DateableWhat to say when a match asks for a photo of your ID
Say no. ID photos are a listed scam warning sign. Dateable's verification shows you match your profile photos instead.
If a match asks for a photo of your licence, passport or any ID document, say no. Requests for ID photos are a listed warning sign of relationship scams, and there is no legitimate reason a potential date needs them before you have met.
Why they ask
A stranger who has your ID photo has your full name, date of birth, address and often your signature. They can use those details to open accounts, apply for credit, file false claims or assume your identity. A criminal with your driver's licence can log into your bank account using your name and date of birth, then use a password reset to take control. They can open credit cards, get a loan, or set up fraudulent accounts in your name. If the scammer takes photos of your documents and sells them on dark web marketplaces, multiple criminals have the keys to your life.
The damage starts small. Fraudsters might create a second account with your details to hide money from law enforcement. They might apply for a phone contract in your name, receive the phone, then default on the bill. After a while your credit score is ruined. Banks reject you. You cannot get a mortgage. It can take years to prove the fraud and restore your identity.
Scammers ask for ID because it is valuable. Some use it to commit fraud or identity theft. Others use it for more immediate purposes: proving they are real by holding it in a video, or building trust before they ask for money or ask you to help move funds. Requests for ID documents are a recognised warning sign of romance scams. 1
What to say instead
You do not need to justify why you are declining. A short, clear no works:
I don't share ID photos with anyone I haven't met. If you'd like to know more about me, we can video chat or meet up.
If they push, the script is the same. Do not negotiate or explain further. Someone who will not accept no is someone you do not want to meet.
I'm not sending that. Let's move on or call it here.
What Dateable's verification does instead
Verification is how Dateable confirms you are real. A member does a live selfie, and a human reviewer compares it to the profile photos they chose. If they match, the member is verified. That is all verification does: it shows you look like your photos. It does not check your identity, name, income or the truth of any documents.
Because verification happens on Dateable with a reviewer, not with a stranger online, your personal information stays safe. You do not hand over documents to someone you just met. If you are verified, your potential date can see it on your profile, and they have confidence that you are real.
If you already sent it
If you have already sent an ID photo to a match and now you are worried, call IDCARE on 1800 595 160. 2 They are a free identity theft and cyber support service for Australians affected by scams. They can tell you what steps to take next: freezing credit, disputing false accounts, or reporting to police if you need to. The earlier you act, the more damage you can stop.
Do not wait to see if anything happens. Do not assume the person will not use your details. Contact IDCARE now, not after you find a fraudulent account in your name. They can help you place a freeze on your credit file, which stops anyone from opening new accounts or getting credit using your details. They can also help you report the fraud to Scamwatch and police, and guide you through disputing any false accounts if they do appear later.
Spotting the pattern
An ID request often comes with other warning signs. The person says they love you fast. They find reasons not to meet or video chat. They ask for money. They want you to move to WhatsApp or another private app. They ask for intimate photos. Any one of these is a sign to stop talking. All together, you are talking to a scammer.
Report the profile to Dateable. If you have been talking to them, keep records: screenshots of messages, their profile name, and the date you started chatting. If they scammed you or asked you to break the law, report them to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. If it was serious, report to police.
You are allowed to say no
People online sometimes ask for things that sound reasonable but are not. Your ID is yours. Your photos are yours. Your money is yours. A person who wants any of those before they have earned your trust is not worth your time. Verified members on Dateable have already shown they are real. You can talk to them without handing over documents, and if something goes wrong, you can report it and Dateable will help.
See the full list of scam warning signs and what to do about them at Dateable's scams guide.
Sources
- Scamwatch (ACCC) (2026). Relationship scams.
- IDCARE (2026). IDCARE.
