Imagine being able to run an instant background check on a blind date, job applicant or new neighbor — all with a few taps on your smart phone.

Sounds convenient, right? Not if you’re a victim of stalking or identity theft, share the same name as a registered sex offender, or just cherish a certain degree of privacy.

That’s the idea behind BeenVerified’s mobile app, which scours public records and the web for all kinds of information about people — from past convictions to what kind of music and books they like. The popular iPhone tool, launched in 2009 by two Marlboro High School graduates, was downloaded nearly 1 million times before Apple pulled it amid growing concerns about privacy invasion.

Now, two years later, the Manhattan-based startup has relaunched the app — this time for both iPhones and Android devices — with the aim of making background checks accessible to everyone, not just private investigators. The tool, which was initially marketed as a service for employers, provides users with a quick way to confirm identities in a new era of online social networking where people are "meeting" on Craigslist, Match.com and Facebook.

"All these anonymous interactions are leading people to say they need to trust but verify," said CEO Josh Levy, 31. "We’re seeing hundreds of thousands of searches each day, so clearly there’s a demand in the consumer market."