False Sex Offender Charge on First Advantage Report
Seeing a false sex offender charge on your First Advantage background check is frightening and can immediately derail job opportunities. These errors happen more often than people realize, and they must be corrected quickly because of the extreme stigma and harm they cause.
How Does First Advantage End Up Showing a False Sex Offender Charge?
Mistakes usually come down to data mix-ups inside the systems First Advantage pulls from. Some of the most common causes include:
Another person’s record being matched to your profile
Incomplete identifiers (missing middle name, partial DOB)
Outdated sex offender registry information
Data brokers providing inaccurate or old entries
Court-recording mistakes or miscoded charges
Duplicated or merged profiles
A single incorrect registry entry can trigger a catastrophic report error.
Is It Legal for First Advantage to Report a False Sex Offender Charge?
No. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), reporting this type of misinformation is considered a serious accuracy violation.
First Advantage is required to ensure that any criminal information they report is:
tied to the correct individual
properly verified
timely and up-to-date
not misleading in any way
Labeling someone as a sex offender when they are not is one of the most harmful inaccuracies a background check company can make.
Steps to Take If First Advantage Reported a False Sex Offender Charge
If this mistake appears on your report, take action immediately:
1. Request the full First Advantage report. You need to see the exact entry and how it’s being described.
2. Obtain proof from the state registry. Every state can confirm whether you are not listed.
3. Gather identity documents. Providing a clear set of identifiers helps challenge the incorrect match.
4. File a dispute directly with First Advantage. Submit written documentation showing that the registry entry is not yours.
5. Inform the employer or organization. They must be told that the report is incorrect and under dispute.
6. Contact an attorney. These cases almost always justify legal action due to the reputational damage involved.
How We Can Help
If First Advantage falsely labeled you as a sex offender, we move quickly to challenge the report and hold the company accountable. You may qualify for significant compensation under the FCRA.