Why You Should Video Call Before a First Date

A five-minute video call does something text can't: it confirms, quickly and almost unfakeably, that the person you've been messaging is who their profile says they are. Security research from Kaspersky found that 86% of people who use online dating apps want to talk by phone or video with a match before agreeing to meet in person — this isn't a niche precaution, it's close to the default expectation now.

Why text alone isn't enough

Photos can be old, borrowed, or outright stolen. A well-written bio says nothing about how someone actually communicates in real time. Romance scams exploit exactly this gap — the FTC's Consumer Sentinel data shows reported U.S. romance scam losses topped $1.1 billion in just the first nine months of 2025, with a median loss per victim over $2,000. Almost none of these scams survive a video call, because a real-time conversation is far harder to fake than a profile.

What a video call actually tells you

• Their photos match the person on camera — the single most effective check against catfishing
• How the conversation actually flows when it isn't edited or delayed
• Basic logistics are legitimate — they're where and who they say they are
• Whether there's any real chemistry, before you've spent an evening finding out in person

Red flags that show up on a call (or in avoiding one)

Be cautious with anyone who repeatedly delays or refuses a video call, especially after weeks of messaging — safety researchers consistently flag call avoidance as one of the clearest signs of a fake profile or scam. Other signals to watch for: a story that changes between messages and the call, a camera that conveniently "isn't working," or any request for money, gift cards, or financial information before you've even met.

Making the call itself easy

Keep the first one short and low-stakes — ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. Treat it like a quick hello rather than an interview: ask what you'd ask in a normal conversation, let there be some silence, and don't over-prepare. The goal isn't a perfect performance, it's just confirming the person on the other end is real and that talking to them feels easy.

Beyond the call: basic first-date safety

• Meet in a public place for the actual first date, even after a good call
• Tell a friend or family member where you're going and roughly when you expect to be back
• Arrange your own transportation to and from the date
• Report and block any profile that makes you uncomfortable — trust the feeling, don't wait for proof

Video calls on Delband

Matched users on Delband can video call directly inside the app. Calls connect device to device between the two of you, so you never have to share your phone number just to have that first conversation.