Trust & safety
How verification works
On most dating apps, a verified badge means someone paid for a subscription. On Lobola it means a person reviewed their application, confirmed their identity document against a live selfie, and checked their professional standing before the profile went live.
The four checks
01
Application review
A member of our team reads every application: your background, profession, values and what you are looking for. Incomplete or inconsistent applications are declined before they reach verification.
02
Identity document
You upload a government-issued ID — passport, national ID or driving licence. We check that the document is valid and that the name and date of birth match your application.
03
Liveness selfie
A short selfie check confirms that the person holding the document is the person applying. This is the step that stops stolen photos and impersonation.
04
Professional standing
We confirm your stated occupation, usually through a LinkedIn profile or an employer or professional-body reference. We confirm the profession you have described — your employer is never published on your profile.
What stays private
Documents are not part of your profile
ID documents and selfie checks are used for verification only. They are never shown to other members and never appear on your profile.
Your profile is not public
Photos and prompt answers are visible only to members you have been matched with. Nothing is indexed by search engines and nothing is sold.
Common questions
- How long does verification take?
- Applications are reviewed within 48 hours. Once you have uploaded your document and completed the selfie check, verification is usually finished within a further working day.
- Do I have to link LinkedIn?
- No. A LinkedIn profile is the fastest route to confirming professional standing, but it is optional — you can provide an employer or professional-body reference instead.
- What does the gold badge on a profile mean?
- It means that member completed identity and professional verification. There is no way to buy the badge, and unverified profiles are not shown as matches.
- How does this prevent romance scams?
- Scams rely on unverifiable identities and borrowed photos. Requiring a valid document, a live selfie that matches it, and a confirmable professional history removes the anonymity those schemes depend on.
- Can I delete my data?
- Yes. You can ask us to delete your account and the documents supplied for verification at any time.
Based in Britain? Read our guide for Zimbabwean singles in the UK.