Met someone online from Accrington....

silver14 · 17-07-2006, 04:03

I have met someone online who says he lives in Accrington. I have asked him to verify his identity but he says I should trust him. I don't think it is an unreasonable request on my part. I am in the US. I do have photo's but I don't want to post them on here. How do I verify his identity? Any suggestions? Thanks.

lettie · 17-07-2006, 08:34

Hmmm, this is a difficult one as it is hard to trust someone that you have never met. Has he verified your identitiy? If he has, how did he do it?

If he is an Accrington resident he may be on the electoral roll, which I think you can check online. Posting photos may not be helpful as none of us may recognise him and many of our members live abroad or in other areas of the country. Accrington is a large town so it is not possible to know everybody. Good luck with your verification but I wouldn't trust him. If he was a genuine friend/suitor, he would be happy for you to verify his identity. If he is not happy for you to do this then I would drop him like a hot brick..

Len · 17-07-2006, 09:48

You could always ask him for his address and send him a letter/ postcard and ask him to send you a letter back to the address that you put in your letter. You’ll soon know if it’s a fake address or not.

Just a thought but don't trust.

KIPAX · 17-07-2006, 09:57

Lens last point is all that counts.... Dont trust.. Harsh but 100% best advice. Don't trut photographs or any information.. always verify. The internet is a breeding ground for con artists..

It's also possible to meet genuine people ... But the con artists far outnumber the genuine so you have to be wary...

Madhatter · 17-07-2006, 11:35

No it's not unreasonable. From my experience of online friendships and a relationship with someone I met online I can say that the above is true. while you need to trust to make whatever you want this to be work, you should always be very cautious as the majority aren't genuine. I'm not sure what they get out it but thats how it is. Even the above doesn't prove he's where he is, which is why you have to trust to a certain extent. I checked the ex on the electoral roll because she said her 'ex' no longer lived there, turned out he was on the ellectoral roll at her address. she came up with a plausable but unlikely excuse, but there was dozens and dozens of plausable but unlikely excuses. Reasons for not ringing, reasons I couldn't see her when I was up accrington, Reasons I couldn't go upstairs. hmmmm anyway
You should as len says and ask his address, then verify it by sending a letter, a land line number to. I'm not sure if you can check electoral records on line but if you can you have to pay.
if you asked on here maybe someone could check at the library for you.

silver14 · 17-07-2006, 11:38

Thanks everybody. I am being really cautious with this. Thank you.

Len · 17-07-2006, 11:41

Anyway, you dont need to go far as there are some very nice people on here and you can trust, in a fasion that is.

silver14 · 17-07-2006, 11:46

Is it true that the UK does not have picture ID's? In the US we have to show one all the time.

Len · 17-07-2006, 11:49

At the moment we only have driving licences with a photo id.

silver14 · 17-07-2006, 11:58

Ok, Thanks LEN. I appreciate all your advise. I had a feeling that this would not go anywhere. Just thought I'd play it out until he says or does something. I will ask for his address though and see where that leads me. Thanks again.

KIPAX · 17-07-2006, 11:59

Not everyone has a driving licence or even a picture one for those that have.. The goverment keep saying they will introduce pic ID but it gets voted against..

Slightly different but still on subject......
IDs arn't all there cracked up to be.. If someone from the gas board or police or anywhere else came to your home and showed you ID (complete with picture etc).. how would you know it was real and not made on his computer? Telling people to check for some sort of ID is no longer a good detterent to con men in this day and age..

Cynical I know.... but..

silver14 · 17-07-2006, 12:03

Kipax, I love your point of views and thanks.

katex · 17-07-2006, 12:04

Listen Silver honey, quite simple, tell him to prove who he is and where he lives or else no more chatty, chatty. Not that difficult.

Once he has ... we will give him the run-down for you ..

Len · 17-07-2006, 12:07

Keep us informed on how you get on with this. We’re a little nosy and it would be interesting to see what happens. It could prove useful to others that maybe in the same predicament.