In short
On Fish for Silver Singles, members can check their ID with a photo ID and a selfie and get an ID-checked badge, so you can see who has. The check is run by LEM Verify. It's optional for most members, and required only for some sign-ups, such as through a VPN. The badge shows a face matched an ID; it doesn't check what people write.
| What it is | An optional badge on your profile |
|---|---|
| How | Photo ID plus a selfie, checked by LEM Verify |
| Required? | Only for some sign-ups, such as via a VPN or a flagged account |
| What it proves | The face matched the photo ID |
| What it doesn't | Anything a member writes, or their intentions |
What the badge is
The ID-checked badge is a mark on a member's profile showing they've matched their face to a photo ID. Members choose to do the check, and other members can see who has. It's one of the few things on any dating site that tells you something independent about the person behind the profile.
On Fish for Silver Singles:
- Every photo is reviewed before it goes live, whether or not the member has a badge.
- The ID check is optional for most members. Some sign-ups are asked to do it, for example when they come through a VPN or an account is flagged.
- What members write isn't checked. Age, job, location and backstory are the member's own account.
- You can report and block from any profile, badge or not.
How the check works, step by step
The check is run by an outside provider, LEM Verify. In outline:
- Start the check from the members' area, where it's listed among the optional extras.
- Photograph your photo ID, following the on-screen steps.
- Take a selfie, so your face can be compared with the photo on the document.
- Wait for the result. If it matches, the ID-checked badge appears on your profile.
Tips that make it easier: do it in good daylight, take your glasses off if they cause glare, and use a document that's in date. The exact screens are set by the members' area, so follow what you see there.
What the badge tells you, and what it doesn't
| The badge tells you | The badge doesn't tell you |
|---|---|
| A real face matched a real photo ID at the time of the check | That their age, job or location on the profile is true |
| They were willing to go through a check | That they're single, or kind, or honest |
| The photos are more likely to be of the person you're talking to | Anything about their intentions |
So the badge is a good sign, not a character reference. Romance scammers can be very good at everything else. An Garda Síochána's advice applies with or without a badge: be wary of anyone who won't video call, and never send money or bank details to someone you've met online.
Should you get one?
It's your choice. Reasons people do:
- it shows others you're happy to be checked, which can make them more comfortable replying
- it can reassure your family, who may worry about you dating online
- it signals that you take the whole thing seriously.
Reasons people don't: they'd rather not photograph their ID, or they'd prefer to let a video call do the reassuring. Both are fine.
Badge or not, a video call still matters
A short video call before meeting is the most useful check you have, and it works whether or not someone has a badge. Some gentle questions that help:
- "Where are you calling from?" and a glance at the room behind them.
- "What did you get up to this weekend?" Real lives have small, specific details.
- "Shall we pick a place to meet for coffee?" A real person will want to.
If someone always has a reason the camera won't work, or the person on screen doesn't match their photos, stop there and report the profile. Our guide to romance scams explains why scammers avoid video calls.
Using the badge when you browse
- Look for it, and give a little extra trust where you see it.
- Don't rely on it alone. Have a video call before you meet, whatever the badge says.
- Don't treat its absence as proof of anything. Many genuine members simply haven't done it.
- Report anything odd, such as a profile whose photos don't match the person on a video call.
Where to go next
Our guide to romance scams explains the warning signs that matter more than any badge. Dating safely over 50 covers meeting in person and where to report problems in the UK and Ireland. For how everything else on the site works, see how it works, and if you're new to all of this, online dating for the first time goes step by step.
Questions people ask
Does every member have the badge?
No. It's optional for most members, so many genuine people won't have one, especially if they're new. Some members are asked to do the check, for example when they sign up through a VPN or their account is flagged. A missing badge isn't a warning sign on its own, but it's a fair reason to ask for a video call before meeting.
Does a badge mean someone is safe to meet?
No. It means their face matched a photo ID when they did the check. It says nothing about their intentions, and it doesn't check their age, job, location or story. Use it as one helpful sign, alongside a video call, a public first meeting and the rule never to send money to anyone you meet online.
Do I have to pay for the badge?
The ID-checked badge is one of the optional extras in the members' area, and the price is shown there before you pay. Some members are asked to do the check as part of signing up or signing in, for example through a VPN.
Is my ID shown to other members?
No. Other members see the badge, not your document. The check itself is carried out by LEM Verify, an outside provider. The members' area privacy policy explains how information from the check is handled; read it before you start if you'd like to know more.
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