Verification Center
Verification raises the effort required to run a fake profile. That is genuinely useful, and it is worth doing.
It is not proof that someone is honest, safe, single, solvent or serious. No check anywhere can establish those things, and a badge that gets mistaken for a character reference is more dangerous than no badge at all.
This page explains exactly what each level checks, what it does not, and what happens to the information you provide.
The one thing to take from this page
Verification confirms only the checks stated. It does not guarantee a member's intentions, behaviour, financial status, safety or willingness to meet.
Fraudsters complete verification. It is a routine cost of doing business for them, and a verified profile is more valuable to them precisely because members trust it more.
If a verified member asks you for money, they are defrauding you, exactly as an unverified one would be. The badge changes nothing about that rule.
The verification levels
Email confirmation
What it checks: that someone received a code at the email address on the account and entered it back.
What it proves: the address exists and the account holder could open it at that moment.
What it does not prove: who the person is, their age, their location, or anything about their intentions. Email addresses take seconds to create and cost nothing.
Why it exists: it makes account recovery possible, reduces abandoned sign-ups, and gives us a route to reach you about security. It is required for a fully active account.
Effort: under a minute.
Phone confirmation
What it checks: that someone received a code by SMS at the number on the account and entered it back.
What it proves: control of that number at that moment. Slightly harder to fake at volume than email, because numbers cost money and are easier to trace.
What it does not prove: identity, age, or that the number belongs to the person using it. Numbers can be bought, borrowed and rented in bulk.
Why it exists: it raises the cost of running many accounts, which is what most organised fraud depends on.
Availability: varies by country, since SMS delivery depends on local networks and regulation. [SMS PROVIDER TO BE CONFIRMED]
Effort: a minute or two.
Photo verification
What it checks: that the person holding the device now is the same person in the profile photographs. You are asked to take a photo in a specific pose at the moment of the check, which cannot be satisfied with a saved image.
What it proves: the profile photographs are of the account holder. This is the level that most directly addresses stolen photographs, which is the single most common form of fake profile.
What it does not prove: their name, age, location, relationship status, occupation, finances or intentions. It confirms the face matches. Nothing beyond that.
Why it matters: it is the check with the best ratio of usefulness to intrusion. It defeats the most common fraud pattern without requiring identity documents.
Effort: two to three minutes, and a working camera.
Age verification
What it checks: that the account holder is 18 or over, using the method available in your country.
What it proves: that the person met the age threshold on the evidence provided.
What it does not prove: anything else about them.
Why it exists: MingleExtra is for adults only, and that is a rule with no flexibility in it. Age verification may be required in some countries by law, and may be requested where an account has been reported.
Availability: methods vary by country because the legal requirements do. [AGE VERIFICATION METHOD BY COUNTRY REQUIRED]
Identity verification
What it checks: a government issued identity document, matched against a photo taken at the time of the check.
What it proves: that a document was presented which appeared genuine, and that the person presenting it appeared to match it.
What it does not prove: honesty, safety, relationship status, criminal history, financial circumstances or intentions. It is the strongest check available and it still does not tell you whether someone is a good person.
Why it is optional: identity documents are sensitive, some members have good reasons not to submit one, and requiring it would exclude people who are using the platform entirely legitimately.
Why you might do it anyway: it carries the most weight with other members, particularly in global search where nobody can rely on local context.
Availability: varies by country. Some jurisdictions restrict how identity documents may be processed, and where we cannot do it lawfully we do not offer it. [IDENTITY VERIFICATION AVAILABILITY BY COUNTRY REQUIRED]
What the badges mean
| Badge | Confirms | Does not confirm |
|---|---|---|
| An address was reachable | Anything about the person | |
| Phone | A number was reachable | Identity, age or location |
| Photo | The profile photos are of the account holder | Name, age, intentions |
| Age | The account holder is 18 or over | Anything else |
| Identity | A document was presented and appeared to match | Honesty, safety, finances, intentions |
A profile may carry several badges. More badges mean more effort was required to create the account. They do not mean more trustworthy as a person.
What verification cannot do, stated fully
This section exists because the gap between what people assume and what is true is where the harm happens.
Verification cannot tell you someone is honest. Nothing checks intent.
Verification cannot tell you someone is single. No document records a relationship.
Verification cannot tell you someone is safe to meet. It is not a background check and does not search criminal records.
Verification cannot tell you someone has money, or does not. Financial circumstances are not checked at any level.
Verification cannot tell you someone will not defraud you. People who defraud others complete verification routinely, because it works on their targets.
Verification cannot tell you the photographs are recent. Photo verification confirms the face matches. It does not date the images.
Verification cannot tell you someone is where they say they are. Location is self reported and distance is deliberately approximate.
Verification does not survive the account changing hands. If an account is sold, stolen or shared, the badge remains while the person behind it has changed. This is one reason to be cautious when someone's tone or story shifts suddenly.
Your data, and what happens to it
Verification requires information that is more sensitive than the rest of your profile, so this is set out plainly.
What is collected: depends on the level. An email address, a phone number, a photograph taken at the time of the check, or an identity document and a photograph.
Who can see it: verification material is not shown on your profile and is not visible to other members. Other members see only the badge, never the underlying document or photograph.
