The new world of online dating brings new risks to the world of romance. Dating background checks can give daters the tools they need to make informed decisions in matters of the heart.
Dating has always been risky. Trusting someone new carries risks, especially considering that dating requires some trust and often takes daters to out-of-the-way places such as cozy restaurants, darkened movie theatres, and so on. The new interest in Internet dating has only increased risks, according to some experts. Internet research firm Nielsen/NetRatings reported that in January 2005 alone, more than 26 million people visited dating sites.
Internet dating is very convenient and offers people anonymity and a feeling of comfort. Unfortunately, it is very easy to misrepresent one’s identity online. Users of online dating services can use false names and false identities, and can also misrepresent information to give potential dates a very skewed picture of themselves. Online dates can literally be anyone — anyone from a nice person to a criminal with a very violent past.
In 2005 the state of Michigan proposed a new bill that would require Internet dating companies to conduct background checks on users. These online dating services would state whether they have conducted criminal background checks on specific users, and other users of the site could use this information when deciding which people to meet in person. Under the legislation, which is supported by Sen. Alan Cropsey of DeWitt, online dating services would have to warn site members about safe dating practices and would have to note the limitations of dating checks.
The legislation raises an interesting question: what do background checks on dates offer and how reliable are they?
Pre-date screenings can do many things. They can investigate someone’s criminal record, identity, background, driving record, or even their credit history. The screenings range from very simple to very detailed and thorough. The function of them, though, is the same. The aim is to uncover whether someone is misrepresenting themselves and whether there are any red flags that indicates that a person may be a bad match.
Date checks can reveal whether someone is already married, whether someone has large debts, or whether someone has been lying about their age, employment, or name. Date checks can also reveal whether someone has a criminal record or violent past. Potentially, this information can help someone make a more informed decision about who to trust and who to avoid.
What are the potential problems?
Unfortunately, dating checks only as good as the people who conduct them. Someone who uses a false name online may be difficult to track. A smart criminal who is using a false identity may be able to outsmart standard background checks that online services might provide. Plus, not all investigators are equally thorough when running checks. There are also some legal requirements which make some people avoid asking some tough questions. For example, it is illegal to check someone’s credit history without informing them of the check. This means that many people do not to inquire too closely into potential dates’ financial past. Some investigators do not investigate all the aliases or false names that a potential date has used. This can lead to incomplete information about someone’s criminal past or background.
Date checks, done right, can do much. They can warn the potential date about financial liabilities, criminal behaviour, and lies. This can help ensure that someone can avoid a problem before they become too fully involved. However, in order for date checks to really help keep someone safe, the need to be thorough and professional. Hiring a professional investigator with date check experience is a must for conducting comprehensive and legal checks. Hiring a professional rather than relying on free online background checks can potentially save daters from a lawsuit or violence. Thanks to the PInow.com Worldwide Directory of Private Investigators, anyone interested in dating checks can get free online dating checks resources and can even use the PInow.com Worldwide Directory of Private Investigators to find local, professional investigators run a quality background check.
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U.S. residents spent $469.5 million on online dating and personals in 2004, the largest segment of “paid content” on the web, according to a study conducted by the Online Publishers Association (OPA) and comScore Networks.
At the end of November 2004, there were 844 lifestyle and dating sites, a 38 percent increase since the start of the year, according to Hitwise Inc. However, market share was increasingly being dominated by several large commercial services, including Yahoo! Personals, Match.com, American Singles, and eHarmony. eHarmony CEO Greg Forgatch noted that despite the growing number of sites catering to specific niches, “to become a major player, it still takes a large number of people.”
Comment by PInow.com Staff — May 9, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Some people would argue against this on the basis of ethical considerations of public background checks, but keep in mind that many people have had friends and relatives who have been physically, sexually and emotionally abused by criminals all over North America.
In that light, I don’t see public access to court records and sex offender records as being a bad thing at all.
In my opinion, you lose your “rights” when you decide to violate somebody’s safety and sense of well-being…
Just a thought,
Chris R
Comment by Chris Rempel — November 21, 2007 @ 12:23 am
A personal background search must be complete for it to be effective. If every record in every location ever visited or lived by the subject is not checked then you may not be aware of all the risks involved in associating with the subject person. This can lead to disastrous results, so take the time to check all relevant places. An easier way to do a personal background search is to use an information aggregator, because they maintain a comprehensive database of public records from every State, and only one search is needed. The results are received quickly, usually within hours. This means less time until you have your questions answered and become aware of risks you face.
Comment by susie blinkie — December 12, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
I understand that this is a sensitive topic, however as a single girl dating on line I feel that doing a background check is necessary in order for me to feel safe. Unfortunately there are just too many creeps on line who lie about who they are, what they do, and their past experiences. I have had a bad experience with this that led me straight to the police and my friend had a similar experience. We are now dependent on background checking services. I don’t think its invasion of privacy, I think it’s an important step in being safe while dating online.
Comment by Lyla — February 5, 2009 @ 11:04 am