How to ask someone to verify before you meet
Asking someone to prove they’re real can feel awkward. It doesn’t have to be. People who are who they say they are rarely mind showing it, especially when you go first.
Below are messages you can copy for a date, a marketplace deal, or a professional meetup, and what to do if the other person says no.
Updated November 3, 2026
Go first
The easiest way to ask is to offer the same thing. Send your own Scoop, then ask for theirs. A request becomes a trade, and you’re not asking for anything you won’t give.
A Scoop profile is a free verification link. It shows which accounts you’ve proved are yours and your Trust Score, and it opens in any browser, so the other person doesn’t need an app to look at it.
Keep the ask short
One or two lines is plenty. A few things make it land better:
- Ask before you settle on a time and place, not when you’re already on the way.
- Give a reason in a few words. “I do this with everyone” takes the edge off.
- Don’t explain the app at length. The link explains itself.
- Offer another option, like a short video call, so it doesn’t feel like a test.
Messages you can copy
Each one explains what a Scoop profile is the first time it comes up, because the other person may never have heard of it. Swap in your own link and details.
Looking forward to Saturday! One thing I do before meeting anyone from an app: here’s my Scoop profile. It’s a free link that shows my verified accounts, and it opens in any browser, no app needed. [your link] Mind sending yours? If you don’t have one, a quick video call works too.
Hi, I’m interested in the bike. Before we pick a time, here’s my Scoop profile so you know I’m a real buyer. It’s a free verification link that opens in any browser, no app needed: [your link] Could you send your Scoop too? Then let’s meet somewhere public.
Happy to hold it for you. Before we set a meetup spot, could you send me a Scoop profile? It’s a free link that shows your verified accounts and opens in any browser, no app needed. Here’s mine so you can see what it looks like: [your link]
Thanks for reaching out. Before we meet, here’s my Scoop profile, a free verification link that shows the accounts I’ve verified. It opens in any browser, no app needed: [your link] If you have a Scoop, I’d appreciate yours too. Otherwise a short video call beforehand works for me.
If they say no
A no isn’t proof that someone is fake. Some people are private, and some don’t want another app. What matters is whether they’re willing to show they’re real some other way.
- Offer a short video call before you meet.
- Ask them to message you from an account you can see is established and active.
- If you still meet, pick somewhere public, tell a friend where you’ll be, and get there and back on your own.
- If they push back on every option, get angry about being asked, or bring up money, take that as your answer.
Send this guide to them
If the other person hasn’t heard of Scoop, send them this page. It explains what you’re asking for and why, so you don’t have to.
What a Scoop shows
When someone sends you their Scoop, you can see:
- Which accounts they’ve proved they control by signing in to them.
- Their Trust Score, if they’ve chosen to make it public.
- Scoops written about them by people they’re connected to, if there are any.
What it doesn’t show
A Scoop does not confirm a legal identity, run a background check, or tell you someone is safe to meet. It gives you real signals to weigh, so keep using your own judgment.