Background Checks & Due Diligence
Thorough background screening for critical decisions, business and personal.
NCRB conducts thorough background checks and due diligence for both individuals and organizations: from screening a new business partner, tenant, or personal relationship to corporate M&A due diligence and counterparty verification.
Our research goes beyond standard database checks. We combine open-source intelligence, commercial database access, public registry searches, and media analysis to identify undisclosed risks, reputational concerns, and potential legal exposure. The depth of investigation is tailored to the seriousness of the decision and your budget.
For international clients, NCRB conducts background checks in the Netherlands as a licensed Dutch investigation agency (Wpbr licence POB 1737, Ministry of Justice and Security). Whether you need a Dutch background check on a business partner, verification of the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) behind a Dutch entity, or pre-transaction due diligence, every investigation is conducted under the GDPR with documented, defensible methods.
NCRB also verifies investors, buyers, and business partners before you sign. In a recent case, an investment offer of over a million euros, complete with passport, bank statement, and a London intermediary, turned out to be a fabricated identity and a crypto-wallet scam. The client received a clear conclusion within five working days and lost nothing.
What We Investigate
What You Receive
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Structured Report with Risk Assessment
Findings presented in a clear format with identified risks highlighted and assessed.
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Source Documentation
Full documentation of all sources consulted and methods used during the investigation.
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Entity and Relationship Mapping
Visual mapping of corporate structures, beneficial ownership, and relevant relationships.
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Media and Litigation Analysis
Review of media coverage and litigation history relevant to the subject.
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Actionable Recommendations
Scope tailored to your needs and budget, with clear recommendations based on findings.
Who This Is For
Corporations
Vendor screening, partnership assessment, and executive hiring due diligence.
Investors
Pre-acquisition and investment due diligence to identify undisclosed risks.
HR Departments
Pre-employment screening and verification beyond standard reference checks.
Private Individuals
Partner verification, tenant checks, and online contact verification for personal decisions.
Read also
The EUR 1.2 Million Investor Who Never Existed
Case study: an investor offered over a million euros, provided the company opened a crypto wallet first. How NCRB exposed the fraud in five working days.
Read articleDue Diligence Red Flags: What to Check Before You Hire, Invest, or Partner
A guide to background checks, due diligence, adverse media, corporate records, sanctions, and reputation risks before important decisions.
Read article
OSINT in Corporate Investigations: Best Practices and Legal Boundaries
Open-source intelligence is one of the most valuable tools available to corporate investigators, but the legal and ethical boundaries are frequently misunderstood.
Read articleQuestions about this service
What does a background check by NCRB involve?
We verify who a person or company really is: identity, employment history, business interests, insolvencies, litigation, reputation, sanctions lists, and online conduct, from public and lawfully accessible sources. The result is a report with red flags and substantiation, before you hire, invest, partner, or sign.
Is an employer allowed to commission a background check?
Yes, provided it is proportionate and there is a legitimate interest, for example for a position of trust. We work within the GDPR and our Wpbr licence (POB 1737). Candidates are informed where the law requires it, and we research no more than is necessary for the role or transaction.
How does this differ from a certificate of conduct or a database screening?
A Dutch certificate of conduct (VOG) is a decision by Justis on criminal-justice data relevant to one specific role, mainly from the Dutch judicial documentation system and sometimes supplemented with police data or, in certain cases, foreign records. The employer only sees whether the VOG was issued, not what was found, and matters such as insolvencies, business interests or an embellished CV fall outside it. Database screenings are automated and lack context. NCRB conducts manual research by an investigator, combines sources from multiple countries, and explains what a finding means. This is needed for directors, business partners, large transactions, and international counterparties.
Does NCRB conduct due diligence on companies and business partners?
Yes. We research ownership structures and UBOs, directors, financial signals, litigation, sanctions and PEP status, reputation, and the authenticity of claims on websites and LinkedIn. For acquisitions, investments, suppliers, and international partnerships.
Does NCRB also work for private clients, for example a new relationship or an investment?
Yes, where there is a legitimate interest: a business investment, a tenant or landlord, a contractor, an online contact asking for money, or suspected identity fraud. We explain up front what is and is not possible.
Can NCRB verify an investor or investment proposal before I sign?
Yes. We verify the person, the company, the supplied documents, the intermediary, and the proposed transaction structure. In a recent case, an offer of over a million euros, complete with passport and bank statement, turned out to be a fabricated identity and a crypto-wallet scam; the client had certainty within five working days. Read the fake-investor case study under Read also.
How fast and at what cost?
A targeted verification is often completed within a few working days; full due diligence across multiple countries usually takes one to three weeks. The first conversation and a short feasibility check are free; after the intake you receive a scope and a fixed price or cost ceiling before any work begins.
We engaged NCRB for a complex cross-border due diligence matter. Within days, they delivered a comprehensive report with risk indicators we had missed.
Quotes from client engagements, published with permission
Your point of contact
Rik V.
Founder & Lead Investigator · Licensed investigation agency, POB 1737
Request a Background Check
Every engagement begins with a confidential conversation. Tell us what you need to know and we will outline the scope and approach.