Are You Dating a Scammer?
Upload an image to verify your crush’s identity.
Catfishing Scams, also known as Romance Scams, occur when a person pretends to be someone they’re not in order to steal your heart and money. Whether you’re suspecting someone is catfishing you or simply want to know how to avoid being catfished, this article can offer you some practical and useful tips to help you silence your doubt and get peace of mind.
In this article:
How to Tell If Someone Is Catfishing You?
Suspect a catfish? Here are six easy ways to help you spot a catfish.
1. Watching for red flags
Here are some red flags that your new love interest might be a catfish:
- Their profile seems too good to be true. There are few photos on their profile and all look professional.
- They refuse to video chat or meet in person. When you ask for a real-life date, they always come up with an excuse for why he/she can’t.
- They push a relationship too fast. Scammers may profess love very quickly and ask you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
- They ask for money for any reason. Scammers may tell you a story and ask for your money to help them get out of trouble. They may even tell you how to pay for it.
- You feel something off. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
2. Do your own research
Dig through your sweetheart’s dating profiles or social media accounts. Many people like to post their lives on social media. Check if they have photos with their friends.
Searching for their name or username on Google to see if you can find their other online profiles.
Does your sweetheart claim to be a military service member? Check military records at the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act website.
Research your potential date’s photos on Google Images or Social Catfish to see if their pictures are real. If their photos are associated with another name or with details that don’t match up, chances are it was a scam.
- Google Images: Open a web browser, then go to Google Images. Click Search by image to upload a photo and start searching.
- Social Catfish: Go to socialcatfish.com. Then select Image, upload a photo from your device and hit Search.
3. Pay for a background search service
To learn more about your significant other, you can also consider paying for a reliable and affordable background search service, like BeenVerified.
BeenVerified is a people search website that specializes in finding information about people. It allows you to search for almost anyone in the United States by name, address, phone number, email address, or username.
How does BeenVerified help you spot a catfish?
With BeenVerified, you might be able to:
- Verify the person’s identity by comparing their photos with possible photos found by BeenVerified.
- Uncover their hidden social media accounts or dating profiles.
- Find out if your sweetheart is lying about their education and employment history.
- Verify their phone number, address, or email address before meeting in person.
- Check if they have a criminal record.
To run a background search with BeenVerified:
Step 1: Go to BeenVerified.
Step 2: Enter the information you know about the person and hit SEARCH.
Find People by Name
Look up contact info, photos & more!
Step 3: BeenVerified will search through its database and then show you a list of potential matches. Select the best match to view a detailed report.
BeenVerified’s person report may include full name, age, possible photos, possible relationships, contact information, location history, social media profiles, education and employment history, property or vehicle owned, criminal records, and more!
4. Go slowly and ask questions
Look out for inconsistencies in what they told you. If something doesn’t add up, ask about it.
5. Talk to someone you trust
Talk to family or friends about your new love interest. Do they share the same concerns you have?
6. Trust your gut
When things feel off there is a reason. Listen to your gut. It is usually right. Anyway, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
What to Do If You Think You’re Being Catfished?
If you suspect you’re dealing with a catfish, you should
1. Stop all contact immediately
Block their phone number and social media accounts.
2. Report a catfish
If you lost money to a catfish, contact the related company or your bank right away. Inform them that you paid a con artist and request a refund.
Next, report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If the scammer is trying to extort you, file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). This will help law enforcement officials across the United States in their investigations.
Also, report suspicious profiles or messages to the dating app or social media platform.
3. Recovery from catfishing
The most important thing is to Never Blame Yourself. Don’t feel embarrassed or guilty. Anyone can become a victim of catfishing. According to the FTC, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam in the last year, and reported losses totaled an astounding $1.3 billion.
Confide in your friends and family members. If you need professional help, consider seeing a therapist.
Take it as a learning experience. I know it can be hard. Try not to think about it too much. Just be more vigilant and cautious from now on.
Final Thoughts
A simple rule to protect yourself from being scammed is to never send money or gifts to anyone you haven’t met in person. Besides, be aware of what you post and share online, as scammers can use these details to target you. If you’re suspecting someone is catfishing you, do a background search on them to make sure they are who they claim to be.
Have you ever been catfished before? Tell us below. Sharing your story can help you heal and alert others.
Resources
Romance Scams – FBI
What to Know About Romance Scams – FTC
Romance Scammers’ Favorite Lies Exposed – FTC
What To Do if You Were Scammed – FTC
How to Spot a Catfish – wikiHow
How to End a Catfishing Relationship – wikiHow