Romance Scam Document Check
Romance scams often progress from an online relationship to requests for financial help — sometimes supported by documents that appear professional and official. If someone you have met online has sent you a document and asked you to sign, pay, or invest, here is how to check for risk signals before you act.
Risk Signals to Look For
- !You have never met the person in person and they are now asking you to sign a document, transfer money, or provide personal information.
- !The document appears professional — formatted like a legal contract or official certificate — but you cannot independently verify the organization named in it.
- !The person is describing a financial emergency, a medical situation, or an overseas problem that requires you to send money quickly.
- !They have asked you to use a payment method that is difficult to trace or reverse — such as wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
- !When you ask questions about the document or the organization it references, you receive evasive, inconsistent, or emotionally pressuring responses.
If money has been requested
A real person who cares about you will not put you in a position where you feel you must send money urgently, secretly, or through a method that is difficult to reverse. If that pressure is present — stop. Do not send money or valuables. Talk to someone you trust outside the relationship before you act.
Steps to Verify Before Acting
- 1Search the person's photo independently: Run a reverse image search on their profile photo using a search engine's image search tool. Scammers frequently use photos of real people they have found online.
- 2Look up any organization named in the document: Search the company name in your state's Secretary of State business registry or at the SEC's EDGAR database. If the company cannot be independently verified, that is a significant verification gap.
- 3Talk to someone outside the relationship: Do not send money or sign anything until you have spoken to a family member, a trusted friend, or a financial adviser about what you have received. An outside perspective is valuable.
- 4Upload the document to VerifyBefore: A structured review can identify risk signals in the language and claims — such as unverifiable company details, pressure language, and unusual contract terms — before you make any decision.
- 5Report if you suspect a scam is in progress: You can report at reportfraud.ftc.gov or ic3.gov even if you haven't sent money yet. Early reporting can help authorities track patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do romance scammers use documents?
Scammers create fake documents — investment contracts, legal agreements, medical bills, customs release forms, or government certificates — to make a story more convincing and to pressure you into transferring money. The documents often look professional. The fact that a document looks official does not mean it is legitimate.
I have feelings for this person. How do I handle verification?
It is entirely normal to develop feelings during an online relationship, and scammers count on this. Verifying a document or request is not a judgment of the relationship — it is a step anyone should take before sending money or signing anything. If the relationship is genuine, the other person will understand and support that verification.
Can I verify whether the person I met online is real?
You can take steps to independently assess this. Run a reverse image search on their profile photo. Search their full name along with terms like "scam" or "fraud." Video call them and pay attention to whether the quality or behavior seems unusual. Ask specific questions about details they have shared and note whether answers are consistent. These steps are not conclusive, but they can reveal verification gaps.
Does VerifyBefore identify whether a person is who they say they are?
VerifyBefore reviews documents and messages for risk signals — such as unverifiable company names, pressure language, and unusual document claims. It does not verify individual identities or confirm whether a person is who they say they are. It is a tool for reviewing what is written, not for authenticating people.
Received a Document From Someone You Met Online?
Upload it to VerifyBefore. We'll check for risk signals and verification gaps — free, before you send money or sign anything.
Check a Document FreeDisclaimer: VerifyBefore identifies risk signals and verification gaps in documents and messages. It does not prove fraud, verify document authenticity, or confirm whether a company is legitimate. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. Always contact official sources and speak with someone you trust before taking action.