To an extent. Most times, it isn’t necessary to look them up. In this case, the person used a full email box, and I wanted to see if I could get them word about it. Our app is about helping folks, suffering challenges. If they are legit, then we could probably be a big help.
We Serve a small, specific demographic, and privacy is pretty important. I’d much rather not do that kind of thing. I just want to avoid admitting obvious bad actors.
We get a lot of scammers that try to sign up. We have probably let in a ringer or two, but they won’t find the app especially fruitful. It’s pretty locked-down. Facebook would be a much better hunting ground.
Also, said demographic is exactly the type that might get hit pieces posted, so it is actually an argument in favor of them being the “real deal.”
They find social media posts, videos, photos, discussion comments, etc.
With deepfakes, this is gonna get much worse.
Just today, I was checking on a signup request for our app, and came across a video of the person that I think was a hit piece; maybe a deepfake.
I still approved them, but the posting was clearly designed to cause them harm. I have no idea whether or not it did.