"Safety/Dinner Date" uses Private Investigators.

[Robert Donovan]

Interesting news story here:

Service Offers Background Checks For Dating:

There are plenty of fish in the sea, but how can you tell which ones are sharks? Now there's a service that allows you to check up on your date before you go out.

For every love story out there, there's also a tale of dating horror.

Melanie Quintanilla said she knew dating strangers online would be a gamble.

"You can actually fall into it and be deceived so easily," she said.

But the Internet is where Quintanilla met her boyfriend, Denny Jones, who runs his own dating Web site. The two have been together for a year, but they admit you can't know everything about the other person.

For those looking for a safer date, there's Safety Date.

"We wanted to create a system in which people could call in and find out if the person that they are dating is actually the person that they say they are," Safety Date creator Samantha Taw said.

Taw started Safety Date as part of her security company in Hollywood. For $75, she'll do a background check on your date, including marriages, bankruptcies and criminal record.

All she needs is the person's first and last name, date of birth, and phone number, if possible.

Taw said she's exposed plenty of liars.

"A lot of times, with a simple background check for $75, you can find out just enough. It'll tend to pull the pieces of the puzzle together," she said.

The information uncovered by Safety Date is public record and can also be obtained through government records or by private investigators.

[Kathleen Padgett]

Very interesting story, and good to know there are many ways to reduce the risks of being deceived, particularly with the added risks that unfortunately accompany the benefits of internet access.

[Michele Maconship]

BRAVO!!! If only I had known about this service, or even known then what I know now about conducting simple background checks . . .. I was married for 7 years to a habitual "liar" and it took that long to fully comprehend the extent of his deceit. My parents actually did send off for a simple criminal background check before we married, but of course it did not reveal the fact that he had been married FOUR times prior, etc, etc. I recommend this type of service to ANYONE considering marriage.

Take Care,

[Walter C. Smith--]

Hello Kathleen,
I was wondering if "Safety Date" would work in your area. It is an interesting concept and I thing it might be good in some places. I think that a dating service which guarantees that the members are who they say they are would also be a good idea. Maybe credenitials saying a perosn's background has been "verified". There may be a big market for that.

It is easy to find internet sites especially from SPAM that offer "Wives or husbands wanting to fool around in your area", "Young singles want you", many pictures of people who want to connect and other trash like that. I cannot understand how people get caught up in internet dating or connecting. Most sane people would realize that you are taking too much for granted.

[Kathleen Padgett]

Hi Walter,

I'm sure "safety date" would work in my area in addition to most of the country. I live in a suburb of Boston, in Southern NH right on the border of MA, so the population here is large enough to support that type of need for dating background checks, especially with the increased number of people who are meeting and dating on the internet. Most singles I know don't like to meet people in bars and find the internet to be a good resource for meeting new people. This is a great business idea and it's great that the internet poses so many opportunities, albeit a risky venture at times. It's good to know there are ways to verify identities. At least it lowers the risk somewhat.

Kathie

[LaVaughn Bennett]

I think "Safety Date" sounds like a great program. It seems like you can never be too careful in todays society.

[Byron Burke II]

I wish I could be the one investigating my baby sisters (16 years old) dates:)

[Deborah Siehl]

I love it. I think this service should be used more. Too many sharks in the water.

Deborah

[Sara E Pickett]

I agree 110%. This "Safety Date" biz. could save alot of people a LOT of future trouble and heartache. What a great idea and service to offer those entering or returning to the dating scene. :)

[Walter C. Smith--]

If you get involved with such a "Safety Date " service in your area. I might know a good candidate for the service. He is a PhD in Genetics with post docterate work at Harvard. As of last Christmas, he was not married.

On another note, I am interested in finding more information about "Safety Date" such as: How many people use? what kind of investment was necessary to set it up? Does it require a PI License? Does it require a Business license? Other?

I think it might work in most places. But, It must have the proper marketing and advertisement.

[Robert Smith -]

This is excellent news. I only wish that I knew about this service before I married my ex-wife.

[Michele Maconship]

Originally posted by Robert Smith
This is excellent news. I only wish that I knew about this service before I married my ex-wife.

I'm with you there!!! (Ex-husband).

