I Tried TruthFinder and Spokeo to Find Dating Profiles — Here’s What I Discovered

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My name is Newman Singer, and I live in Texas. A couple months ago, I found myself wondering about those people search websites. Specifically, I wanted to know: can they actually show you if someone has dating profiles?

Like many people, I'd heard stories about people discovering their partners on dating apps. I got curious whether services like Spokeo and Truthfinder could help answer that question. So I decided to test them myself.

Let me save you some time if you're wondering the same thing. Here's the short answer: These websites don't have special access to dating site databases. They collect information from public sources. But yes, they can sometimes show dating profiles - but only if that information is available elsewhere online.

Here's what actually happens.

How These Sites Really Work

Spokeo and Truthfinder gather data from public records and online sources. We're talking about social media profiles, blog posts, public directories, and other places where information is publicly available.

They don't have a secret backdoor into Tinder or Bumble. They can only show dating profiles if those profiles are connected to other public information. For example, if someone shares their Tinder profile link on their public Instagram, that connection might show up.

These sites are really designed for finding old friends, checking addresses, or looking up marriage records. Dating profile discovery isn't their main purpose, but it can happen as a side effect.

My Experience with Truthfinder

I started with Truthfinder because I'd seen their ads everywhere. I used their reverse phone lookup feature. The process took about 20 minutes - much longer than I expected. They asked a lot of questions along the way.

I thought there might be a free option, but when I tried to see my report, they wanted $28.33 per month. There's no free trial either. You have to pay before you see anything.

I checked Reddit to see what others said about Truthfinder and dating profiles. The reviews were mixed. Some people found useful information, others said it was a waste of money. Most agreed that Truthfinder works better for finding basic contact information than for uncovering hidden dating profiles.

Trying Spokeo Instead

After my Truthfinder experience, I decided to try Spokeo. The process was much faster. I had results in minutes rather than 20 minutes. Better yet, they offer a 7-day trial for 95 cents. That felt much more reasonable than committing to a full monthly subscription.

I paid the 95 cents and got immediate access. The report was well-organized and easy to read. It included photos, which was surprising. And then I saw it - my Hinge dating profile was right there in the report.

At first I was confused. How did they get my Hinge information? Then I remembered - I'd shared some Hinge posts on my Facebook and Instagram accounts. Those social media profiles were public, so Spokeo picked up the connection.

What I Learned

The key thing to understand is that these sites work by connecting dots across the internet. If you keep your dating life completely separate from your other online activity, these services probably won't find your dating profiles.

But if you've ever:

• Linked your Instagram to your Tinder profile
• Shared dating app screenshots on social media
• Used the same photos on dating apps and public social media
• Connected your Spotify or other accounts to your dating profiles

Then there might be a digital trail that services like Spokeo can follow.

Note: TruthFinder doesn’t directly access dating sites; it only shows dating profiles if linked publicly through social media or other online sources.

Note: TruthFinder and Spokeo don’t directly access dating sites; they only show profiles if linked publicly through social media or other online sources.

Was It Worth It?

After my initial test, I've used Spokeo a few more times. It hasn't disappointed me yet. The reports are clear, and the information is presented in a way that's easy to understand.

Truthfinder might work for some people, but the higher price and slower process didn't work for me. Spokeo's 95-cent trial let me test the service without a big commitment.

If you're thinking about using these services to check for dating profiles, keep your expectations realistic. They can sometimes help, but they're not magic. They're only as good as the public information available online.

For me, the 95 cents I spent on Spokeo was worth it for the peace of mind. But your experience might be different depending on what you're looking for and how careful people are with their online privacy.

Remember, these tools are better for finding old friends or checking public records than for playing detective in someone's love life. But sometimes, they can surprise you.