LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11)- Finding Mr. or Ms. Right has taken on a new identity in the 21st century.
Forget blind dates, church groups or the bar scene. Many people are turning toward internet dating to meet the love of their life.
This new and often times impersonal way of meeting people has also brought on the need for in-depth security checks.
Are those you meet online who they say they are?
It is no secret that technology has changed the way we live.
E-mail has replaced the written letter, texting is taking over the phone call and websites like eHarmony and Match.com are the new way for people to date.
Shepherdsville Residents Jeremy and Heather Woosley met online through the website Louisville Mojo.
"From there on, we started talking on the phone and went to a restaurant, a safe location because you never know who you're going to meet. From there on, we went to dinner and actually hit it off really good," said Jermey Woosley.
The couple eventually got married and is expecting a baby.
However, both Jeremy and Heather say not everyone is as lucky.
The market research firm IBIS World reports 20 million Americans use dating sites. That is double the number five years ago.
One statistic that is not kept is how much violence has come from online dating, and the horror stories are there.
Andrew Scott, one of the founders of a background checking website, My Match Checker, shared one of those experiences.
"One individual got picked up by an online dater. The police stopped the car several hours into the date, and it turned out to be a stolen car. That was the importance for MyMatchChecker.com," said Scott
Through the website, you can purchase background checks on prospective dates by searching national and state criminal history databases, sex offender registries and even terrorist watch lists.
"We refer to it as my Match Check Certified. It's usually geared to men who want to be able to demonstrate to their respective female dates that they've been cleared and have no background history," said Scott.
There are still questions about whether these sites really work. Incomplete county and state databases might not alert users.
"They're never 100 percent accurate, but the searches we do are very accurate and we will verify those criminal history hits if they indeed they are shown on the record," said Scott.
Back at the Woosley's, they say their love is as strong as ever. Online dating worked for them, and they say if you are smart and safe, it can work for you too.
States like New York and New Jersey have begun regulating internet dating sites. There is currently no such legislation in Kentucky or Indiana.
Other background checking websites:
Intelius
Date Detectives
DateSmart
