Secure online dating support system and method

Abstract

A secure online dating support system and method requires potential members to submit personal information regarding themselves as a predicate to becoming a member of the dating system. This personal information is provided in a manner, either in-person at an information receiving center, or submitted to an information collector, or submitted directly to an online dating service, that permits its verification. Preferably, authorization is also provided by the potential member for further investigation, resulting in an investigator conducting an investigation, and communicating the results to the online dating service, so that the information revealed by the investigation can be displayed to members of the online dating service and/or to individuals outside of the dating service who have been given access by the participating member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of confirming the identity of a target person comprising:
 a first person browsing a social networking internet site;   the first person identifying a target person on the social networking site;   displaying to the first person an access code associated with information regarding the target person on a client computer used by the first person browsing a social networking internet site;   transmitting the access code to an identity certification server;   receiving a certification including a statement that the identify of the target person has been verified with government-issued documents;   displaying the certification on the client computer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  additionally comprising receiving additional personal information about the target person. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising restricting access to the certified information to one or more persons that the target person allows to access the information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein restricting access to the certified information comprises allowing access to a person that enters an access control code associated with the verified information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  additionally comprising verifying the identity of the target person with government-issued documents. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein verifying comprises comparing the appearance of the target person with a government-issued photo identification. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein verifying comprises having an entity independent of the first person conduct an investigation of the information. 
     
     
         8 . A method of confirming the identity of a target person comprising:
 displaying an access code associated with information regarding a target person on a client computer used by a first person browsing a social networking internet site;   transmitting the access code to an identity certification server;   receiving a certification including a statement that the identify of the target person has been verified with government-issued documents;   displaying the certification on the client computer.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  additionally comprising receiving additional personal information about the target person. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising restricting access to the certified information to one or more persons that the target person allows to access the information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein restricting access to the certified information comprises allowing access to a person that enters an access control code associated with the verified information. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  additionally comprising verifying the identity of the target person with government-issued documents. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein verifying comprises comparing the appearance of the target person with a government-issued photo identification. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein verifying comprises having an entity independent of the first person conduct an investigation of the information. 
     
     
         15 . An online dating support system comprising, in combination: an online dating service; at least one potential member in communication with said online dating service; at least one member in communication with said online dating service; a personal information and authorization receiving center in communication with said online dating service; and an investigator in communication with said online dating service. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said personal information and authorization receiving center has means for obtaining a digital photograph of said potential member. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said personal information and authorization receiving center has means for scanning an image of at least one document provided by said potential member. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  comprising a plurality of said members and wherein said plurality of members are organized into at least two levels of membership. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said at least two levels of membership are differentiated based on the level of disclosure required from said plurality of members. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said at least two levels of members are differentiated based on the frequency of disclosure required from said plurality of members.