Who am I talking to, and how do I know they are who they say they are?
You usually cannot know who you are talking to online from the conversation alone. Names, photos, profile age, and friendly messages are easy to borrow or invent. The stronger signal is whether the person will complete an identity check that compares a government ID with a live capture of their face, and whether the name that check returns matches the name they gave you. Even then, the result tells you who they appear to be, not whether they are honest.
Signals that feel reassuring but prove little
- A profile photo. Photos are routinely copied from other people's accounts.
- An old account or many friends. Accounts are bought, sold, and taken over.
- A photo of an ID sent in chat. Images can be edited, borrowed, or stolen from earlier victims.
- A phone number or business card. Numbers are cheap and cards are free to print.
- Pressure that sounds legitimate: a deadline, a sick relative, a buyer in another city.
Steps that carry more weight
- Write down the full name the person gave you before you ask for anything.
- Ask for a short live video call. It is not proof, but refusal with an elaborate excuse is informative.
- Ask them to complete an identity check run by a third party, so neither of you handles the other's ID image.
- Compare the name on the result with the name they used. A mismatch is a reason to pause, not to argue.
- Keep checking the separate questions: ownership of the item, licensing, references, payment method.
How do I know this person is who they say they are?
"Who they say they are" has two parts. First, is there a real person behind the account? Second, is that person the specific named individual they claim to be? A live video call can help with the first. Only a comparison against an identity document, done by someone other than the person themselves, speaks to the second.
An ID-plus-live-face check tests whether the person present appears to match a supported ID at that moment. It cannot tell you whether the name is the one you will see on a title, invoice, or lease. Ask for those documents separately and check that the names agree.
When to stop
- They refuse every identity step but still want money, keys, or personal details from you.
- The name changes between messages, documents, and payment details.
- They ask you to move the conversation off the platform right after you ask for verification.
- They offer to verify you instead, or send a link you did not expect to a site you do not recognise.
Limits to keep in mind
- No identity check guarantees safety or prevents fraud. It narrows one question.
- A matching result does not show intent, honesty, criminal history, or ownership of anything.
- A failed or abandoned check is not an accusation; cameras, lighting, and documents fail too.