[meta description: How to do a background check on someone you are dating on your own? Our article covers everything you need to know about vetting a new lover.]
Dating is now easier than ever, with countless dating apps, online platforms, and events creating the perfect environment for meeting new people. However, these wonders are also opening the door to catfishing and scams, making many wonder about how to do a background check on someone you are dating.
Just as the internet makes it convenient to bring people together for dating, it also makes doing a background check on someone you are dating easy. However, you must know where to look in order to “do a background check” on someone you are dating, as you can’t just walk up to them and get consent to run a formal background check on them.
In this article, we will cover how you can do a background check on a potential lover. Reading what we have to say about this will ensure the person you are dating isn’t after scamming or catfishing you.
How to Do a Background Check on Someone You Are Dating Online
There are numerous ways to do a background check on someone you are dating online, with running a people search on them being the most convenient. Using an online background check service, like UnMask, you can discover if they are telling the truth about who they are, their employment history, and where they live.
If you use an online background check service provider that searches for public records, which UnMask does, you will also be able to learn about your new lover’s criminal history, arrest records, civil records, and other publicly available information.
Even though such services come at a cost – around $5 to $20 per search (or an equivalent amount for a subscription) – it is worth it as you will save time and have a reliable source of information that can be tracked and verified. This way, in case you choose to confront the person you are dating about something that they lied about, you will have proof.
How to Do a Background Check on Someone You Are Dating: 5 Other Ways
In addition to running a background check on someone you are dating online, you can take other actions to learn more about their history. These are entirely free methods that you can follow to do a background check on someone you are dating on your own. Here are five additional ways you can do this to ensure the person you are dating is genuine with their intentions.
1) Social Media Search
A social media search can be very similar to running a background check on someone, says Indeed. Search for the name of the person you are dating on different social media platforms to check if the profiles match and seem genuine.
When doing this, don’t just look for pictures – always cross-check the details to ensure everything matches. Looking for details like having mutual friends, keeping up the same lifestyle, and appearing to be the same age can tell a lot about them. If the accounts are brand new or have very few friends/followers, take that as your red flag to investigate further.
2) Google Search
Although this might sound too simple, a Google search can reveal a lot of details about someone, but your results might differ from someone else’s, says Google. Simply Google the person’s full name and enter any usernames or aliases you know to narrow down the results. You can also add details like their city, workplace, school, or even the team they support to refine your search.
On the Google results, look for social media platforms, news articles, and other public mentions. If the person is connected to criminal cases or scams, it’s a major red flag. You should also look for any contradictory information to ensure the person you are dating is who they say they are.
3) Sex Offender Registry Check
A sex offender registry check is often included in background checks, so why don’t you have it as part of your investigation? Search the person’s name on the National Sex Offender Public Website using their name, address, city/town, and state. If you’re unsure about their location, you can also set up a three-mile radius to make your search easier.
What to Do After the Background Check
Once all of these are done, you will likely have a good amount of information. After your search, look at the facts, not just your emotions or hopes, no matter how difficult this might be. If you notice any red flags, like a criminal past or inconsistencies in social media presence, don’t ignore them and decide what to do about them, such as talking to them when it is appropriate.
Not jumping to conclusions and keeping clear communication with your partner is key in handling the information you’ve discovered during your search.
