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. SearchBug Background Report API allows you obtain complete background report with data from public, civil and criminal records. The report includes names, a list of current and previous addresses and phone numbers, emails, relatives, corporate filings, UCC filings, trademarks, professional associations and licenses, personal lien, judgment and bankruptcy filings, evictions, criminal and watchlist record details, concealed weapon and hunting permits, pilot licenses and more.
Accounts with Restricted Access Add-on can also see SSN info, driver's licenses, employers, employment history, business associations, voter registrations and some other restricted information.
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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People Search
The first step is to identify the correct subject person. Search by name, address, phone number, email address. You can add middle name or date of birth to narrow down your results. Verified business accounts with Restricted Access Add-on can also search by SSN.
People Search API by itself is a powerful and cost-effective tool ($0.77 to $0.30 per hit) with detailed current information.
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Background Report
The second step is a detailed report for the person selected in the People Search results. You will pass Person ID from the Step 1 to obtain all the available details in the Background Report. Not all details are available for all records.
Cost is $10.00 to $17.00 per query, depending on volume.
The rate automatically goes down as your monthly volume increases. The price resets on the 1st of each month.
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.
Professional Accounts have the ability to search Criminal Records by SSN.
Cost is $2.50 per query.
Output example: XML (also available in JSON)
API - Anti Money Laundering (AML)
Use the Searchbug Anti Money Laundering (AML) API to find out if someone is on a Government Anti Money Laundering (AML). 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 (also available in JSON)
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?
How To Videos
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the People Search API used for?
The People Search API helps businesses, investigators, and legal professionals verify identities, find contact details, and enrich their databases with accurate information. It’s often used for lead generation, background verification, KYC processes, and customer record enhancement.
What are the "Find" APIs used for?
The Find Name and Address, Find Phone Number, and Find Email APIs are used for many of the same purposes as the People Search API. The main difference is the quality and source of the data. As such, these APIs are generally used more for general marketing purposes.
How to find a name from a phone number?
Our People Search API and Find Name and Address API allow users to search by phone number to identify the owner’s name and address. It’s ideal for businesses needing to validate customer data or track down missing information.
Is this API suitable for KYC compliance?
Yes! The People Search API is often used in KYC processes to confirm customer details before onboarding. Financial institutions, insurance companies, and compliance teams rely on this API to meet regulatory requirements.
How do I pay for API services?
All of our APIs work off of a prepaid balance. First, you load your account with a predetermined amount of funds between $10 and $5000. With each API call, the system will slowly chip away at your prepaid balance. When the prepaid balance gets low, the system automatically replenishes your balance with the predetermined amount.
To add a prepaid balance, log into your account and click your name at the top > select 'Your Account' from the dropdown menu > under the 'Billing Details' section click 'SWITCH PLAN'.
How does the API pricing work?
When a query is successful (called a "hit"), charges apply. There is no charge if there is no information found on a query. The cost per hit decreases as your monthly volume increases, making it cost-effective for businesses handling high search volumes.
Can I test the API before purchasing?
Yes! We offer free API testing for qualified users. Register for a no-obligation Sandbox API Test Account, and you’ll receive a limited number of live queries to evaluate the quality of our data before fully integrating.
How often is the data updated?
Searchbug utilizes sophisticated algorithms to search a multitude of data sources to ensure the contact data quality is always fresh, accurate, up-to-date, and never stale.
