Dating Safety Blog
The VerifyMyDate blog
Real-world advice, research and stories to help you verify your date and stay safe while online dating.
How to Tell If Your Online Date Is Lying About Who They Are
Most people stretch the truth a little on dating apps. But some lies are bigger than others. Here's how to tell when an online date is hiding who they really are.
Read articleHow to Tell If Your Online Date Is Lying About Who They Are
Most people stretch the truth a little on dating apps. But some lies are bigger than others. Here's how to tell when an online date is hiding who they really are.
Read more →
Signs Your Online Date Is Married (and How to Check)
Wondering if the person you're talking to is already taken? These are the behavioral signs — and the public records that can confirm it.
Read more →
How to Spot a Catfish on a Dating App (Before You Get Hurt)
Catfishing is more common than most people think — and more damaging. Here's how to recognize a fake profile and protect yourself.
Read more →
Reverse Image Search for Dating Profiles: Catching Fake Photos
A reverse image search takes seconds and catches more fakes than any other tool. Here's how it works, what it finds, and what it doesn't.
Read more →
Early Dating Red Flags You Shouldn't Ignore (Even When You Really Like Them)
The early days of dating are when you're most likely to excuse bad behavior. Here are the red flags that deserve your attention, not your rationalizations.
Read more →
How to Verify Someone's Identity Before Meeting in Person
Before you meet an online match in person, a few simple checks can confirm they're who they claim. Here's what to verify, how, and how to do it without being weird.
Read more →
Romance Scam Warning Signs: 12 Red Flags to Watch For
Romance scams cost victims hundreds of millions every year — and the victims are often smart, capable people. Here are the 12 warning signs that should make you stop and reassess.
Read more →
What Public Records Can Reveal About Someone You're Dating
Most adults leave a paper trail — marriages, property, court cases, licenses. Here's what public records can actually reveal about someone you're dating, and what they can't.
Read more →
How to Check If Someone Is Really Divorced
They said they're divorced — but are they really? Here's how to check divorce records, the difference between separated and divorced, and what the records can't tell you.
Read more →
First Date Safety Checklist: Before, During, and After
The first date is the moment a stranger becomes real. This practical checklist — before, during, and after — keeps you safe without killing the romance.
Read more →
What Is Love Bombing? Signs, Tactics, and How to Spot It
It feels amazing — until it doesn't. Love bombing is intense affection used to control, not connect. Here's how to recognize it and tell it apart from genuine excitement.
Read more →
AI-Generated Photos on Dating Apps: How to Spot Them
Reverse image search can't catch a face that never existed. Here's how to spot AI-generated dating photos — the visual tells, the whole-profile clues, and what to do.
Read more →
When Your Date's Stories Don't Add Up: What to Do
That low hum of wrongness is worth listening to. Here's how to recognize when someone's stories don't add up, why it happens, and what to do without becoming a detective.
Read more →
How to Safely Move a Dating App Conversation to Real Life
Moving an online connection into real life is the most important — and most delicate — step. Here's how to do it safely, sanely, and with the right expectations.
Read more →
The Psychology of Romance Scams: Why Smart People Get Fooled
Romance scams catch engineers, doctors, and professors — not just the gullible. Here's the psychology of how they work, and why intelligence doesn't protect you.
Read more →
How to Check Someone's Age Without Asking Directly
Age is one of the most faked details on dating profiles — and one of the easiest to verify. Here's how to tell someone's real age without asking, and when to check the records.
Read more →
How to Find Out If Someone Has Hidden Dating Profiles
Wondering if your partner is still on dating apps? Here's what you can legitimately check, what you shouldn't, why "cheater lookup" sites are mostly scams, and the better path.
Read more →
Long-Distance Online Dating: How to Know It's Real
Long-distance is the favorite cover of romance scammers — and the reality of many real couples. Here's how to tell a genuine long-distance relationship from a scam.
Read more →
What to Do If You Think You're Being Scammed Online
If you think you're being scammed, you're not stupid and you're not alone. Here's exactly what to do — step by step — to stop the damage, report it, and start recovering.
Read more →
How to Protect Your Privacy While Online Dating
Online dating asks you to open up to strangers and protect yourself from them at the same time. Here's how to share enough to connect while keeping your privacy intact.
Read more →