- Categories
- Relationships
- Dating
- Online Dating
Download Article
Explore this Article
IN THIS ARTICLE
1They have blank sections in their profile.
2They’ve only posted one photo.
3They don’t have many friends or followers.
4They say they’re in another country.
5They ask to chat off the dating app or site.
6Their messages have lots of errors.
7They send you links.
8They ask for personal financial information.
9They start moving too fast.
10They can’t talk on the phone or video chat.
11They give excuses for why they can’t meet in person.
12They can’t keep their story straight.
13They seem too good to be true.
+Show 10 more...
-Show less...
Other Sections
Tips and Warnings
Related Articles
References
Co-authored byJohn Keeganand Aly Rusciano
Last Updated: June 3, 2024Fact Checked
Download Article
Online dating is a great way to meet new people, but the ease of making a profile and swiping right also comes with a few dangers. In fact, it's estimated that about 10% of online dating profiles are actually bots or romance scammers.[1] These profiles think they’re being clever, but you can avoid being catfished by watching out for suspicious signs. Pull out your magnifying glass and get ready to learn how to detect a fake dating profile.
Ways to Detect Fake Profiles
- Look for a lack of personal information or details.
- Look for inconsistencies in the information that is provided.
- Look them up on other social media platforms to see if the profiles match.
- Check the follower/following ratio on their other social media accounts.
- Do a reverse image search on their photos.
1
They have blank sections in their profile.
Download Article
Lack of detail could be a sign of a fake profile. Most dating apps and sites ask you to fill out a questionnaire that’ll give more information about you on your profile. Fake profiles and scammers will most likely leave parts of their profiles blank, claiming they forgot to fill them in or didn’t have time to.[2]
- If their name, age, and location are the only thing filled out, chances are they’re fake.
- Check to see if they’ve linked their social media accounts to the page. Real profiles tend to plug their Instagram or Snapchat in their bios.
Advertisem*nt
2
They’ve only posted one photo.
Download Article
Chances are they’re hiding something if they upload a single selfie. Fake profiles and romance scammers will try to make realistic-looking profiles with a seemingly harmless profile pic. If their one picture looks “too perfect” or staged, the profile is most likely fake.[3]
- Fake profiles usually use pictures of headshots stolen from Google or stock photo websites. You can do a reverse search on the image to trace it. Start by right clicking on the image and saving it to your desktop. Then, go to Google Images and click “Search by image." Click “Upload an image," select the picture from your files, and run the search.[4]
3
They don’t have many friends or followers.
Download Article
Fake profiles are made to catfish, so they won’t bother making friends. Look the person up on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. If they’re a fake dating profile, chances are they’re fake across all platforms. Do they have a good number of followers, or are they following an absurd amount of people? You can tell a profile is fake if the people following them don’t seem legit themselves.[5]
- Notice if they have followers in common across all platforms. Friends usually follow friends on all social media.
- Check to see if they’re tagged in any of their followers' posts.
Advertisem*nt
4
They say they’re in another country.
Download Article
Claiming they’re stuck abroad is a common scam fake profiles use to get money. Maybe they say they’re on a business trip and don’t have enough money to get back home, or they can’t access their bank account in a different country. This is their way of guilting you into giving them money, and it’s a major red flag.[6]
- Now, talking to someone from another country on a dating app or site isn’t bad! The beauty of online dating is you can meet people from anywhere. But if they repeatedly mention that they need your help, they’re trying to scam you.
5
They ask to chat off the dating app or site.
Download Article
A scammer will want your personal email or phone number right away. They’ll skip the small talk on the dating app or site and try to get things moving on another platform. This is their way of getting past the dating app or site’s protocols while getting your personal information.[7]
- Never give your email, phone number, or any other personal information to someone online.
- If they ask, simply tell them “no,” or move on and connect with a different profile.
Advertisem*nt
6
Their messages have lots of errors.
Download Article
Fake profiles might be controlled by a bot or someone from another country. Grammatical and spelling errors will litter their profile and messages because of wacky code or from writing in a second language. It’s common for someone to make a grammatical mistake every once and a while, but these could be common occurrences for a fake profile.[8]
- Think about what common errors you make when texting a friend. Is the person behind the profile making the same errors, or are theirs much worse?
- Look out for generic messages, too. They may send something like, “Hello, My name is…”
7
They send you links.
Download Article
Links are a popular phishing scam, so don’t click on them. Perhaps they send a link asking you to take a look at their new website, or one they claim is a funny video. Links can easily be disguised to contain malware, spyware, and viruses, so think before you click.[9]
- Ignore their message, or, better yet, try finding another profile to connect with.
- Virus scanners like Norton, Malwarebytes, and HouseCall can help you detect any threats in case you did click on an unknown link.
Advertisem*nt
8
They ask for personal financial information.
Download Article
If they ask for your bank info or credit card number, they’re scamming you. Fake profiles will try to get your personal information as fast as possible. They’ll ask for your email, details about where you work, phone number, and surname. Getting information about you can help them hack into your accounts.[10]
- If you’re not sure if they’re fake but want to give them your phone number to find out, set up a Google Voice account. This will give you a separate phone number that’ll forward all messages to your real phone number, and the profile won’t have a clue the number isn’t truly yours!
- Asking for money or your financial information is a big red flag if you’re looking for a sugar momma or daddy.
- Reader Poll: We asked 286 wikiHow readers, and 62% of them agreed that constantly asking for financial support would make them doubt if a sugar momma is actually wealthy. [Take Poll]
9
They start moving too fast.
