How to Verify Someone's Identity Online Safely

The internet makes it incredibly easy to connect with people. It also makes it incredibly easy for people to lie about who they are. I've heard from enough readers at this point to know that identity verification isn't some abstract concern -- it's something people deal with constantly. You match with someone on a dating app. You hire a freelancer from across the country. You rent out your guest house to a stranger. In all of these situations, a few minutes of checking can save you from a really bad outcome.

The trick is doing it effectively without being creepy about it. Let's walk through the practical tools and red flags.

When Does It Make Sense to Verify Someone?

This isn't about being paranoid. It's about being reasonable when you've got something at stake.

Online Dating

Romance scams cost Americans over $1.3 billion in reported losses in recent years, according to the FTC. That number is almost certainly low because plenty of victims never report it.

Before meeting someone from a dating app in person, a basic identity check can confirm their name, approximate age, and general location match what they told you. You're not running a background investigation on every match -- just verifying the basics before you end up alone with a stranger at a restaurant. I talked to a woman in Dallas last year who caught a romance scammer simply by searching his name and finding that the "widowed surgeon" was actually a 23-year-old with a completely different life story. Five minutes of searching saved her from what could've been a devastating situation.

Business Transactions

Entering a business deal with someone you've only met online? Verifying their identity is basic due diligence. Confirm they're a real person with a verifiable address and some public record history. This matters especially for significant financial transactions, service agreements, or any situation where you're handing over access to sensitive information.

Renting Property

If you're a landlord, you've got legitimate reasons to confirm a prospective tenant is who they claim to be. Formal screening services handle credit and eviction history, but a quick public records search can verify their name, confirm prior addresses, and flag discrepancies in the application.

Flip side: if you're a tenant, you might want to verify your prospective landlord actually owns the property they're offering. You'd be surprised how often rental scams involve someone listing a property they don't own. You can confirm ownership through property records.

New Neighbors or Community Members

When someone new moves in next door, it's natural to be curious. Public records can confirm basic biographical info without you having to ask awkward questions. Particularly relevant if you have kids or if you're responsible for community safety in some capacity.

Tools for Online Identity Verification

Public Records Search Engines

People search services like OpenDataUSA aggregate publicly available records from government databases, voter registrations, property records, and other official sources. Search by name, city, state, or other identifying details and you'll get a profile that typically includes current and past addresses, approximate age, known associates, and sometimes voter registration, property ownership, and political donation history. Our data sources page has the full list of record types we include.

Social Media Cross-Referencing

One of the simplest checks you can do. Does their LinkedIn match the job and employer they mentioned? Does their Facebook history line up with the personal details they've shared? Do their photos show up on other profiles under different names?

A reverse image search (Google Images or TinEye) is particularly useful here. Stolen photos are one of the most common tools in romance and business fraud. Takes about 30 seconds.

Professional License Verification

If someone says they're a licensed doctor, lawyer, contractor, or real estate agent, you can verify it through the relevant state licensing board. Most boards have free online lookup tools where you can confirm the license is current, check for disciplinary actions, and verify the registered name and business address. I once checked on a "licensed contractor" who turned out to have had his license revoked two years earlier. Dodged that bullet.

Business Entity Search

Someone claims to own a business? Look it up through the Secretary of State's office in the state where it's supposedly registered. Most states have free online databases. You can see the registered agent, formation date, and current standing. Quick, free, and surprisingly revealing.

Red Flags That Should Make You Dig Deeper

A single inconsistency doesn't mean someone is lying. But certain patterns should put you on alert:

• Zero digital footprint. In 2025, having absolutely no online presence is unusual for someone who's actively using the internet to connect with you. Some people are genuinely private, sure. But a complete blank? That's worth questioning.
• Inconsistent details. The name, age, location, or employment they gave you doesn't match what you find in public records or social media. Could be innocent. Could be not. Ask follow-up questions.
• They won't video chat or meet up. This is one of the strongest catfishing indicators. If someone's built a relationship with you online but keeps dodging face-to-face contact, something's off.
• Rushing you. Scammers love urgency -- a whirlwind romance, a deal that expires tomorrow. Real people and real opportunities can handle a few days of delay while you do your homework.
• Asking for money or sensitive info. If someone you haven't met in person wants money, banking details, or your Social Security number -- full stop. No explanation makes this okay.

Doing This Responsibly

Access to public records is powerful, and you've got an obligation to use it ethically. A few ground rules:

Verify for protection, not control. The point is confirming basic facts and protecting yourself from fraud or harm. It's not a tool for stalking or manipulating a relationship. If you find yourself running searches on someone obsessively, that's a different problem entirely.

Public records have limits. They show facts -- addresses, property ownership, voter registration, donations. They don't tell you whether someone is trustworthy or kind or worth your time. Use them as one data point, not a verdict.

Be upfront when it makes sense. In landlord-tenant relationships or business partnerships, it's perfectly normal to say "I'll be verifying your information." Sets the right expectations and gives the other person a chance to explain anything that might look odd.

Know the legal boundaries. Searching public records is legal. But how you use the results may be regulated. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governs how consumer report information can be used for employment, housing, and credit decisions. People search sites like OpenDataUSA aren't consumer reporting agencies, and our results shouldn't be used for FCRA-covered decisions. See our about page for more on appropriate use.

Taking the First Step

If you're in a situation where verifying someone would give you peace of mind, just do it. Run a search on OpenDataUSA, enter their name and whatever other details you have (city, state), and see what comes back. Cross-reference with social media and licensing databases. Most of the time, a few minutes of looking is all it takes to confirm someone's legit -- or to spot the inconsistencies that tell you to back away.

Your safety is worth the five minutes. For more on navigating public records and online safety, check out our other articles on the OpenDataUSA blog.