How to Verify Someone You Met Online

You've been talking for a few weeks. They're charming, consistent, maybe a little too good-looking. And somewhere in the back of your mind is the question every online dater eventually asks: is this person actually who they say they are?

You're right to ask. Romance scams cost victims over a billion dollars a year, and catfishing — fake photos, fake names, fake lives — is the standard opening move. Here's how to check, in order of effort.

1. Reverse image search their photos

Save their profile photo and run it through Google Images, Google Lens, or TinEye. If the photo appears under a different name, on a stock-photo site, or attached to someone's public Instagram, you have your answer. We wrote a full walkthrough: how to reverse image search a dating profile.

2. Insist on a live video call

Not a promise of one — an actual call, this week. Scammers have endless reasons why the camera never works: bad connection, broken phone, "shy". One or two excuses can be genuine. A pattern of them is the single most reliable red flag there is. AI face-swap tools are improving, so during the call ask them to turn their head fully side to side and pass a hand across their face — current deepfakes handle both badly.

3. Check the age of their footprint

A real person's online presence is usually years old: tagged photos, old posts, friends who interact like real friends. A profile created three months ago with model-quality photos and 40 friends deserves suspicion.

4. Know the money red flags

• Any request for money, crypto, or gift cards — ever, regardless of the story. This is the endgame of every romance scam.
• Sudden crises: medical emergency, customs fees, a plane ticket to finally meet you.
• "Investment opportunities" they generously want to share — this is the "pig-butchering" scam.
• Pressure to move off the dating app to WhatsApp or Telegram in the first days — scammers want you where the platform can't see them.

More on this: how to avoid romance scams and the signs of catfishing.

5. Or skip the detective work entirely

Every check above exists because normal dating apps let anyone sign up as anyone. That's the actual root of the problem — and it's fixable.

Passport Verified works the other way around: every single member verifies their identity with a government-issued passport plus a live selfie before they can use the app. Not "verified badge if they feel like it" — everyone, before they can message anyone. Passport documents are never shown to other members; you just see that the person is real, with their identity confirmed.

It's built for exactly the situation where verification matters most: meeting someone across borders, where you can't just meet for coffee on Tuesday to check they exist.

Frequently asked questions

Can someone fake a passport verification?
It's dramatically harder than faking a profile. Verification requires the physical document plus a live selfie that matches it, reviewed before approval.

Do other members see my passport?
Never. Documents are used only for verification and are deleted if you delete your account. See our privacy policy.

Is it free?
Founding members currently get full access free.