Curious About Your Valentine's Day Date? Instant Checkmate? Could Help
With Valentine's Day approaching, many singles turning to dating apps may find themselves weighing excitement against caution when considering meeting matches in person. A survey published by Statista in July 2024 suggests these concerns are not unfounded. Researchers found that a significant portion of online dating users in the U.S. admit to misrepresenting themselves on their profiles, with 21% acknowledging they weren't truthful about their age, 14% providing incorrect information about their income, another 14% misrepresenting their hobbies and interests, and 12% lying about their height.
While some of these misrepresentations might seem harmless, and the percentages represent a minority of app users, they raise broader questions about authenticity in online dating. Americans continue to turn to dating apps to find potential partners, with 3 in 10 U.S. adults reporting they've used these platforms, according to recent Pew Research.
Background checking tools like Instant Checkmate could be a helpful way to maintain peace of mind for this growing group of online daters, helping them research basics like location, age, and marital status to establish some trusting ground on which to build a potential relationship.
The Real Risks of Online Dating
Romance scams have exploded in recent years, with federal data estimating $1.14 billion in annual losses in 2023 and a median loss of $2,000 per person. This number is nearly double the $547 million losses from 2021, which in turn were up 80% from the previous year. Many of these scams start with simple misrepresentations before escalating into requests for money or other forms of fraud, and the exponential increase in incidences over the past five years speaks to how even careful online daters are not immune to falling prey to increasingly sophisticated scammers.?
“Romance scams tend to be some of the more insidious because they prey on emotions,” said Tracy Kitten, a security expert at financial research services firm Javelin Strategy & Research, in a recent interview with CNBC. “These things happen in real life; these aren’t just shows that we see on Netflix.”?
What Can Background Checks Tell You?
Online background checks can be a helpful means of identifying subtle liars and outright scammers alike. Instant Checkmate pulls together public records to help you research basic facts about potential dates. Reports can include:
Think of it as fact-checking someone's resume–but for dating. You're not looking to invade privacy, but you do want to know if the basic facts check out before committing time, energy, and trust to a possible relationship.
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Building Trust Safely
When researching a potential date, focus on researching essential information. Does their age match with what they've told you? Are they really living where they claim? Are there any red flags in their professional history or their criminal and traffic records? Have they been married? Public records can reveal inconsistencies between someone's stated background and reality.
But not every concerning detail in a background check report means you should cancel your date. Minor traffic violations or an old arrest that wasn't mentioned might not be deal-breakers. On the other hand, major inconsistencies about age, marital status, or location could indicate someone is intentionally being dishonest about basic facts. And, of course, violent crimes or a history of serious offenses should be taken seriously.
It’s also important to remember that background checks work best alongside traditional dating safety practices, like meeting first dates in public places, sharing your plans with friends, and keeping personal details private until trust develops naturally. Trust your instincts if something feels off. It may even help to consider having a video chat before meeting face-to-face to get a better sense of how honest a potential date is.
Smart Dating in 2025
Dating apps aren't going anywhere, and neither are the safety concerns that come with them. Background check services like Instant Checkmate offer one way to help feel more confident about taking online connections offline.
But the point isn't to become paranoid. It's about creating enough safety to let real connections flourish. The best relationships start with honesty, and researching basic facts helps ensure you're investing time in someone genuine.
This Valentine's Day, give yourself the gift of peace of mind. While background checks can't guarantee a perfect date, they can help you spot red flags before they become problems. Combined with common sense and clear boundaries, they're one more tool to help you build real connections by dating smarter and safer in the digital age.
All product names, logos, brands, trademarks, and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Instant Checkmate obtains its data from third-party sources, which may or may not be completely thorough and accurate. Do not solely rely on Instant Checkmate for the accuracy or completeness of provided information.? Instant Checkmate’s tools are for personal use only and cannot be used for employment, tenant or credit screening. ?