Online dating is pretty much the norm these days when it comes to looking for love, but it can't be denied there’s still a bit of a stigma attached and most certainly an air of mystery.
After all, until you meet face-to-face there’s no real way of knowing who they are. It’s putting your faith in a stranger and, of course, that’s more often than not absolutely fine.
Over the years though there have been a number of horror stories and it’s enough to put even the most confident of dater off. However, that doesn’t necessarily need to be the case, there are methods in which you can discover if your date is exactly who they say they are.
Below you’ll find some of the top ways to vet your date before meeting up for the very first time…
Perform a Professional Background Check
There are plenty of things you’d like to know about your potential date. The first thing being the knowledge of whether they are or are not a psychopath.
There are a number of companies who can do this with the best background check service offering all manner of information. You’ll be able to uncover a person’s criminal record (if they have one), employment status, bankruptcies, whether they’re on the sex offenders register and much more.
This information will essentially give you much more confidence in them and in many cases confirm information that they have already told you.
You’ll feel much more comfortable that they are being honest if this is something that you think you need.
Social Media Profiles
Of course, social media is one of the first places we look these days. In fact, many apps require your social media log-in details for you to register.
Here you’ll be able to see more up-to-date images of the person (so you can check whether they have dramatically changed) as well as a few more pieces of information on hobbies, interests and their friendship group.
What’s more, you can also understand their relationship status a little better. GlobalWebIndex found that over two thirds of people signed up to Tinder are already in a relationship and there are tell-tale signs.
Obviously the relationship status would be a big giveaway, while there’s also a lot you can tell by reading through the lines of a person’s social media profile.
Those with less clear relationship statuses are likely to be interested in a committed relationship and are likely to be after a more casual relationship.
Additionally, if most of their pictures online have their face hidden behind hats, sunglasses and anything else that masked them a little, it perhaps suggests they have something to hide.
Google, Google Google
If you think a person isn’t necessarily being honest with you, there’s plenty you’ll be able to find out online. LinkedIn is always a good strategy for finding more out about someone’s career, while the content they’re posting on social channels will allow you to see if their personality with you matches up with what they’re saying away from you.
Through Googling a person you’ll find this information as well as other social profiles and even news stories.
You never know what you might find, both positive and negative. Of course there’s the discoveries that are associated with crime or perhaps they’ve fallen victim to one, but also you might come across something extra special that makes them more endearing to you. For example, they may have raised money for charity or are a hotshot athlete.
While all this information shouldn’t categorically mean you go out or don’t go out with someone, it can give you a helping hand and confirm your gut instinct, whether good or bad.
What is perhaps a good thing to know is that if you can’t find anything about your potential online date, then there is probably reason to be worried. After all, in a world where we are more digital than ever, this person is appearing to shun social media yet is more than happy to create an online dating profile. It more than a little suggests they may be hiding something.
Of course, another thing to understand is your potential online date could be thinking exactly the same as you and may very well be using all the same methods.
