Fabricated credentials are driving a surge in identity verifications for dating, online shopping, and everyday interactions.
A growing sense of mistrust is reshaping how people engage online. In a recent ClarityCheck survey of 5,200 users, 43% said they had uncovered a false claim about someone’s background before meeting them in person. The most common discoveries involved inflated job titles, unverifiable certifications, and identities that did not match publicly available information.
The survey results show that younger adults are leading the charge. Among respondents aged 18-25, 49% reported running a pre-date background check in the past year, with nearly half of those finding inconsistencies. Titles like “founder” or “engineer” frequently could not be matched to any company registry, while 27% of searches involving licensed professions found no corresponding entry in official databases.
Some professions drew more attention than others. 42% of respondents said they had recently checked the credentials of self-described “health coaches,” a rise many linked to the viral promotion of unregulated wellness products on social media. For a significant share of these checks, no formal qualifications could be verified.
The timing of searches suggests these verifications are becoming part of the everyday routine. 61% of respondents said they typically conduct checks between 6 PM and 10 PM, often just before social meetups, purchases, or joining a new group. Another 14% said they verify someone within an hour of first contact, indicating that instant checks are becoming instinctive.
This shift comes against a stark backdrop. According to the survey, 68% of users believe online misrepresentation is more common today than it was two years ago, and many link the trend to rising fraud. Global losses tied to dating scams and personal transaction fraud totalled $1.3 billion last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with impersonation of licensed professionals among the fastest-growing tactics.
The ClarityCheck survey also highlighted the diversity of personal verification: 25% of respondents were aged 18-25, 60% between 25-5, and uses ranged from dating to vetting marketplace sellers, hobby group members, and casual social contacts. Across all demographics, one message was clear: in an environment where credibility can be created in minutes, confirming the facts has become a standard precaution.
About ClarityCheck
ClarityCheck is an all-in-one background verification tool for phone numbers, emails, and images. Designed for everyday digital safety, ClarityCheck helps users instantly identify unknown contacts, trace suspicious profiles, and check for potential fraud, across phone, email, and photo input. By combining reverse lookup and OSINT technologies, it offers a streamlined way to verify identities and protect yourself online.
Contact:
Lauren Fellows
PR Manager