From catfishing to romance scams: Why more daters are turning to Instant Checkmate before meeting matches.
Those perfectly filtered profile photos and carefully crafted bios on dating apps often mask an unsettling reality. Recent Pew Research Center data reveals a disturbing truth: More than half of dating app users have encountered potential scammers, while 38% have received unwanted sexually explicit messages.
Online dating has changed over the past decade, transforming from a niche way to meet potential partners into a mainstream cultural phenomenon. But alongside this shift has come a growing awareness of the digital masks people can wear, and the need to look behind them before meeting in person.
This environment has given rise to a new kind of digital due diligence, with singles increasingly treating background verification as a natural step in the dating process rather than a sign of distrust. Online background-checking services like Instant Checkmate have positioned themselves as tools for making informed decisions about potential matches, aggregating public records that might otherwise require hours of manual searching across multiple databases and websites.
Avoiding Scams and Harassment
Nearly half of Americans surveyed by Pew said they consider online dating platforms unsafe. Women under 50 face particularly alarming risks, with 56% reporting unwanted sexually explicit content and 43% experiencing continued harassment after expressing disinterest. The situation isn’t much better for men under 50, as 63% report encountering potential scammers on dating platforms.
There’s been a significant rise in “catfishing,” the practice of creating a fake online identity to deceive others through online dating platform, in recent years. According to a recent study published in the journal European Psychiatry, “approximately 80% of the online population engage in some form, by means of amplifying their social status. Those with low self-esteem, poor self-worth, and a need to connect and to be validated were most susceptible.”
Instant Checkmate has emerged as a useful tool for cautious daters in this challenging environment. The platform digs deep into public records, uncovering everything from possible hidden criminal histories to concealed social media profiles.
The surge in the popularity of online background checks stems from genuine necessity rather than mere paranoia. CNBC reported that romance scams have escalated to $1.14 billion in losses during 2023, enough to convince many singles that a simple Google search no longer suffices. An online background-checking service’s technology can match, filter, and surface information that standard search engines might miss, potentially giving users more well-rounded insight into their potential dates’ backgrounds.
While 1 in 10 partnered adults found their significant other through online dating, 88% of current users report feeling disappointed by people they’ve encountered. Although 42% of Americans say dating apps have made finding partners easier, this convenience can bring hidden risks. Instant Checkmate can help bridge this gap between hope and reality by providing concrete information about potential matches before emotional investment deepens.
Making the Most of Background Reports
Instant Checkmate functions as a comprehensive public records aggregator, drawing information from numerous sources to create detailed background reports. When users enter a name, the service makes a live call to its sources, including court documents, property records, and archived public information. The platform’s technology helps aggregate, filter, and organize this data to help surface relevant information.
Information is compiled into easy-to-read reports that can include:
- current and past phone numbers
- address histories
- criminal records
- traffic violations
- and social media profiles
Users can also discover information about property ownership, business affiliations, and potential relatives or associates.
When reviewing an Instant Checkmate report, users should pay particular attention to consistency between the information provided in dating profiles and the information in the report. Discrepancies in basic details like age, location history, or employment might warrant further investigation.
Criminal record searches can reveal important safety information, but users should understand the context of any findings. Minor traffic violations, of course, differ significantly from more serious offenses, and users should consider the timing and nature of any past incidents. A thorough online background check can provide detailed information about many relevant court records and case dispositions to help users make more informed judgments.
Social media profile investigation through Instant Checkmate can help users spot potential catfishing attempts or misrepresentations. By cross-referencing social media accounts with other public records, users can better corroborate whether someone’s online presence matches their claimed identity.
Young professionals might use Instant Checkmate to examine a match’s employment claims and social media presence, while older daters might focus on financial histories and property records. The reports allow users to focus on what matters most to them while staying alert to potential red flags. Remember though that Instant Checkmate compiles publicly available information for personal uses only and cannot be used for credit, tenant, or employee screening.
In any case, smart singles aren’t always so trusting of charming profiles and witty messages on an online platform. Instead, they’re taking control of their dating lives by looking to scrutinize claims and uncovering potential risks before problems arise. Anyone can craft a perfect-looking, but ultimately misleading, online persona. And against this backdrop, Instant Checkmate offers something increasingly precious: the power to investigate the truth behind the profile.