Download Article
A scammer will say they love you before getting to know you. If things feel like they are moving way too quickly, this may be a sign they’re fake. They’ll shower you with affection to win your trust all to scam you. Ask yourself, “Are they casually flirting, or telling me I’m their soulmate?”[11]
- Do you feel uncomfortable by the sudden intimacy? Be honest with them and double check their profile.
Advertisem*nt
10
They can’t talk on the phone or video chat.
Download Article
If they’re fake, they’ll make excuses to avoid any “real” type of interaction. You most likely want to talk to this person if you’re connecting with them, but they won’t feel the same way if they’re catfishing you. You can try calling them, but they probably won’t answer.[12]
- If they do pick up, their camera will most likely be covered or their voice will be distorted or sound very different to how you imagined.
- They may sound older, younger, more feminine, more masculine, or even like they’re in a tunnel.
11
They give excuses for why they can’t meet in person.
Download Article
Be suspicious if they’re never up for making plans. Chances are they’re not who they say they are if they’re not willing to meet you in-person, especially if they claim to live nearby. If they’re serious about a relationship with you, they’ll want to meet up and will have nothing to hide.[13]
- They might lie and say they’ve suddenly been sent overseas, have to travel for work, or need to visit a sick family member.
- Watch out for sob stories. Saying a family member or close friend died is a manipulative tactic to make you feel bad for them.
Advertisem*nt
12
They can’t keep their story straight.
Download Article
If they keep contradicting themselves, they’re probably lying. Their story is built on lies, so they’ll have a hard time keeping track of what they’ve told you. If they say one thing one day and something else the next, they may be catfishing you.[14]
- It’s possible that there’s more than one person behind a scam account.
- Be aware of how many times they claim to have forgotten something you’ve told them.
13
They seem too good to be true.
Download Article
Fake profiles will make themselves look like a “perfect” person. Their profile is overly well written or they're over-exaggerating about all their strong points. If they look like a model, have a thriving career, and seem to have no flaws, they may be a work of fiction. Listen to your gut and notice if they seem too perfect. This could all be a glamor to get something out of you.[15]
- A fake profile may claim to be famous, rich, or even royal. If you Google their name and nothing pops up, they’re definitely not a celebrity.
- Search for them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google for information on their career.
- If they’re telling the truth, chances are they have a LinkedIn account tied to their job.
Advertisem*nt
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Advertisem*nt
Tips
If you live in the US and are a victim of a romance scam and have lost money from it, report it to the government through usa.gov.[16]
Thanks
Helpful0Not Helpful0
If you live in the UK and are a victim of a romance scam and have lost money from it, report it to the police through Action Fraud.[17]
Thanks
Helpful1Not Helpful1
Report the fake profile and/or scam on the dating site or app. This can help stop the perpetrator from catfishing anyone else.
Thanks
Helpful0Not Helpful0
Tips from our Readers ![How to Tell if a Dating Profile Is Fake: 13 Ways to Spot a Fake Profile (29) How to Tell if a Dating Profile Is Fake: 13 Ways to Spot a Fake Profile (29)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- If you're talking to someone local, they might claim that they want to come meet up with you in person but need gas money. If you send them gas money, they'll never show up to meet you.
- They might claim to be a native English speaker, but in their description, their English is very strange and awkward with misplaced or misused words.
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisem*nt
You Might Also Like
Advertisem*nt
References
- ↑ https://www.datingadvice.com/online-dating/fake-dating-profiles
- ↑ https://www.datingadvice.com/online-dating/fake-dating-profiles
- ↑ https://www.datingadvice.com/online-dating/fake-dating-profiles
- ↑ https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/data-visualizations/data-spotlight/2023/02/romance-scammers-favorite-lies-exposed
- ↑ https://www.teenvogue.com/story/signs-youre-being-catfished
- ↑ https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams
- ↑ https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2015/07/faking-it-scammers-tricks-steal-your-heart-and-money
- ↑ https://www.datingadvice.com/online-dating/fake-dating-profiles
- ↑ https://www.foolproofme.org/articles/395-the-dangers-of-randomly-clicking-links
More References (8)
- ↑ https://www.getsmarteraboutmoney.ca/learning-path/types-of-fraud/romance-scams/
- ↑ https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2015/07/faking-it-scammers-tricks-steal-your-heart-and-money
- ↑ https://www.insider.com/signs-being-catfished-2018-9#they-refuse-to-video-chat-with-you-1
- ↑ https://www.getsmarteraboutmoney.ca/learning-path/types-of-fraud/romance-scams/
- ↑ https://blogs.chapman.edu/information-systems/2023/02/13/romance-scammers-are-on-the-prowl/
- ↑ https://fintrac-canafe.canada.ca/intel/operation/rf-eng
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/where-report-scams
- ↑ https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
About This Article
![How to Tell if a Dating Profile Is Fake: 13 Ways to Spot a Fake Profile (45) How to Tell if a Dating Profile Is Fake: 13 Ways to Spot a Fake Profile (45)](https://i0.wp.com/www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e1/John_Keegan2.png/-crop-100-100-100px-John_Keegan2.png)
Co-authored by:
John Keegan
Dating Coach
This article was co-authored by John Keegan and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health. This article has been viewed 123,523 times.
41 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: June 3, 2024
Views:123,523
Categories: Online Dating
In other languages
- Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 123,523 times.
Did this article help you?
Advertisem*nt