Expert Guide: What Is Profile Verification in Online Dating?

Are you looking for more dates, privacy, and fun on dating apps? Start by verifying your profile. According to Hinge’s internal data, individuals with Selfie Verified profiles go on about 200% more dates than those without the blue check mark. 

Verification is essential in the online world. Going the extra mile to appear safe and secure on dating apps contributes to a potential match’s confidence and ability to make informed decisions. 

While the verification process is different for every online dating app, it’s a worthwhile feature that can help you and your potential matches know your connection is legit.

Read on to find out why profile verification matters and how you can get verified to score more dates and get that peace of mind when you do. 

Impact | Methods | Challenges | Tips

Fake profiles and scams are rampant in online dating. According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams cost consumers $1.3 billion in 2022. When people hide behind fake photos and false bios, they’re more likely to manipulate others, lie about their identity, or steal money. Common scams include catfishing, romance scams, phishing, and money laundering.

It’s common for people to make fake profiles and bot accounts to increase their income and drive engagement to platforms like Instagram or OnlyFans. Sometimes these accounts lure users in, potentially exchange nudes, and then threaten to expose the photos and blackmail them for money.

Safety is paramount when you’re putting yourself out there in search of romance. Verifying and matching your profile with verified people can help you spot potential scammers and protect yourself and your wallet.

When building trust with dating app users, the blue checkmark on a profile can help bring peace of mind. It’s an extra layer of security when you want to take things further by meeting in person. Because the verification process involves checking for ID or matching photos with videos, you can feel more secure knowing the person you’re speaking to is who they say they are. 

Potential scammers refuse to show their faces in photos or have a bio that doesn’t align with how they appear online. That’s why profile verification is important. When you verify your profile and prioritize other verified users, you protect your privacy, money, and personal information. 

There are several ways to verify your profile, with different apps offering different levels of verification. 

Email Verification

Email verification is the process of checking to see if a user’s email is valid and in use. Checking for email verification is a way to prevent fraud and ensure a user’s identity is legitimate.

When you sign up for an app, they’ll ask you to verify your email address by sending a link to your email. Your account will be verified when you sign into your email and click that link. 

Email verification has its limitations. Some people create fake email addresses to make as many fake accounts as possible. This is usually one of the first layers of verification everyone goes through when signing up for an online dating site or app, but it isn’t the most substantial protection. 

Phone Number Verification

Phone number verification is also one of the first verification phases since dating apps are typically used on phones. It works like this: when you sign up, the app asks you to enter your phone number. Afterward, the app will send you a code via text or phone call, which you input into the app to confirm your identity. 

While most mobile dating apps, such as Bumble or Tinder, require phone verification, others don’t. Dating platforms like Match and eharmony have desktop and browser versions available for users. 

You may come across some scammers on apps that don’t require phone verification because they’re more likely to use fake profiles or sign in on different devices. 

Phone verification enhances trust by preventing fraud, verifying a user’s identity, ensuring accurate contact information, and creating a better user experience. 

Social Media Integration

Linking a social media account to your dating profile and checking for other users’ social media accounts can help you decide whether to move forward with a relationship.

Seeing a user’s name and profile picture on a dating app match their social media can give you a richer, more well-rounded idea of who the person is, fostering deeper connections and trust. 

Something to consider about social media integration is that sharing your profile may expose strangers to your private life, frequent locations, and personal details. Check your social media account’s privacy settings before linking your profile to dating apps. 

Photo Verification

Selfies aren’t just for fun. Some dating sites prompt users to take selfies with a specific gesture or at a particular place, which the site then compares to the ID that the person provided. This extra layer of visual verification can help prove that their identity matches the person behind the screen. 

Photo verification is one of the most robust ways a person can prevent catfishing. Catfishing is a term that refers to a person luring another into a relationship based on a fictional online persona.

When an online user submits real-time photos – not photos of when they were younger, but actual live pictures – it can confirm that a person’s dating profile reflects the user honestly. 

There are many challenges when it comes to profile verification. Users may make mistakes when uploading documents and provide incorrect information. Improper identity verification can also lead to data breaches, allowing others access to sensitive data.  

“Advancements in technology have paved the way into a new era where biometric systems use these intricate identifiers to authenticate users.” –Fraud.com

With advances in generative AI and computer graphics, a new evolution in scamming is emerging, called biometric forgery. Bad actors can bypass photo and video verification by creating fake profiles, pictures, and even videos that register as authentic human beings, bypassing liveness checks and similar security measures. 

Despite advances in forgery, facial recognition software remains a great way to verify profiles. When a user can match a face with a name, it provides an extra level of security for both of you. 

When entering the online dating scene, some best practices can set singles up for success. I’ll detail a few tips to have a positive and safe experience while swiping for a match.

1. Browse Reputable Apps & Sites

When looking for dating apps that protect your privacy and safety, choosing apps and sites that highlight their safety commitments is best.

Does the app or site directly state that your safety is their top priority? If so, it’s crucial to adhere to their profile verification process and then check for others who do so. Certain apps and sites require profile verification, including  Match, Coffee Meets Bagel, OkCupid, Hinge, HER, and Bumble. 

2. Look Out for Red Flags

Spot potential scammers and fake profiles right away by looking for red flags. If a user has incomplete profile information or only one or two photos of poor quality, that can cause concern. In that case, it’s best to ask for more photos.

However, if the profile looks like they hired a professional photographer for every single picture, do yourself a favor and swipe left. 

Stock photos are also a huge no-no. Stock photos look forced, fake, and commercial. One tool to combat this is using Google’s reverse lookup to see if other profiles use the same pictures. 

Lastly, if a user provides inconsistent information and what they say in your messages doesn’t match what they say in their profile, it’s best to keep it moving.  

3. Do Your Background Check on Social Media

If you have their name and potentially their phone number, look up a user on social media such as Instagram and Facebook. This way, you can double-check to see if their photos match and that the information they’ve told you is correct.

While some people forego social media altogether, you can usually find at least one profile on the internet that corresponds to their dating profile. 

4. Block & Report Suspicious Profiles

The Block and Report options on dating apps and sites are there for a reason–to help you and others stay protected from scammers and catfishers. If someone is coercing you, threatening you, or lying about their activities and information, don’t hesitate to report them and block them. Listen to your gut. 

Reporting suspicious profiles also helps improve the overall safety of the app. It’s rare for scammers to stick to just one victim. If someone is trying to manipulate you, chances are they’re targeting others as well.

It’s important to protect your personal information in a vulnerable online environment like dating apps and sites. You can take control of your dating life by verifying your profile and looking for other verified profiles. 

Other ways to stay safe online are to limit what you share on your profile, keep conversations on the app, avoid revealing personal information, and loop your friends into plans when you meet potential dates in real life. 

Your online dating journey doesn’t have to be scary, but it’s best to stay vigilant. Take safety precautions and verify identities to protect yourself better.