[Walter C. Smith--]

In Charlotte, NC, there have been young women lured away from home by people who they meet on the internet and did not live to regret it.
In todays world, people can be more lonely than ever. Finding honest and sincere people to date is a major need. The movie, "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" had parties and bars as the medium for search. The main female character was desparatly trying to find "Mr Goodbar" causing her to drop her guard and show her vulnerability which led to her murder.

The more I hear about :Safety Date", the more I like it.

[Edwina Berlijn]

me too, I am scared to meet anybody on the internet (the dating game) although my daughter of 31 is trying to convince me; but so far she has not convince me to get on that screen :D

Edwina Berlijn

[Walter C. Smith--]

Visit Churches and other places where everyone knows everyone else. You can have fun and be safe if you are not using "Safety Date"

[admin]

<center>Moderator Note: </center>
The remainder of the comments in this topic have been moved to this Level 1 Forum:

Click here for access (http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14924)

[James L Parmenter -]

Good article, the internet is a vast world of information, some true, some not so true. Being divorced I've utilized the net for seeking a new loved one, however, have found that what people post in a profile is far from what they truely are.....be careful. and if you have the ways and means...do a background check before meeting a date..............this goes especially for the women...........

[Tiffiny Dixon]

Hi James L. Parmenter,
Oh! you can't be to careful now a days.James I have just recently done the same thing.Trying to find that special someone is to scarey.I had a background check done on this new person I met.Thank god! he was so honest with me.In fact he encouraged me to do so.I think I've found the one.
And good luck to you also.

[Patrice-Maria Love]

This is an excellent idea. I love it and it's funny, too! Most of us wouldn't had made grevious mistakes if we would have used background checks! It is needed not only in the internet but socially as well.

[Maria Hines]

I'm glad i'm married but if I wasn't I would have Safety Date on speed dial. M

[Dabra J Grant -]

If I were in a position to financially create my own Agency I would certainly consider adding this service to my list of services. Especially here in the Seattle area, where there are many single professional persons, with limited time, but plenty of assets to protect, and of a somewhat timid nature socially.

There are so many avenues to approach in P.I. work. I think of quite a few. The amount of diversity in choosing what kind of investigative work to pursue is vast.

I wouldn't imagine that this type of service would require that much time, investment, or special equipment either. One good client would provide many referrals. I believe at this point that a successful P.I. business is more of a referral based business than it is one in which you advertise.

I really like the forums as they open many doors to many possibilities, and the benefit of those whose experiences can provide much guidance as well as prevent pitfalls.

I've been taking my time with IPIU and every day I read something new that I hadn't considered before. This is an ongoing adventure. Although my fingerprints and photos, etc have been done weeks ago, I am still putting the final touches on everything as well as studying my training manual, plus going to the library and getting books on law, criminology, and even a P.I. handbook as part of my self study.

One of these days I'll have everything where I want it, and in the meantime I like that I can do everything at my own pace. I look at my experience as an apprenticeship, and always appreciate all the information and support here. I still am not employed and this has been my first priority, but at this stage of the game, my pre-training has little bearing on getting employment, although I must admit I have focused more on employment that would go hand in hand with my new profession.

Nonetheless, I’m having a difficult time making ends meet, but I look at it as just another part of the challenge. I remind myself that nothing that has value comes easily. Delaying gratification will in the end make the final reward that much sweeter. Or so I hope. There are no guarantees. I do have faith in myself and in IPIU, and a power much greater than all of us combined. No names please.

[Maria Hines]

Don't let nothing still your joy. M
P.S. I'm not sure what you mean by no names please

[Dabra J Grant -]

Don't let nothing still your joy. M
P.S. I'm not sure what you mean by no names please

Hi Maria, Thank you for your encouraging words. The no names was a gentle way of my attempting to say that my faith and my reference to a Power Greater than myself is a non-denominational statement, which is not intended to evoke religious sentiments, as so often it does. I do not look at these forums as a place to proselytize as that only alienates people with different faiths. Everyone is entitled to believe what they will and should not feel pressured to make a statement of faith or lack of faith to one or the other belief systems by naming a name here on IPIU. I hope that doesn't offend anyone, but I feel strongly about this.

[Brandy Gates]

This is a great idea. Only issue, for $75 a pop, that could get pretty pricy, bet you wouldn't be going on many dates! While getting the information is definately worth every penny and more, I think that some people would forego the check simply because it would cost more than the date.


