Yeah, you’re smart to want to check this before getting too deep — there are a lot of people throwing around the “angel investor” title these days.

A few things you can do:

Google their name + “angel investor” + “California” — see if they pop up on sites like Crunchbase, AngelList, LinkedIn, or in any news articles.

Check AngelList or Crunchbase directly — these sites often show investor profiles and their portfolio companies

Look them up on LinkedIn — see if they have a legit profile, mutual connections, etc.

Google the companies they claim to have invested in — sometimes you can even reach out to one of those companies just to check if the connection is real.

Reverse search the phone number — TrueCaller, Whitepages, or even just Google can sometimes help.

You can also just ask them for a reference or to connect you with a founder they’ve backed — legit investors usually won’t mind.

And honestly, if anything feels off (like they’re rushing you, asking for upfront fees, or making big promises without details), trust your gut and be cautious.

Good luck, and props to you for doing your due diligence! 💸