CMB Is First Dating App to Require Both ID and Marital Status Checks

Identity verification isn’t a trend in the dating industry — it’s the new normal. This month in Singapore, Coffee Meets Bagel makes history as the world’s first dating app to verify both the user’s identity and their marital status. 

During the one-time verification process, the dating app confirms everything from age and gender to marital status by gaining access to a user’s National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) or their Foreign Identification Number, usually via SingPass and MyInfo.  

Jason Teo, Head of Product at Coffee Meets Bagel in Singapore, described the mandatory verification process as “so obvious, I couldn’t ship it fast enough.” 

So far, his hunch rings true: More than 70% of users have embraced the new verification process, according to Teo.

And according to CMB Head of Trust and Safety Rachel Tee, ID verification is a long time coming. 

A Majority of CMB Users Wanted Stronger ID Verification 

More CMB users in Singapore have encountered fraudsters than we like to think. 

CMB found that 3 in 4 users have come across scammer behavior, including fake profiles and catfish. Four in 5 daters told CMB that safety on most dating apps leaves a lot to be desired. 

The polls were clear: 81% of users wanted CMB to develop a stronger ID verification process that could crack down on fake profiles and scams. And 65% wanted CMB to confirm a user’s marital status. 

CMB also asked online daters why they value ID verification. Sixty-four percent of surveyed daters said that seeing a ‘verified’ badge may discourage scammers and fake profiles. And nearly 55% of respondents said that a ‘verified’ badge “helps to create accountability via government verification.”  

In a CMB first, verified accounts will be able to filter profiles according to verification status. Non-verified profiles may be at a disadvantage as a result. 

CMB Has a Vested Interest in User Safety

For those concerned about a dating app accessing their government records, Tee told The Straits Times how CMB’s security measures, including Amazon Web Services, can encrypt precious user information. 

“We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill legitimate business purposes and to comply with applicable legal obligations,” she said. 

And the consumer isn’t the only one who benefits from tighter security measures. 

“By offering government-backed verification, we are able to significantly reduce the number of scam profiles that require manual moderation,” Tee explained. 

In other words, when apps invest in user safety, they are more prepared to tackle additional common online dating issues, such as harassment and misconduct.

When bad actors are inevitably sussed out by the ID verification process, CMB will work with Singaporean police to make sure the individuals are apprehended. 

81.7% Want To Know People’s Actual Marital Status 

What makes CMB’s verification process particularly unique is its dedication to confirming marital status. 

Tee acknowledged that marital status can be a “deeply personal and sometimes complicated” matter, and that 81.7% of survey respondents prefer connecting with someone whose marital status has been verified. 

“I hope we’re just the first, not the only,” Teo wrote on LinkedIn. “Because while I’d love for CMB to lead the way, I’m also Singaporean — and no matter which dating app we use, I hope we all date safely.” 

Once again, Teo’s hunch was right on the money. 

With more dating apps around the world adopting ID verification tools, people are starting to expect the kind of security and peace of mind such services provide. We’re halfway through 2025, and already, app giants like Tinder, Bumble, and Grindr have made some sort of ID verification mandatory to users.