You have found a companion who piques your intellectual and physical interest as you explore our elite listings. You send a polite inquiry, and the response is swift: "Please provide a photo of your ID and a LinkedIn profile." For the privacy-conscious gentleman, this can trigger alarm bells. However, in the upper echelons of the lifestyle, this "screening" is not an accusation; it is a necessity. Understanding the why and the how turns a potential friction point into a demonstration of your savvy.
Why The Ask?
High-profile providers face two primary threats: law enforcement stings and violent offenders. Screening is their firewall. By verifying your identity against public records or LinkedIn, they ensure you are a civilian with a reputation to lose—just like them. It is a mutually assured destruction pact that actually creates safety.
If a provider does not screen you, you should ask yourself why. A lack of screening often indicates a lack of professionalism or desperation, neither of which leads to a quality experience.
The Art of Redaction
Compliance does not mean capitulation. You can satisfy her safety requirements while protecting your sensitive data. When sending a photo of your driver's license or passport:
- Cover the Vital Numbers: Obscure the license number or passport ID number.
- Hide the Address: If you are uncomfortable sharing your home address, cover it.
- Leave the Name and Photo: These are the non-negotiables. She needs to match the face to the name, and the name to the background check.
Pro Tip: digitally watermark your image. Use a simple photo editor to write "For Verification With [Provider Name] Only - [Date]" across the image in semi-transparent text. This prevents your ID from being reused by scammers if the image is ever intercepted.
LinkedIn and Social Proof
Often, a LinkedIn profile is preferred over an ID because it establishes social standing. It proves you are a real person with a career. If you share this, know that discretion is the provider's currency. They have no interest in your network; they only want to know you exist within it.
