They won’t hop on calls
If you meet someone online in a way that did not require any calls, it might at first make sense that they’re nervous to actually call you. However, not wanting to call you or have their voice verified should come off as suspicious after a while. It is entirely likely they are trying not to reveal their real voice to you so that you don’t find out who they really are.
Their account is brand new
If you connected with this person over social media, check out their followers and friends. They should have an established account with at least a few followers and friends. They should have posts dating back at least a few months that are believable. A brand-new account is a sign someone set it up just to catfish people.
Their photos aren’t unique
If you suspect a catfish, one of the first things you can do is reverse image search the photos they’re using. If they’re popping up as existing elsewhere on the internet in ways that don’t line up with this person’s account, you are likely being catfished. There is no other reason to use someone else’s images as if they were your own!
They won’t use their webcam
Even if someone is willing to call you, that doesn’t mean they’re not a catfish. Take note if they’re happy to send you photos and voice notes and talk to you on the phone, but they absolutely refuse to call you over facetime or any other kind of video call. This reluctance to reveal their face implies they might not be who they say they are. Trust your intuition.
They always have excitement going on
If every time you just ask someone how they are they have tales of adventure that show just how special they’ve been in the past 24 hours, it’s feasible they might be lying. Sure, some people really do have a lot of exciting experiences, but if it’s a never-ending stream with no down days, it’s probably not true. People who catfish often have low self-esteem, so they try to embellish their lives with such stories in order to appear exciting and attractive.
They’re super hesitant to meet
This ties in with the reluctance to call or video chat. Once you’ve built up a strong connection online, it is natural to want to meet the person on the other side of the screen. If they’re super-enthusiastic about any connection you have but the moment you suggest getting together in person they get weird about it, question why that might be. They probably don’t want you to see who they really are.
They keep cancelling on you
Other catfishes can be so eager to meet you and string you along that they’ll keep making plans with you to do so. The issue is that they’re a catfish and so their desire to meet you can’t be fulfilled without you discovering their lies. This kind of catfish will consistently make new plans to meet up with you and cancel every single time, often at the very last minute.
They’re “falling for you” too fast
Yes, talking to someone every day can cause a pretty strong emotional connection quickly. That said, just because you’re talking to someone frequently does not mean they should be confessing deep romantic feelings for you after a few days. That is a sign of them either being an incredibly lonely person or trying to get you to trust them without the proper build up. Or both.
They just want to talk about you
A catfish will do what they can to reveal as little as possible about themselves, generally because none of what they say is true. They may try and get really deep with you, asking all sorts of very personal questions about your life to figure out more. On the flip side, if you try to ask questions about them, they may try to deflect.
They don’t send casual selfies
If you’re chatting and sending each other pictures, is this person able to send you casual selfies of what they happen to be doing? If not, but they send you plenty of more professional looking images, then they’re likely not using pictures of their actual face. This is extremely common when it comes to people who catfish.
Your friends are suspicious
If the people you love most don’t think someone’s right for you, it’s probably because they’re looking out for your best interests. When you have feelings for someone, your judgment might get clouded by those feelings. But if people who know you well and care about you think something’s up with a potential partner – or if your friends or family members warn you about him or her – take heed.
They’re too attractive
Not to knock your self-confidence, but if you’re getting sent photos of someone who looks like a model or a movie star, chances are they’re stolen from someone else. Most people on Catfish use fake pictures they find online because they’re too afraid to show their real selves.
They only seem to interact with you
You can fool a person into believing that you’re someone else, but if they never see proof of your existence — like photos of you with the people they know and love — they will eventually catch on to your lies. If they don’t talk about meeting you with their friends, no matter how serious things get between the two of you, that’s a major red flag.
They ask you for money
Catfishing can be a form of online scamming. Catfishes trick their victims into giving them money, usually by playing on their emotions. They might pretend to be someone else in order to get the victim’s trust, or they might make up an emergency situation where they urgently need money to take care of a family member’s medical costs. It doesn’t matter what the story is; if someone you meet online asks for money, it’s always a scam.
