10 Ways to spot fake online profiles
A big problem with dating apps is they’re easy for scammers to target because they’re usually free to join and it gives them access to thousands of people. You need to be smart about who you talk to and don’t get tricked by a sexy picture or friendly message otherwise you can end up wasting time. A good way to spot a fake online profile is by taking the time to check it out and paying attention to how they reply to you because that tells you a lot about the kind of person you’re interacting with.
1) Basic online profile
An online profile has lots of sections to fill out because it helps give other users an idea of what kind of person you are. They’re quick and easy to do which is why most real users make an effort to do them. When it’s a fake profile they don’t waste time filling out a lot of the information fields because they’re busy setting up profiles on other dating apps and messaging people. When you see a profile that has the bare minimum information and only one or two pictures uploaded then it means the person isn’t taking it seriously.
2) They don’t talk about themselves
When you’re online dating there’s a feeling of excitement when you see someone you’re interested in. You want to get to know them as well as share stuff about yourself so you can make an emotional connection. This is a one-sided feeling when you’re interacting with a fake online profile and you quickly notice that they don’t talk about themselves. They change the subject or ask questions about you instead because they’re worried about making a mistake and saying something that doesn’t match their profile or they want information about you so they can decide if you’re easy to scam.
3) They only have a couple of perfect pictures
A fake online profile only has a couple of pictures uploaded and they look perfect. This is because they are using stock photos so the person in them is a model or they’ve taken pictures from someone’s social media page. It’s hard to get multiple pictures of the same person in different places so they’re limited in how many they can put on their profile. If you suspect their pictures aren’t really them you can ask them to send you a selfie and they can’t do this so will give you an excuse to delay doing it.
4) They ask too many personal questions
It’s normal to ask some personal questions because online dating makes it difficult to get a sense of what the other person is like. The issue is when they ask you too many of them and you start feeling uncomfortable. This is why you need to pay attention to how they make you feel and make sure you never give out information that’s too personal, like where you work or how much money you earn. They want that kind of information because they can use it if they’re a gold digger or think they can use your information in other ways.
5) They seem like a perfect match
Someone using a fake online profile is going to draw you in by pretending to be a perfect match. They tell you that you have the same interests as them, they live nearby and they think you look so hot in your pictures. They agree with everything you say because they want you to feel a connection to them and that they understand you unlike other people you’ve talked to on dating apps. No one is going to be perfect so if you can’t find any flaws in them then or feel like something is off then it’s for a good reason.
6) There’s inconsistencies in what they say
Noticing inconsistencies is something that happens when you check out a fake online profile then start talking to them. People like this usually have multiple profiles and it’s hard to keep track of everything so they make mistakes. They get their age wrong by a couple of years, mention living in a different city or something similar. When this happens you need to stop talking to them because they’re not being honest which is what you want when you’re online dating.
7) They talk about money problems
There’s certain things you don’t talk about in an online profile but a fake one will if they want to put certain ideas in your mind. A fake profile will mention recently losing their job or working at a part-time job they hate. They want you to know upfront they have money problems so that when you start regularly messaging with them it doesn’t seem odd when they expect you to pay for everything on dates or when they ask you for a small loan. Their profile is just there so they can find someone they can get money out of.
8) They delay meeting in person
Most people expect online dating to lead to a real life meeting but this doesn’t happen when the person you’re interested in doesn’t exist. Their online profile won’t say how much they’re looking forward to finding someone special and will usually say that they’re only looking for online friends. They may try to waste your time by acting like they’ll meet you one day but keep making excuses for why they can’t. They do this because they’re bored and you’re their entertainment.
9) They try to make you use other dating apps
One scam that a person with a fake online profile will do is try to get you to talk to them elsewhere. This is because they want you to pay to join other dating apps since they get paid for every member they get to join or because they want you to pay them directly to talk to them. As soon as they mention talking elsewhere you need to stop and check out where they’re asking you to go. If it’s a site that requires a membership fee you need to stop talking to them right away.
10) All their messages are generic
The only kind of messages you get from a fake online profile are ones that are generic because they send them to multiple users. The information in these messages is simple, like their name and how much they liked your profile. They do this to see who replies back and will reply to your messages with vagueness when you ask them direct questions. The messages make it seem like they’re interested in you but you really don’t know anything about them.
She is working as writer for diferent websites. She has published many hand-books about adult dating and relationships.
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