How to Check if a Person Is Genuine Before You Trust Them
Meeting someone online, doing a deal with a new contact or paying an advance? Here is how to check that a person is genuine — and spot the warning signs of fraud — before you commit.
By Team Screenzaa · · 5 min read
To check if a person is genuine, verify their identity against an official source, search their name and details against negative lists, and confirm what they tell you through independent channels. A live, consented identity check is the strongest single signal, because it proves the person is real and is the owner of the ID they show you.
When it matters most
- Buying from, or selling to, a stranger on OLX, Facebook Marketplace or another online platform.
- Meeting someone from a dating app or a matrimonial site.
- A new business contact asking for an advance or a deposit.
- Hiring a freelancer, contractor or agent you found online.
- Anyone who wants money, access or personal information before you have met properly.
Step 1: Confirm their identity
Photos and documents shared on chat can be copied from someone else. Ask the person to verify themselves instead. With Screenzaa's Aadhaar Verification, they receive a WhatsApp link and complete a face-liveness check in the official Aadhaar app, with consent. A genuine person can usually do this in a couple of minutes; a reluctance to do it is itself useful information.
Step 2: Screen their name against negative lists
Check whether the person — or their company — appears on published lists of flagged individuals and entities, such as sanctions, regulatory and enforcement lists. A Screenzaa Bad List check screens across 200+ Indian and global lists and emails you a report, usually within 10 minutes.
Step 3: Confirm the story independently
Look up the company they claim to work for, and call its official number rather than the one they gave you. For a business, check its registration details, such as its CIN or GSTIN. For a seller, see whether they will meet in a public place or accept a safe payment method.
Warning signs of fraud
- Urgency — pressure to pay or decide right now.
- Requests for an advance, a deposit or a small “verification fee” before anything is delivered.
- Refusal to verify identity, meet in person or talk on a video call.
- Payment requests to personal accounts, wallets or UPI IDs that do not match their name.
- A story that changes, or details that do not match between conversations.
- Requests for OTPs, passwords or screenshots of your banking apps — a genuine person never needs these.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check if someone is genuine online in India?
Ask them to complete a live identity check, such as Screenzaa's Aadhaar Verification, and screen their name against negative lists. Then confirm their story through independent, official sources.
Can I verify someone using only their mobile number?
A mobile number alone proves very little. Screenzaa's Aadhaar Verification uses the person's name and WhatsApp number to send them a link, and they confirm their identity themselves in the official Aadhaar app.
How do I check a matrimonial match?
Ask the person to verify their identity with a live Aadhaar check, screen their name against negative lists, and confirm details such as their workplace through independent channels.
What if the person refuses to verify?
A genuine person usually has no problem proving who they are. A refusal, especially combined with pressure to pay, is a strong warning sign.
Does the person know I am checking them?
For Aadhaar Verification, yes — they complete it themselves. A Bad List check searches published lists and does not notify them.
What should I never share with someone I have just met?
OTPs, passwords, PINs, and screenshots of banking or payment apps. No genuine buyer, seller or partner needs them.
- Before you pay an advance.
- Before you meet a stranger.
- Before you trust a new contact.
Check they are genuine, in minutes. Run a Screenzaa check now