It can be a civil offense or a criminal offense. 

If you currently have your home listed for sale and/or rent-to-own on ANY popular website (CraigsList, Rental Properties, Buy Owner, etc.) please be aware of a scam that has been making the rounds for most of this past year.This specific scam is originating out of cyber cafes located in the little known Republic of Liberia (you are probably more familiar with the Republic of Nigeria to the east, and the popular e:mail scams that promise huge payouts from the Nigerian lottery, or requests from a Nigerian diplomat who needs assistance in moving cash out of his country).

They could be leaving behind long term friends and may not want to sell to a criminal for instance.

I know people who erect cages inside their houses in secure neighborhoods so that when (not if), criminals break in, their family are safely behind the cages. 

You can find a ton of information about a person from some on-line services, like doing a North Carolina Department Of Public Safety Offender Public Information search using just a name and birthdate.Again, personally, I don't want to deal with people where NCDOC identifies as "Primary Crime: HABITUAL FELON (PRINCIPAL)" as in a 29 year old with 8 pages of criminal history with "total Incarceration Term: 15 YEARS 3 MONTHS 15 DAYS" … think about that for a few seconds... 

Do complete background checks on ALL applicants, including judgments/liens, criminal, Meagan's law, etc.  

For example title companies prescreening deeds so they can guaranty a clear title,cyber escrows etc.

All that did was force it underground and attract criminal elements.I do agree we need to teach personal finance.

I just didn't pay to run criminal background checks or credit checks.

It also takes away credit score checks, criminal checks, and mandates you rent to any section 8 applicant.