Where it is stored: identity documents and verification photographs are held outside the public parts of the platform and are not reachable by a direct link. They are accessible only to authorised staff carrying out a review, and access is logged.
How long it is kept: retained only as long as needed to complete the check, to handle an appeal, and to meet any legal obligation that applies. Retention periods are set out in the Data Retention Summary. [RETENTION PERIODS REQUIRED FOR LEGAL REVIEW]
Facial data: photo and identity verification involve processing an image of your face. In several jurisdictions this is a special category of personal data with additional legal requirements. The Verification and Facial Data Notice covers this, and it is a document that must be reviewed by a lawyer in each country where the check is offered before it is used there.
What we never do: sell verification data, use it for advertising, publish it, or share it with other members. It is disclosed to law enforcement only where there is a lawful requirement to do so.
Deletion: you may request deletion of verification material. Doing so may remove the badge, because the badge exists on the basis of the check. See the Data Deletion Policy.
If verification fails
Failing does not mean you have done anything wrong. Most failures are practical.
Common causes:
- The photograph was blurred, dark, or the face was partly covered
- The document was cropped, glared, or edges were cut off
- The name on the document did not match the account
- The date of birth did not match the account
- The document was expired
- The pose requested was not matched closely enough
- The camera or connection failed mid check
What to do: correct the obvious cause and try again. Good even light, no hat or sunglasses, the whole document flat and in frame, and details on the account matching the document exactly.
If it keeps failing: submit an appeal rather than repeating the attempt. Repeated failed attempts may temporarily restrict further ones, which exists to stop automated abuse rather than to penalise you.
Appeals
If you believe a verification decision was wrong, you can appeal.
How: use the verification support route in Contact and Support. Include your account details, which check failed, and anything that explains the discrepancy, for example a legal name change.
What happens: the appeal is reviewed by a person, and wherever practical by someone other than whoever made the original decision.
How long: we do not publish a response time until we can meet one consistently. [SUPPORT RESPONSE TIME: DO NOT PUBLISH UNTIL MEASURED]
Possible outcomes: the badge is granted, more information is requested, or the decision stands with a reason given where we can do so without revealing how detection works.
When a badge is removed
A badge can be removed if the account changes in a way that makes the check no longer valid, if the photographs on the profile change substantially, if the account is reported and review raises concerns, if verification material is deleted at your request, or if the check is found to have been passed dishonestly.
Removal is not a penalty in itself. You can usually verify again.
Should you verify?
Reasons to: some members filter toward verified profiles, so it may increase who sees you. It signals effort. In global search, where nobody can rely on local knowledge, it carries more weight than it does locally.
Reasons you might not: verification is optional at every level beyond email. Some members have sound reasons for not submitting identity documents, including professional exposure, safety concerns, or simply not wanting to. Choosing not to verify is not suspicious, and treating unverified members as though it is would be unfair to a large number of entirely genuine people.
What it will not do: make people interested in you. It removes one reason for hesitation. It does not create attraction, and no feature does.
Frequently asked questions
Is verification required?
Email confirmation is required for a fully active account. Everything beyond that is optional, unless local law requires age verification in your country.
Does verification cost money?
No. MingleExtra never charges for verification. Anyone asking you to pay a verification fee is defrauding you, and they are not us.
Can other members see my identity document?
No. Members see only the badge. The document is never displayed and is not reachable by a direct link.
Does a verified badge mean someone is safe to meet?
No. It confirms the check named on it and nothing more. Apply the same caution you would to any member, particularly about money.
Someone verified asked me for money. Should I trust them?
No. Do not send it. Report them. Fraudsters verify precisely because it makes people lower their guard.
How long does verification take?
Email and phone are usually immediate. Photo and identity checks may require review. We do not publish a time until we can meet one consistently.
Can I remove my verification later?
Yes. You can request deletion of verification material, which will usually remove the badge.
Why is a level not available to me?
Availability varies by country because identity checks are governed by local law. Where we cannot carry out a check lawfully, we do not offer it.
My legal name changed. What do I do?
Appeal, and explain. This is a common and straightforward case.
Do I have to use my real name on my profile?
Your profile name and your legal name are separate. Verification checks the document against you, not against your display name.
What if I do not have a government identity document?
You can still use MingleExtra. Identity verification is optional, and other levels remain available to you.
Does verifying stop me being reported?
No. Verified accounts can be reported, reviewed and removed like any other. A badge is not immunity.
Call to action
Heading: Verify what you are comfortable verifying
Email takes under a minute. Photo verification takes a few more and does the most to show your profile is genuinely yours.
Buttons: Start Verification ยท Read the Safety Center
Related pages
Disclaimer
Verification confirms only the specific checks stated at the time they were carried out. It does not confirm a member's intentions, honesty, character, relationship status, financial circumstances, criminal history or safety. Verification is not a background check. MingleExtra never charges a fee for verification and never asks for payment through another member. Availability of each verification level varies by country and is subject to local law. Processing of facial data is subject to additional legal requirements in some jurisdictions and is covered by the Verification and Facial Data Notice. MingleExtra is operated by NEX MINGLE HOLDINGS LLC and is for adults aged 18 and over.
