The new world of online dating brings new risks to the world of romance. Dating background checks can give daters the tools they need to make informed decisions in matters of the heart.

Internet dating is very convenient and offers people anonymity and a feeling of comfort. Unfortunately, it is very easy to misrepresent one's identity online. Users of online dating services can use false names and false identities, and can also misrepresent information to give potential dates a very skewed picture of themselves. Online dates can literally be anyone - anyone from a nice person to a criminal with a very violent past.

In 2005 the state of Michigan proposed a new bill that would require Internet dating companies to conduct background checks on users. These online dating services would state whether they have conducted criminal background checks on specific users, and other users of the site could use this information when deciding which people to meet in person.

The legislation raises an interesting question: what do background checks on dates offer and how reliable are they?

What are the potential problems?

Someone who uses a false name online may be difficult to track. A smart criminal who is using a false identity may be able to outsmart standard background checks that online services might provide. Plus, not all investigators are equally thorough when running checks. There are also some legal requirements which make some people avoid asking some tough questions.

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