Brandy

[Raquel Harper]

this sounds like a good service. there are a lot of people with different intentions out there that one would never suspect.

[Mr. John Randolph]

That's pretty interesting, the internet can be such a dangerous place for the unsuspecting. The more investigators we have monitoring illegal activity, the better chance we have at cutting down the number of possible abduction, rape and even murder cases.

Something to think about anyway!!!

[Michael Runner]

This should be a thriving segment in the industry. :)

[Michael Runner]

This service may sound expensive but, I know of a case where the person was taken for a great deal of money over a period of time. He was pretending tobe someone he wasn't. Claimed to be a vet of the Vietnom era ... etc. As it turned out through some digging he would have been 13 years old. Does $75 still sound expensive?
And it may not be nessessary to check every first date out... just be safe.

[Sidney J Jolly -]

Of course, for the "deluxe" service, you could include a fingerprint check, using such as a drink glass. The person in question might not be who he/she is claiming to be.
Such a service wouldn't eliminate all the risks -- my ex-wife and I are still friends, but I wouldn't ever marry her again! -- just reduce them.

Sidney J. Jolly

[Barbara Compton]

I think this is a great idea. Some are pitching it already, especially on the internet. But as for the rates, I think the person should price it to their area. :) If you think about it how much is peace of mind worth?

Just a thought
Barbara Compton

[Prem Prasad]

I thank you all for your opinion. It is something new for me to know that there is so many ways to reduce risk in anyone's life.

[Brian Samanie -]

moved...

[Mark B Littman -]

what a wonderful Idea now-a days !! but are we taking some of the chance out of love.. and making dating more like a business...

[Kevin-- Nathaniel]

It great to see the services offered by a PI extend and cross so many boundaries. With the high use of internet dating, this is definitely a service that will be utilized often.

Kevin Nathaniel

[David Wire]

Great Service. You never know, do you?

[Linda J Rowe]

Now that is something I wish I had when I first met my now Ex-husband, maybe I would not be where I am now.

[John Michener Jr]

Very interesting Story as I can relate. I once was dating a young lady whom I wanted to marry. she was hidding something, but didn't know what. I did a little PI work on my own as well as hiring a PI. As it turned out, she had embezzled 30K from a previous employer and was in the process of repaying the funds back and has done so. I could of used a service like this many years ago.

John Michener

[Anne Lilly]

I wish I knew about this type of service earlier. I think it's worth the $ to "weed out the weirdos".

[Michael Harris]

Anne,

They still get through.

[Cynthia Wilson]

Hello :)

I pondered a bit before replying to this thread as I met the man who is now my husband via the internet. I have been perusing the internet for several years, spending time in various chat rooms and so forth. It is a good tool, but I think it needed to come with a set of instructions :rolleyes:

While I agree with most everything that has been said here, I do feel that its only fair to look at the other side of the coinage as well.

The following is *my own opinion* regarding the internet and may not be the views and opinions of other's. But I will say that the need to verify a person's background to protect ourselves, shows maturity and common sense.

The internet is not a *baby sitting service* for adults. We as adults are expected to use common sense, and often I have seen Women and Men taking risks (myself included) that puts them in dangerous situations.

For every good person that is out there, there are as many if not more bad ones. However, its not exclusive to the internet, but in life. Before I had a real life meeting with the man who is now my husband, I used the safety systems that people should but don't always use.

Would you go home with someone you met in a bar? Have you? Many do, and they take their chances. Stating that the internet is the one at fault takes the blame away from adults who didn't show good sense. The Internet is merely a tool, just like anything else. How we use it, is up to us.

I feel that having resources available in order to verify that a person is who they say they are, is invaluable. Not all are honest or forthcoming with information. I was lucky, but also I used my head. I verified my husbands address, phone numbers he gave, he even gave me his drivers licence number, ssn and work information.

In conclusion I can only restate that placing the blame for bad situations on the internet, which is only a tool we use to communicate, takes the responsibility away from us. We are responsible for what we do, or we should be.

Cynthia Wilson

[Mark B Littman -]

good comments !

[Brian Samanie -]

Great post, Cynthia. I enjoyed reading that!

