How to check a dating match before you meet
A few free checks before a first date tell you whether your match is who their profile says. Start with the photos, then the name and number, then how they talk to you.
On this page
Reverse image search their profile photos with Google Lens and TinEye. Search their name in quotes with the city and job they gave you, and look for a profile with some history. Watch for the warning signs the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists, such as declaring love quickly, pushing you off the app, always having an excuse not to meet, and any talk of money or crypto. Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
1. Check their photos
Stolen photos are the easiest thing to catch. Copy the image link from their profile, or screenshot the photo and crop to it, then search it on two or more engines.
Opens each engine in a new tab with your image link. Nothing is uploaded to us. For a photo on your phone, open the engine and upload it there.
- Look for the same face under another name. If the photo turns up on a different profile, a model's portfolio or a stock photo site, treat the profile as fake.
- Sort TinEye results by oldest. TinEye's “first found” date is when its crawler first saw the image, which helps you spot an old photo passed off as recent.
- Don't read too much into no match. Many real people don't post photos publicly, and AI-generated faces won't match anything. Use the next checks too.
More detail: how to reverse image search a photo, including the steps on an iPhone or Android phone.
2. Confirm the name, city and job
- Search the name in quotes with one detail. Try
"Jane Example" Hamilton, then swap the city for the employer or school they mentioned. - Find a profile with some history. A work profile, or a social account with older posts and friends who interact with it, is a good sign. A brand-new account with a few photos is worth a closer look.
- Ask for a quick video call. It's a normal request before meeting. Someone who keeps putting it off is giving you information.
Stuck on a common name? Our guide on how to find someone covers narrowing a search down.
3. Check the number they gave you
Search the number in quotes, in a couple of formats, and see whether it's linked to the name they gave you or listed on scam-report sites. Messaging apps often show a profile photo and name for a number. Our phone number guide walks through it.
Red flags to watch for
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists these warning signs of a romance scam. One on its own may mean nothing; several together are a reason to slow down.
- They say they love you without ever meeting you.
- They push to move the chat off the dating app to a private channel.
- They always have an excuse not to meet.
- Their messages read oddly, or they use the wrong name.
- They say they live nearby but are working overseas.
- They use guilt or anger to get money.
- They try to cut you off from friends and family.
- They pitch crypto “coaching” or an investment opportunity.
Before you meet
- Don't share financial or other personal information you wouldn't want a stranger to have.
- Never send money to someone you haven't met in person, and don't invest on a platform they recommend.
- Meet somewhere public, get there on your own, and tell a friend where you'll be.
- Turn on two-factor authentication on your dating and email accounts.
If you want more than the free checks
If something's wrong
Stop replying and don't send money. Report the profile to the dating app so it can be removed, then report it to the fraud agency where you live:
- Canada: the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- United States: the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Action Fraud
FAQ
What if their photos don't show up anywhere?
That's common for people who don't post publicly, so it isn't a red flag on its own. It doesn't prove the profile is real either: AI-generated faces won't match anything. Lean on the name, city and video-call checks instead.
They keep finding reasons not to meet or video chat. Is that a red flag?
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists always having an excuse not to meet as a warning sign of a romance scam, along with moving fast to a private chat and asking for money.
Should I pay for a background check?
Usually you don't need to. The free checks cover photos, names and numbers. A people-search report only covers US records, can mix up people with the same name, and can't be used for decisions about jobs, tenancy, credit or insurance.
Where do I report a romance scam?
Report the profile to the dating app first. Then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in Canada, the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov in the US, or Action Fraud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Related guides
Sources
Checked by Greg Parsons against the sources above on October 26, 2026.