How to Spot a Catfish

Do you want to learn how to spot a catfish so that you can protect your heart from the wrong individuals? Read on to discover several red flags that give away catfishes!

If you’ve ever ventured into the world of online dating, you must have come across shady individuals posing as someone they clearly aren’t. These are known as catfishes, whose sole purpose is to fool people into believing their online personas, to build trust, and to use them for monetary or other immoral benefits.

So, how do you spot such people from your pool of daters? How do you make sure that you don’t fall victim to the nefarious mind games played by them? The key is to look for signs that can help point you toward the obvious.

Let’s explore how to spot a catfish so that you don’t fall for the wrong person!

How to Spot a Catfish?

Here are some red flags and indicators that will help you spot a catfish:

1. They Are Charming Story Tellers

A catfish knows how to pull at your heartstrings as they are incredible storytellers. They will likely share tales of childhood trauma early on in your interaction with them to establish a deep emotional connection. However, the deeper you get into the relationship, the more outlandish their stories will become, which will make you doubt their authenticity. When that happens, listen to your gut and cut all forms of contact with them.

2. They Have a Far Too Perfect Personality

If you find someone online who happens to be exactly like the kind of person you hoped to meet and appears to have no flaws whatsoever, be wary of them. After all, no one is truly perfect. Dig deeper into what they are saying to you and analyze if their hobbies are broad enough to match with almost anybody, and proceed with the utmost caution.

3. The Relationship Progress at an Alarmingly Rapid Pace

One of the most seductive aspects of catfishing and something that makes it harder to spot a catfish is the fact that such a relationship progresses and becomes serious too quickly. The constant back and forth creates a false sense of intimacy that accelerates things.

Before you know it, your catfish becomes the last person you speak to before turning in for the night, and soon enough, you are professing your love for someone you haven’t even met. There’s nothing wrong with feeling a connection with someone, but if they continue to avoid meeting you despite things getting serious between the two of you, it’s time to realize that not as perfect as it seems.

4. They Ask You for Money

If someone you have only spoken to online or on call asks you for money, it should wave a red flag in your mind instantly. A catfish might start by asking for a small loan and return it timely with gratitude-filled words to build your trust. Then, once they are sure you’re willing to spend money on them, they will ask you for an exorbitant amount for a supposed emergency and run away with the amount.

5. They Somehow Never Show Their Face to Your

The best way to spot a catfish is to insist on having a face-to-face interaction or use an app like FaceTime or Skype to talk to them if they claim to live too far away. If they make far-fetched excuses and refuse to show their face to you, know that something is up, and you might very well be talking to someone who is hiding their identity.

6. Their Social Media Usage is Suspiciously Limited

Having a social media account doesn’t guarantee someone’s real identity. After all, it’s too easy to create a fake account. However, if the person you’re talking to does have a social media account, make sure that it is real by checking their friends’ list and looking at their wall for tagged pictures, funny gifs, shared memes, and other such content. If their page looks suspiciously sparse and devoid of any activity, you might want to dive a little deeper and ask them some questions.

Lastly, when using an online dating platform, always trust your gut to spot a catfish. More often than not, your instincts will tell you if you feel that something is off about the person you’re talking to. Listen to them, cut your losses, and block the catfish from everywhere.

If you have been a victim of catfishing or suspect that someone is catfishing your loved ones, report them to FraudTrac. We will look into the matter and involve the authorities if necessary. Rest assured, we can protect you and your loved ones from catfishes, scammers, and fraudsters!