Before you trust a profile
- Use a separate email and a unique password.
- Run a reverse-image search on more than one photo.
- Ask simple follow-up questions over time.
- Use a live, two-way video call when both people consent.
- Remember that video and an ID badge are signals, not guarantees.
Protect money and documents
Do not send a passport scan, bank details, Social Security number, verification code, or intimate media. Do not follow a match's link to a paid “identity check.” The FBI has warned that fake dating-verification sites can hide recurring charges and identity theft.
Set a monthly platform budget before buying credits. Save checkout screens, renewal dates, receipts, and credit balances. Turn off any automatic purchase setting you do not want.
Build trust without pressure
Ask about the person, not a stereotype tied to nationality or sex. Keep translation simple. Ask who is writing or translating. Consent comes before a private image, phone number, video call, or meeting. A fee does not create a duty to reply.
Meet more safely
- Check current government travel advice.
- Meet in a public place during daylight.
- Keep separate transport, money, lodging, and travel papers.
- Tell a trusted person the plan and set check-in times.
- Do not travel into an active conflict to prove trust.
If something feels wrong
Stop contact. Save the profile address, messages, dates, receipts, and payment details. Report the account to the platform. Contact the bank or card provider fast after a disputed transfer. U.S. readers can use the FTC romance-scam guide and the FBI verification-site warning.
IMBRA is a safeguard, not a badge
Some paid international introduction services may fit the legal meaning of an international marriage broker, while exemptions can apply. The State Department IMBRA rights page explains protections. A company label does not prove service quality or profile truth. Ask an immigration lawyer about a real case.