How to Check Documents from Potential Scammers

In the context of HuntScammers, document verification means visually and logically checking the documents a person sends you – not hacking any system or accessing private government databases. You are simply asking:

• Does this document look like a real one from that country or company?
• Do the details match what this person has told me in chat and profiles?
• Is anything obviously edited, reused, or suspicious – like many cases we see when hunting scammers on the platform?

Scammers may use any document that sounds “official” to build trust or justify payment. Many male scammers and female scammers repeat the same patterns with slightly changed details.

• Identity documents: passport photos, ID cards, driver’s licenses.
• Company documents: business registration certificates, tax documents, licenses.
• Contracts or offers: job offer letters, investment agreements, partnership contracts.
• Payment proofs: fake bank transfers, PayPal screens, crypto “screenshots”.
• Delivery & customs papers: courier invoices, customs release forms for parcels.

A document can look official and still be completely fake. That is why you must check the content carefully instead of trusting the design alone.

When you receive any document from a stranger – especially during a background check for possible scammers – take a few minutes to look for obvious signs of manipulation:

• Blurry text or different fonts: some parts are sharp, others look stretched or blurred.
• Misaligned fields: name, photo or numbers are not aligned with the rest of the template.
• Copy–paste marks: strange boxes around the photo or text, different background color under some fields.
• Unusual language: grammar mistakes, strange phrases or overly generic wording for an “official” letter.
• Wrong logos or seals: outdated logos, low-quality images of stamps, or wrong spelling in seals.
• Dates & numbers: impossible dates, inconsistent formats, or reference numbers that don’t follow any pattern.

If anything looks like it was edited in a simple photo editor, treat the document as unreliable and review the case as a likely scam attempt that should be reported on HuntScammers.

A real document should be consistent with what the person has told you before. Ask:

• Does the name match the name they use in chat and on their profiles?
• Is the country, city or address the same as the one they claimed?
• Does the job title or company match their LinkedIn or other social accounts?
• Are ages, dates of birth and timelines realistic?
• Does the reason for sending the document make sense, or is it just to pressure you?

If the document contradicts their earlier story, that is a strong red flag and you should pause all payments or sharing of your own information – a common pattern when hunting scammers who reuse stolen identities.

If they send documents related to a company, project, or website:

• Search the company name online together with words like “review”, “scam” or “fraud”.
• Visit the official website by typing the address yourself, not just clicking their link.
• Compare the logo, address, and contact details on the document with the ones on the official site.
• Check if the company is listed in public business registries in that country (where available).
• Be cautious if the document uses a big brand name but the email is from a free service (e.g. Gmail, Yahoo) instead of an official domain.

A scammer might copy a real company’s logo and name but use a different, personal contact email or fake website to collect money – a trick often reported by users on HuntScammers.

Scammers frequently send fake screenshots to prove that they “already sent you money” or that a “fee” must be paid before release:

• Look for edited areas: sharp borders, different color zones, or misaligned text.
• Compare the style of the screenshot with the real app or website you know.
• Check if the time, currency, and amounts are realistic.
• Never trust a screenshot alone as proof that money has really arrived.

Always verify payments directly in your own bank app, PayPal, or crypto wallet – not through images someone sends you, even if they claim they are a victim or a romantic partner. Many male scammers and female scammers use emotional stories plus fake receipts.

Sometimes you may need to send your own documents for legitimate reasons, but scammers often ask for far too much. Protect yourself by:

• Never sending full ID documents to strangers you only know online.
• Blurring or covering critical details (full ID numbers, card numbers, signatures) if you must send any image.
• Refusing to send selfies holding your ID for someone you have never met in person.
• Stopping immediately if someone pressures you with “urgent” demands for documents.

A trustworthy employer, bank, or platform will have clear, official procedures and never ask you to send sensitive documents through random messaging apps – a request that should always make you think of hunting scammers, not real businesses.

Even if a document looks professional, you are allowed to say: “I am not comfortable trusting this. I will not send money or more information.”

• Do not argue with the scammer about why the document looks fake – simply step away.
• Block and stop communication if they become aggressive, emotional, or pushy.
• Keep copies of the documents and chats as evidence for your own records.

Many reports on HuntScammers start with one document that “didn’t feel right”. Trust that feeling – it is a vital tool when you are hunting scammers.