No matter if you’re entering the Bowl as a sugar daddy or a sugar baby, conducting a sugar dating background check can keep you safe from scams and nefarious people. But, what are the current practices for identification verification and what can you do to make sure that your newest match is someone you can trust?
In this article, we’ll talk about different types of background checks, verification tips, gut feelings, and much more!
Defining and Understanding the Importance of Sugar Dating Background Checks
First of all, what is meant by a sugar dating background check? Well, it’s important to acknowledge that as of today, no sugaring platform or traditional online dating app is conducting a state or federal criminal background check for new members (for reasons that we’ll get into later.) Instead, they may go through steps to (one) verify the identity of new members and (two) check to make sure that they’re using their own images. They may also use a person’s IP address or other online markers to make sure that a single person isn’t opening multiple accounts. This can cut down on scammers and prevent users who have been kicked off the site from making new accounts under a different name.
These checks may not be as thorough as a criminal background check, but they do a lot to keep the online community safer and make it less likely for bots to be able to create accounts. But, it’s not a perfect system, so let’s talk more about what information is included in a sugar dating background check and what you can do to fill in the gaps.
Why don’t sugaring and traditional dating platforms run criminal background checks?
Back in 2021, Match, the umbrella company responsible for Tinder and other online dating apps, entered into a partnership with the tech non-profit Garbo. The idea was for Garbo to run background checks for users by request. And it seemed promising, but for unknown reasons, the tech giants ended the partnership in 2023.
In the meantime, the interest in offering online users the chance to run criminal background checks on potential matches seems to have fizzled. But why?
On the one hand, it’s possible that running criminal background checks is simply too time-consuming and expensive. In an age when most online dating apps are struggling to out-compete each other and fight against widespread online dating fatigue, the added cost of running background checks simply isn’t feasible.
The threat of a background check may also ward off new members who feel this to be an invasion of privacy. After all, someone with a criminal record for a past indiscretion like a DUI may have gone through recovery and be sober today. As such, they may feel unfairly treated by an online dating site. And, given that an estimated 1 in 5 Americans has a criminal background, platforms may be hesitant to alienate such a large number of potential users.
What’s more, a publication in the journal Criminology in 2024 found that background checks are often plagued by clerical errors. Inaccuracies in criminal background checks are widespread and could bar people from joining an online dating app through no fault of their own.
Common Practices for Verifying Identities
For the reasons discussed above, it is perhaps understandable that many platforms are choosing to forgo criminal background checks. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have any system in place to verify identification! Here are a few common practices used by most online and sugar dating sites:
- Government-issued identification. Even if a particular site allows you to use an anonymized username, they are likely to still require a government-issued ID, such as a passport, driver’s license, or state-issued ID card, to verify your identity. They may also use the information on this document to fill in the bio fields for things like height, age, and eye color.
- Biometric scanning. A huge improvement in identity verification has been biometric scanning. This allows a platform to perform a retinal or face scan of a potential user to make sure that their face matches their profile pictures and government-issued ID. Recently, many platforms have also been including the option for video verification, which can add even more legitimacy to a person’s account.
- Cross-internet scanning. The exact practices will vary from platform to platform, but there are many ways that cross-internet scanning can be used to verify identity. This may include cross-checking public records or referencing social media accounts linked to someone’s name or email address. A site may also run a user’s profiles through a reverse image search to make sure that they haven’t been pulled from stock images or other profiles. Platforms also keep track of IP addresses and cookies of past users to ensure that someone who has been barred from the site can’t create another account.
As you can see, there are many ways that a sugar dating platform can verify new users. That’s why it’s so important to opt for a platform, such as Secret Benefits and other reputable accounts, that is dedicated to doing a thorough verification check.
Tools and Resources for Effective Background Checks On Your Own
You don’t only have to rely on the verification process of your chosen sugaring platform to feel confident about a potential match. In fact, there are many things that you can do to give yourself peace of mind before meeting someone:
- Google search. If a sugar baby or sugar daddy uses their real name on a site, your easiest first step is a simple Google search. Of course, this isn’t very common nowadays, as people are understandably cautious about sharing their personal information. So, it will only be possible if a potential partner is willing to open up to you.