The relationship is moving quickly
If a person you’re talking to is being overly nice and compliments you excessively, it could be a sign that they’re a catfish. Catfishes will try to reel you in as quickly as possible by telling you that they are falling in love with you or that they could see themselves spending their whole lives together. So if someone is being overly nice and it feels ridiculous, it probably is.
They don’t have social media
Social media is an easy way to meet new people. However, if your online friend claims they are not on any social media platform, that’s something worth examining further. Perhaps they are too cool for Facebook, but it’s unlikely they aren’t even on TikTok or Instagram. If they give you their username, but there are very few photos of them online or none at all, consider this a red flag. You know how easy it is to create fake accounts online – the person may have created a fake profile so that they can reach out to more people and lead them on without ever revealing who they really are.
Their stories seem unbelievable
If your online friend is telling you about their past relationships and exotic travel experiences, and they seem to be bragging about how rich they are, these are all signs that your friend may be trying to manipulate you. Ask questions, and see if the story holds up to scrutiny. Sometimes if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
You’ve only seen a few photos
If you’re in a relationship with someone, it’s normal to exchange pictures of you and your life on social media. Especially if you haven’t met in person, it’s nice to see pictures. But if you only see one or two pictures of someone after talking for a long time, and the pictures they send are ones taken off the internet or ones that look like they could be anyone (like stock photos), then they probably aren’t the person in the picture. They’re most likely stealing pictures of someone else on the internet.
They’re always travelling
Not everyone who travels for a living is a con artist, but it’s wise to be skeptical of someone who claims their job requires them to travel frequently and has not yet shown their face. These people often use excuses like being overseas or out of town in order to avoid communicating with you face-to-face, which is a red flag.
Their English is poor
If the person you’re talking to says they’re from a country that speaks English but you notice that their grammar and spelling are poor, ask them for more details. If it seems like they might not be who they say they are, end the conversation immediately and block their contact information.
They only use professional photos
While people with a healthy online presence will often have many photos on their social media accounts and personal blogs, catfishes often have only a few photos linked to their online identity, usually professional-looking shots with no personal or casual images. This is because they aren’t actually who they say they are, and the identity they have created online is false. Similarly, if someone doesn’t respond to your requests for more photos or information about themselves, it might be time to cut ties.
They ask you for personal information
Scammers will often try to get personal information from their victims. Be wary of sharing information online, especially with people you have never met in person. If somebody asks for deeply sensitive information–such as your passwords or credit card numbers – they may be trying to scam you. The questions could be an attempt to hack your accounts and guess passwords. Requests for sensitive materials might be an attempt at blackmail, so approach such a request with caution.
They claim to live far away
If someone you’re talking to online claims to live far away from you and asking for money, it may be a sign you are being catfished. Catfish typically create fake profiles and use them to lure people into relationships. They often pretend to live in another city or country, which makes it difficult for their victims to meet them in person. Overall, if someone you’re talking to online seems too good to be true, they probably are.
They have multiple social media profiles
If you’re talking to someone online and they have multiple social media accounts, it could mean they’re trying to hide something from you. They may have multiple Facebook profiles, Twitter or Instagram accounts, for example. This is often done so that the person can create a false identity.
They don’t have many friends
While having a low friend count on Facebook or follower count on Instagram isn’t necessarily a sign of being fake, it could be worth investigating. The same goes for someone who has a high friend count. However, they may be new to Facebook, not know many people or know a ton of people so don’t jump to conclusions right away.
They seem too good to be true
If your internet boyfriend has a great job, owns his own home at a young age and looks like a movie star, that’s usually a sign of success. But if his story sounds too good to be true, approach with caution. And if he hasn’t given you his cell phone number or Skyped you yet, that’s usually a sign that he’s not interested in more than just talking online.
They ask for explicit content
If someone asks you for explicit photos or videos very quickly without meeting you first or confirming their identity, be wary. They may use the content to blackmail you for money or post it online, potentially ruining your reputation. Never send this kind of content without knowing the person well first.
