Unless your wife works in the human resources section of your company, shouldn't be a problem.  A provider in the screening process should handle an employment verification in a business-like, professional manner like any other commercial entity running a credit check, so no one will know that a honey-for-money sweetheart is calling.  Your employer should not be sharing the fact with anyone, INCLUDING your wife, that someone has done a check on you.  If you are worried, tell her that you've applied for a credit account somewhere.  Heck, even some movie rental places make sure that you are employed.  Now, if you mean what the provider actually, physically does with your number, well, in my case, after the client has passed screening, I only hold on to his info until I have seen the gentleman for the first time, then I shred everything but his email address and contact phone number.  Are you rich and famous?  Did you try to force her to do something she objected to?  No?  Then no provider is going to try and blackmail you, sweetie.  Isn't worth our time or your revenge.  Would be an open invitation for you to sick the Gestapo on us.