- Reverse image search. If someone’s profile pictures are looking just a little too polished, it’s possible that they’ve pulled images from elsewhere online. You can see if this is true by running a reverse image search, which is a free service offered by Google and other sites.
- Independent criminal background check. If you really want to make sure that someone isn’t hiding a criminal record, you can conduct your own background check. This will cost money, but it may be worth it if you’re uncomfortable moving forward without one.
- Connecting with the sugar dating community. From “Are We Dating the Same Guy” Facebook groups to your local Reddit community, some users find comfort in making sure that the person they’re talking to hasn’t been flagged by someone online.
- Request for Facetime. If you want to make sure that the person you’re chatting with matches their profile and pictures, a quick video call can be just the trick! If someone is evasive about getting on a video call or turns off the video feature with excuses like bad internet or lighting, it’s possible that they are hiding what they really look like.
Legal Considerations in Conducting Background Checks
We mentioned that conducting your own background check is an option for looking into a potential partner’s criminal history. But, there’s a caveat here: consent. In most states, you need the consent of the person you’re conducting a criminal background on. Otherwise, your request is likely to be denied on legal grounds.
Protecting Privacy and Ensuring Safety
The laws preventing someone from obtaining a background check on an individual without their consent are on the books to protect privacy and prevent discrimination. They bar potential employers and landlords from conducting background checks without letting the applicant know. And, they protect the individuals’ personal information that might not want to be released to the public.
So, while you can request for a potential partner to undergo a background check before you continue with a relationship, understand that they may not consent.
Recognizing Red Flags and Warning Signs
Oftentimes, the best line of defense against a scammer, bot, or nefarious person isn’t a background check or ID verification but rather your own intuition!
Trust Your Instincts and Exercise Caution
Here are some warning signs that you can keep a lookout for when chatting with someone new online:
- Strange speech patterns. An account that is using a chatbot instead of a real person to talk to you will come off sounding strange. They may not answer your questions directly or will try to constantly loop conversations back to what they’ve been programmed to talk about.
- Requests for money or personal information. When you’re getting to know someone online, they shouldn’t immediately be sending you money or requesting your bank information.
- Requests for intimate pictures. If you’re a sugar baby, a salt daddy might request intimate pictures of you without any intention of entering into a mutual relationship. And if you’re a sugar daddy, a false sugar baby may only be asking for incriminating pictures that could be used for blackmail. Until you’ve gained trust with a potential partner, there’s no reason to send intimate photos or content.
- Panic or pressure campaigns. Many scams are effective because they play on our natural desire for conflict resolution and avoidance. So, a scammer may try to make you feel bad or under a time constraint in order to manipulate you into sending them money or personal information.
- A general feeling that something is off. If you’re getting bad vibes for any reason, that could be your intuition telling you something valid! Don’t ignore that gut feeling, as it could be more effective than any background check.
Report Accounts That You Suspect Could be Fake
If you do get a bad feeling about someone on a sugar dating platform, don’t let it go! After all, that person could go on to target someone else. Always report suspicious activity to keep the community safe for everyone!
Final Thoughts on Ensuring Safe Meetings
The sugaring community is constantly looking for ways to make everyone safer, both as a sugar baby and a sugar daddy. Here are a few ways that you can help to ensure the integrity of these online spaces and keep yourself safe while you search for your perfect match:
- Stick with reputable sugar dating sites with a thorough vetting process. Even though sugaring platforms aren’t likely to conduct criminal background checks, many of them make sure to verify and vet new members.
- Always meet in public. If you’re planning in-person meetings, always choose a public place during the day and have a reliable way to get home afterward. Let a loved one know where you are and that you’ll check in with them at the end of the date.
- Be mindful of money exchanges. Whether you opt for a secure money transfer app, physical checks, or material gifts, make sure that you never give out personal information that could be used in a financial scam. You’ll also want to avoid giving out your physical address, using instead a PO Box or other mailing address.
- If something is off, walk away. Even if someone’s background check came back clean and they passed the verification process, you can still decide for yourself whether you think a potential partner is trustworthy. Your intuition is your best sugar dating background check, so don’t ignore it!
