorist Watch List. Watchlist is comprised of multiple Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, FBI, and Interpol security data sources (INTERPOL is the world's largest international police organization, with 190 member countries.)
An API search may be conducted using a person's name or name and date of birth. Using a date of birth helps to determine if you have the correct person.
Great for web and mobile developers in the financial industry, travel industry, & leasing or rental industries. Incorporating this API into your app can differentiate you from the competition.
Cost is $0.05 per query.
Output example: XML
Do not see what you need? We can create a custom API to suite your needs
or solve data
problems you might be facing. Just ask.
HOW DO I GET ACCESS TO APIs?
To use an API you will need a Searchbug account.
The cost of each API is based on either a Query or a Hit (match) and the cost is deducted from the established Prepaid account balance. Review each API for the associated cost, and, if the charge is per Hit (when information is found) or per Query.
APIs require a Prepaid account. Prepaid accounts are automatically recharged when your account is low on funds to avoid service interruption. You can select any prepaid amount from $10 to $1,000. If you are just testing the system, we suggest starting with a $10 prepaid account. Your credit card will only be charged $10 and you can implement testing. When you finish testing, we suggest you increase your prepaid amount to match your anticipated volume to avoid multiple small charges.
Why it Is important to have the proper prepaid account amount selected: If you keep your prepaid account at $10 and anticipate using more than $10 in service every few days, your card will be charged multiple times in a short period. Multiple small charges to the same vendor in a short period can often trigger your credit card company to decline charges as suspicious activity which will cause your service to be interrupted.
We suggest you select a prepaid amount that will cover a least one week of search volume. Note that Prepaid amounts never expire. Should you decide to stop using the service, you can simply request the account balance of unused funds be credited back to your card.
If you need a restricted API, establish a Searchbug account first, then apply for Restricted Access.