The Crucial Role of Research in Dating Safety

Written By Jane Mason

Why is it important to do research about the people we meet through online dating?

You might think that dating sites perform sufficient due diligence to ensure users are legitimate people. That is 100% wrong, and here is why. 

Several dating sites require users to certify that they have no criminal history. Even if a dating site does a preliminary background investigation on a user, a scam artist knows many ways to skirt the system.

First, the scammer could be using a false identity, aka catfishing. In that case, all the information these scammers divulge in their online profiles and to you is likely fake.

Second, even the best of background investigations do not provide comprehensive data about criminal and legal histories.

Third, do you really want to rely on a dating app to research whether your date is registered on the sex offender registry?

If you’d like more information on how I can teach you how to conduct full-scale research using free online investigative tools, please read about The Dating Safety Bootcamp at Learn From Me page.

ProPublica, BuzzFeed and Columbia Journalism Investigations co-published an article on this subject. The article’s researchers analyzed more than 150 incidents of sexual assault involving dating apps, culled from a decade of news reports, civil lawsuits and criminal records. Most victims, almost all women, met their male attackers through Tinder, OkCupid, PlentyofFish or Match, all owned by the same platform, Match Group. “In 10% of the incidents, dating platforms matched their users with someone who had been accused or convicted of sexual assault at least once.”[1]

MTV further reported,

“And while Plenty of Fish’s terms of service makes users promise they are not “required to register as a sex offender with any state, federal or local sex offender registry” and have not committed “a felony or indictable offense (or crime of similar severity), a sex crime, or any crime involving violence,” the company “does not conduct criminal background or identity verification checks on its users or otherwise inquire into the background of its users.” Tinder does not conduct background checks, either, though it similarly makes users promise they “have never been convicted of or pled no contest to a felony, a sex crime, or any crime involving violence, and that [the user is] not required to register as a sex offender with any state, federal or local sex offender registry” prior to signing up.”[2]

THE HARSH REALITY

Then, there is the harsh reality of sexual assault.  A recent study from Brigham Young University (BYU) said, “All of our findings really indicate to us that violent sexual predators use dating apps as hunting grounds for vulnerable victims.” The BYU study also said that “14% of the 1,968 rapes committed by acquaintances happened during a first-time meeting arranged through a dating app.”[3]

Many people know this story from the media. In March of 2021, a woman met D'andre Grundy, 31, through an online dating app and they agreed to meet at a golf course to take a walk. After walking around for a while, Grundy raped and sodomized his date. Grundy then punched her in the face and stole her car.

Statistics show that 2 out of every 3 sexual assaults are unreported[4]. Identifying perpetrators is even more challenging when people have met on dating apps. ProPublica reviewed 150 sexual assault incidents involving couples that met on dating apps. In 10% of the incidents, dating platforms matched their users with someone who had been accused or convicted of sexual assault at least once. According to Columbia Journalism Investigations (CJI), no one collects official statistics on online dating and sexual assault. CJI surveyed 1200 women who have used a dating app platform over the last 15 years. More than 33% said they were sexually assaulted by someone they met on a dating app.[5]

MASTERS OF MANIPULATION

Although some sites are getting more proactive in checking sex offender registries and integrating limited background checks, con artists are great at smoke and mirrors. These scammers are often masters of manipulation and evasion as well. They might use fake backgrounds, fake names, and fake photos.

Don’t be shy. You are the most important person in your life, and you deserve to know who you are spending time with. Ask your date questions. Verify any information you learn. For example, if your date says they have lived in a particular town their entire life, ask them what restaurants he would recommend. If he really lives there, he should know some restaurants and the local area.

Dating app users can become expert online researchers and build a profile about the person they are dating. How? Read more about The Dating Safety Bootcamp at Learn From Me page. This research is designed to help protect you from potentially being scammed, conned, catfished, or worse.

Using today’s technology, dating app users can find important information about their online dates. With advances in reverse image technology and searching sites for specific information, users can build an informative profile of their match. If something doesn’t add up, move on to someone else. And if someone asks for money or anything of value, move on immediately.

Be the CEO of your love life.  Stay Safe.

 
 
Jane Mason
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