When In Doubt, Check Them Out

 

  In today's world, staying safe is important, especially in this era of scams and spam. If you have concerns about who a person is or is not, try to ask the right questions to get a clear answer to ease your mind.  This may seem a little drastic but if the answers to your questions don't ring clear concerning your relationship then this is not a bad solution.

  Verifying someone's identity is essential, especially when meeting people online or in person. Here are some methods you can use to verify someone's identity:

- Multiple Forms of Identification: The most accurate way to verify someone's identity is to request and validate more than one form of identification, ideally one with a photo. Examples include a driver's license, a Social Security card, a valid passport, or a military ID. Some organizations may also accept a university ID or other non-government ID for one of them.

- Digital Identity Verification:

    - Digital identity verification uses various technology tools to confirm the validity of ID documentation. These tools include:

        - Checking and validating photographs of ID documents.

        - Using optical character recognition (OCR) scanning to extract and verify information on ID documents.

        - Confirming information such as Social Security Numbers (SSNs), addresses, and driver's licenses.

- Online Verification:

    - When meeting someone online, you can take the following steps to verify their identity:

        - Reverse Image Search: Upload their profile picture to a reverse image search engine to see if it appears elsewhere on the internet.

        - Check Social Media Profiles: Look for their profiles on social media platforms. Verify that the information they provide matches what's on their profiles.

        - Use Online Background Check Tools: Some online services allow you to perform background checks by searching public records and other databases.

  Remember that while these methods can help, no verification process is foolproof. Always exercise caution and trust your instincts when interacting with new people, especially online. If you have any doubts, consider meeting in public places and sharing personal information only when you feel comfortable and confident about the other person's identity. I have used a couple of these searches to locate a relative after 10 years.

Stay safe! Stay Healthy!

M.N.Curry😊