California moves fast.
Know who you’re moving with.
From the Bay Area to Los Angeles, California’s small business economy runs on speed and scale. One unverified contractor, partner, or vendor can cost you more than a slow quarter. Get the full picture in two minutes.
No subscription required · Single reports from $29.99
$17
Per report on Premium
58
California counties covered
#1
State for small business activity
2 min
From search to results
The biggest state economy in the U.S.
has the biggest fraud exposure to match.
California’s size and diversity make it a magnet for opportunity — and for opportunists. Gig workers, contractors, real estate flippers, and startup founders all operate in a market where verifying identity before you trust someone is basic due diligence.
The unlicensed contractor who knew all the right words
California’s booming construction and renovation market attracts both skilled professionals and fraudsters who talk the talk. They take the deposit, produce official-looking paperwork, then disappear before the job is done.
California leads the U.S. in contractor license fraud complaints
The gig worker whose background check was never run
California’s gig economy means businesses rely on workers they’ve never formally vetted. A quick identity check takes two minutes — skipping it can mean theft, false credentials, or a liability that follows your business for years.
Unverified gig worker fraud costs California businesses millions annually
The startup co-founder whose history didn’t match their pitch
California attracts ambitious people — some with spotless records, others with a history they’d rather not discuss. When the identity trace returns a different address, a different name history, or a watchlist hit, that’s not a coincidence.
California ranks top 3 in the U.S. for business identity fraud
From San Diego landlords to San Francisco agency owners —
this is who checks first.
California’s economy is the largest in the nation. These are the small business owners who’ve learned that speed and trust are not the same thing.
Real estate investors & landlords
California’s rental market is among the most competitive — and most litigious — in the country. Verifying identity and checking public records before you proceed with an applicant is basic protection in a high-stakes market.
- Verify applicant identity
- Verify property managers
- Check private buyers
Startup founders & small agency owners
Founders and agency owners routinely bring on contractors, freelancers, and co-founders fast. California’s startup culture rewards speed — but a single unverified bad actor in your team can cause enormous reputational and financial damage.
- Verify contractors
- Screen co-founders
- Check vendors
Private lenders & angel investors
California’s investment culture means private money flows fast. Whether you’re lending to a friend’s business or making a personal investment, a two-minute lookup confirms the person is who they say they are before any money moves.
- Identity verification
- Watchlist screening
- SSN trace
Six checks. One report. Two minutes. Done.
You get the full picture — not a surface-level search. Every report combines six independent data checks into one clear, plain-English summary.
Criminal records search
Searches national court and criminal databases for records matching the provided name and any state or county criteria you supply.
SSN trace & address history
Verifies the Social Security Number is real and tied to the name they gave you — plus every address ever linked to it.
Watchlist & sanctions screening
Cross-references global watchlists, PEP databases, and U.S. sanctions lists for any matching records.
Phone & email identity check
Confirms the phone and email actually match the name they gave you — or flags it when something doesn’t line up.
Digital footprint review
Shows which apps, platforms, and services are linked to the email address. More data points, clearer picture.
Social profile references
Surfaces linked social accounts to check name consistency and catch any public-facing identity discrepancies.
Final verdict: every report ends with a plain-English result — Clear, Review, or Flag. No guesswork, no jargon. You know exactly what to do next.
See what comes back when you look someone up.
Same structure as a real report. Fictional names. This is exactly what lands in your dashboard — clean, readable, and actionable.
| Criminal records | None found |
| Watchlist / sanctions | No matches |
| Phone consistency | Name consistent |
| SSN trace | San Francisco CA · confirmed |
| Email platforms | LinkedIn, Spotify, Adobe… |
| Criminal records | None matched |
| Civil court records | 2 records found |
| Addresses | LA & Las Vegas — review |
| Phone consistency | Name mismatch — review |
| Email platforms | Twitter, Spotify, Adobe… |
Less than one bad decision costs.
In California’s fast-moving market, one unverified contractor or partner can cost more than a quarter of growth. A TellData report costs less than lunch.
$29.99
one-time purchase
~30 credits · 1 report · valid 365 days
- Full person report
- Criminal database search
- SSN trace + address history
- Downloadable PDF report
$300
per month, billed monthly
300 credits · 19 credits per report
- ~15 full reports / month
- All Single Report features
- Dashboard access
- Credits reset monthly
$1000
per month, billed monthly
1,000 credits · only $17 per report
- ~58 full reports / month
- All Standard features
- Lowest per-report cost
- Priority support
All plans include full dashboard access. No contracts. Cancel any time. U.S. persons only.
They checked. It paid off.
“I own three rental units in the Bay Area. California tenant law is unforgiving once someone is in — so I use TellData before I even schedule a showing with a serious applicant. It’s the best $30 I spend all month.”
“We brought on a freelance developer who claimed a senior engineering background. The name mismatch on the TellData report made us dig deeper. Saved us from a very expensive mistake on a critical project.”
“I lend privately to small business owners in Southern California. The market is full of real opportunity and also real risk. TellData is now my first call before any serious conversation gets started.”
Things people usually ask.
Yes. TellData searches national databases covering all 58 California counties — from Los Angeles and San Diego to rural Northern California counties. Coverage depth depends on available court and public records data per jurisdiction.
TellData is a people search and identity verification tool — not an FCRA-compliant tenant screening service. It’s ideal for personal due diligence before you decide to proceed with an applicant, but formal tenant screening for rental decisions in California requires a compliant screening service. Always consult applicable California tenant screening laws before making housing decisions.
No. Contractor licensing is administered by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and licence status should be checked there directly. TellData verifies the person — identity, address history, public court records, watchlists, and digital footprint.
You can start with just a name plus a phone number or email. Adding an SSN significantly improves the depth of the address history and identity trace. The more identifiers you provide, the more complete the report.
No. The Single Report is a one-time purchase valid for 365 days. Monthly plans can be cancelled any time — no contracts, no lock-in.
Every report ends with Clear, Review, or Flag. Clear means no significant records were found. Review means something came back that warrants a closer look — such as a name mismatch or civil court record. Flag means a more serious match was returned. The report explains exactly what was found in plain English.
No. TellData is a people search and identity verification tool for personal due diligence — not an FCRA-regulated employment screening service. It cannot be used as the basis for employment, credit, housing, or insurance decisions. It’s designed for small business owners, landlords, and private individuals who want to make smarter trust decisions before entering any personal or business relationship.
Related checks and guides
Background checks for small business
The national guide this California page belongs to.
Verify someone
Start a lookup with a name and a phone or email.
How a report is built
Six checks, one PDF, one plain-English verdict.
Pricing
From $29.99 a report. No contracts.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
KYC and identity verification · Our data platform · Background checks have changed — what it means for small business
California doesn’t slow down.
Neither should your due diligence.
Two minutes. One report. Run your first lookup today before the next fast-talking stranger costs you more than you planned.