[Denise Damazio]

This sounds like a great idea. Too many people are going on blind dates and getting into trouble. I'm so glad I am happily married and don't have that problem. A friend of mine has went out on a few dates from internet dating sights and met some real losers. You can never be to careful.

[Michael Harris]

...Too many people are going on blind dates and getting into trouble. ...
Denise,

You may want to read a recent Lisa Scottoline nove - Killer Smile - to see what can happen on a blind date. It is an extreme example, but it is instructive.

[Victoria S Kinney]

That sounds like a great deal. Is there one located in California and where is it located? I wish I had this awhile ago myself.

[Thomas W Tanner]

That sounds like a great deal. Is there one located in California and where is it located? I wish I had this awhile ago myself.


Hi, Victoria!
You might find this helpful:
http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?cPath=21_43&products_id=739

Tom...:)

[Judith Bray]

The internet is a scary place, but also a "safe" place. People feel open enough to talk about who they are and what they want in life since they arent talking to the person in person. The background check would help them to continue to feel comfortable enough to actually meet these people. It's always best to be one move ahead of the other person.

[Thomas W Tanner]

The internet is a scary place, but also a "safe" place. People feel open enough to talk about who they are and what they want in life since they arent talking to the person in person. The background check would help them to continue to feel comfortable enough to actually meet these people. It's always best to be one move ahead of the other person.

Truer words were never spoken, Judith. And, who's to say that what they're telling you is the truth? THAT'S the scary part!

Tom...

[Frederick Budde]

The internet is a scary place, but also a "safe" place. People feel open enough to talk about who they are and what they want in life since they arent talking to the person in person. The background check would help them to continue to feel comfortable enough to actually meet these people. It's always best to be one move ahead of the other person.
A nice, sane attitude, Judith. :)

[Patti Schubert]

:D

With this day and age you can never be too careful.

:cool:

Patti

[Jessica Rose O'Bryan -]

It's about time. I have a few friends who partake in the "dating online" scene. I personally always thought of it as an opportunity for older men to take advantage of younger women. This service is a brilliant idea that I think will gain more popularity over time.

[Michael Harris]

... I personally always thought of it as an opportunity for older men to take advantage of younger women. ...
Jessica,

I always thought it was older women taking advantage of younger men. :rolleyes:

[Katrina Burton Todd]

That was a great idea for Taw to start a safety date service. You never know who you might meet over the INTERNET. At least with a background check you can feel sort of safe to pursue a friendship or date with someone if they appear legitimate.

[Frederick Budde]

It's about time. I have a few friends who partake in the "dating online" scene. I personally always thought of it as an opportunity for older men to take advantage of younger women. This service is a brilliant idea that I think will gain more popularity over time.
Jessica;
Stop picking on us dirty old men :p

[Flora Porter]

Jessica,

I always thought it was older women taking advantage of younger men. :rolleyes:
HI Micheal,
Alright you 2!!
I always thought of it like men trying to get porn video and
what not. But you can meet some interesting successful older men as well. ;)

Good topic post

Flo

[Suyapa M Olivo]

This is a great idea and service to use especially if you're single and not sure if you're inviting a murderer, rapist or just Mr. Nice Guy into your home. It's amazing as to how many people out here lie about their identity as well as their past history. Sometimes it's good not to discuss past events but sometimes is good to know, so that you're aware of the kind of person you are dealing with or plan on dating. And $75 is well worth it!

[Jessica Rose O'Bryan -]

Jessica,

I always thought it was older women taking advantage of younger men. :rolleyes:

...you never know, there could be some truth to that.

[Jessica Rose O'Bryan -]

HI Micheal,
Alright you 2!!
I always thought of it like men trying to get porn video and
what not. But you can meet some interesting successful older men as well. ;)

Good topic post

Flo

I am going to have to agree with the 'interesting' part of that statement, very interesting...maybe not in a good way.

[Larry J Catoe]

Wonderful news story! Safty Date appears to be an excellent way for someone to get the low down on a potential wife/husband. Thanks for the story Robert.

[Kenneth Owens]

I agree with the concept. I know plenty of women who got broken hearts from guys on the internet. This is something that all dating sites should use. I think it would be a big help for people who date from the internet. I say job well done to Safety Date.

[Kristen Godot]

Good subject, too many people prey on other people over the internet....