They ask for your contact details immediately
Dating sites and apps have parameters in place to help spot scammers. Catfishes may try to quickly get you to move off the dating site as they are in danger of their profiles being blocked or disabled. The safest option may be to continue communicating through the dating site or app until you’ve met your love interest in person. If they pressure you to move off before you’re ready or ask for personal information such as your primary email address or phone number, consider that a red flag.
They’re always dealing with emergencies
Catfishes often use elaborate tales to make you fall in love with them. They may promise to meet up in person, even if that means flying overseas. But before you can meet up, the catfish will have an excuse for why they can’t make it. These excuses are often emotional, which makes them seem very real to the victim blinded by love. The catfish will ask for money because of these emergencies, leading the victim to provide financial help for someone who doesn’t exist.
They have no profile image
If someone you’re communicating with doesn’t have a profile picture, don’t respond. In this age of social media, it’s easy to set up an account and join the billions of users out there; therefore, it’s critical that you take certain precautions. If someone sends you a message from an account that doesn’t have a profile picture, don’t respond because it’s likely that they want to remain anonymous – avoiding the possibility of whatever they say or do traced back to their true identity.
You only communicate through one platform
A catfish will often try to keep your method of communication strictly to the platform where you “met” them. If you communicate mostly on social media, they’ll be wary of giving you their phone number, regardless of how often you communicate or how close the two of you seem. If they do give you their phone number, they might limit your conversations to only texting; they don’t want you to call them, and if you try to do so, they never answer.
They’re always blaming technology
If someone in their twenties has trouble using FaceTime, you’ve got a right to be suspicious. If they can’t figure out how to use their phone or the app store won’t connect, it’s possible they’re not who they say they are. And if they keep postponing calls with you and have beautiful photos of themselves but don’t seem to know how to work their device when communicating with you, rest assured that something is fishy about them.
They’re secretive
Be wary of people who want to know everything about you but refuse to give you the same courtesy. They may claim they are just trying to get to know the real you, but their true motive is usually something else entirely – and if they dodge questions about themselves or rarely talk about who they really are, there’s a good chance their persona is fake.
Their stories don’t add up
When someone is willing to share a little bit about themselves, listen closely to what they say and look for any contradictions. Someone who claims to be constantly traveling may be lying – if you listen closely, you might catch them in a series of lies. If details are inconsistent and things just don’t add up, chances are they’re not who they claim to be.
They can’t prove their identity
If you feel that a potential love interest is hiding something from you, don’t be afraid to ask for proof that they are who they claim. If they’re willing to provide it, that’s a good sign. If they become defensive or upset when you ask them for verification, it’s another sign that something isn’t right.
You can’t find them on Google
In this day and age, it’s important to do a little digging when it comes to your online dates. It’s very easy to find out about anyone on social media. For instance, try searching their name on Facebook or Twitter, or check their Instagram account. If there’s nothing there, that could be a red flag that you’re being catfished. You can also Google the image they sent you or reverse image search it to see if it matches up anywhere else online.
They’re always talking about how much they trust you
If an online boyfriend or girlfriend says you’re the only one who can help them, it’s because they want to gain your trust. Once scammers feel you’re primed, they’ll ask for money. A ‘relationship’ with a fraudster usually progresses in three phases: a grooming phase in which the scammer learns about you and builds trust; an active phase where they start asking for money; and finally a ‘breakup’ phase where they disappear from social media or block you on messaging apps.
They can’t answer questions
If you want to get to know someone in an online environment, ask questions. If they can’t answer them or their stories don’t add up – for example, if they say they’re from Florida but their responses are written in British English – then that’s probably a sign that they’re trying to maneuver through their web of lies. Get out of there!
They’ve had the same profile picture for years
Because catfishes may be limited by the number of photos they have access to, they may keep the same picture for years or months at a time. If you notice that the person looks younger than they claim to be, or if their appearance does not change over time, it may be a sign that they are lying about their identity.
You’re feeling uncertain
People often dismiss their gut feelings when they meet someone new. For example, if someone is texting you too often or gets jealous if you don’t respond within minutes, these might be signs that the person isn’t who he says he is – even if these behaviours seem cute at first glance. Trust your instincts; they are usually right.
