Garbo

""Garbo is a background check and public record verification platform founded to democratize access to safety information, enabling dating app users to search public arrest, conviction, and sex offender registry records on potential dates using minimal information (typically first name, phone number, age). Launched as a public service in March 2022, Garbo achieved first-mover status by integrating with Tinder through Match Group, offering complimentary background checks to Match Group's free and premium subscribers while charging $3.25 per search for public users.

The platform's core differentiation is its accessibility and speed; searches typically complete within two minutes using limited personal information, addressing a key user pain point in dating safety where individuals lack reliable information about people they meet through apps. Garbo's integration with Tinder represented an industry-first partnership bringing background check capability directly into a dating app's Safety Center, with users able to search dates before initiating in-app communication.

The company expanded integration to Match.com and Stir (Match Group's single-parent dating service) in 2022, though coverage remained limited to the United States and public records availability. However, in August 2023, Garbo announced the end of its formal partnership with Match Group and began winding down its consumer background check service, signaling challenges in the business model including potential legal liability, data privacy concerns, and difficulties sustaining public record search accuracy across diverse U.S. jurisdictions. Garbo's rise and retrenchment illustrates the complex regulatory and reputational landscape around background screening in dating, where user demand for safety information conflicts with concerns about discrimination and data misuse.""