The online dating world still has that little bit of stigma. No matter how big the industry is nowadays, we’re always that little wary of being catfished.
It’s happened to the best of us. We turn up ready to meet the person of our dreams, only to find they aren’t a hotshot lawyer and the shared interest of Radiohead and Scandi crime dramas isn’t actually shared at all.
But how can we stop this from happening?
Online dating is now the norm but we still run that little risk. It doesn’t have to be the case and there are numerous ways in which you can ensure who you’re meeting is in fact the person they say they are.
Background Check
One of the biggest steps you can make is doing a background check on your potential date.
The best background check services will allow you to find out all sorts about your potential date, some information which could genuinely keep you safer.
For example, you’ll be able to uncover if your date has a criminal record, alongside employment history, bankruptcies, lawsuits and more.
This will help provide proof on things they’ve mentioned to you, such as their occupation, while unearth some secrets they perhaps wouldn’t want you to know.
It can light huge warning signs if you discover the person isn’t being entirely truthful and is perhaps someone you should be staying clear of.
Social Media Check
Let’s face it, most of us do a little digging and look on social media for our potential dates. However, for most of us, that rarely strays from browsing through their images to see if we’re attracted to them.
There’s a whole heap of things you can learn from a person’s social media platforms, whether that be Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
It’s a great way to explore a person’s hobbies and interests as well as ensure what they’re saying to you is ultimately accurate.
You can also learn a lot from statuses and posts. For example, you might find that they are particularly supportive of Donald Trump or that they’re a regular Twitter Troll, which could be more than a little off-putting.
Alternatively, you may find even more information that draws you to liking that person and be the confirmation you need to take the next step and meet your new potential partner.
Facebook relationship statuses are also always worth checking. One report suggested that 42% of people who use Tinder are already in a relationship, and while that number seems a little exaggerated, it does happen and you really don’t want to fall foul of it.
Nip that in the bud quickly. There’s nothing worse than growing an emotional attachment to somebody only to discover further down the line they’ve been living a double life.
Google Search
In some cases you may also just do a simple Google search. It’s usually a quick way to find social media profiles, as well as perhaps coming across profiles on their employers website and even the odd news story.
The latter is certainly an interesting one as it will generally be one of two things – good or bad!
For example, you may discover someone raised thousands of dollars for charity running a marathon. In this case, it perhaps tells you this person is caring, committed and takes their health seriously.
On the other hand, you may uncover they have committed a crime, in which case you may be put off.
Alternatively, you could find some information you may need to be a little more sensitive about. They may have ended up a victim of a crime or circumstance for instance. In which case you’ll be informed enough not to make any comments while on a date that could bring that experience back.
It’ll allow you to be sensitive and also perhaps even understand what a big step it even is being out on a date with you.
In all instances it’s perhaps worth really considering if this level of background check is what you want to do. Once you’ve discovered this information you really can’t go back. If you want to let information flow organically, then avoid these. However, if you think there’s potentially cause for concern, these steps are well worth taking.
