How to Spot a Catfish: Spot Red Flags in Online Dating Profiles (2024 Guide)

Online dating has become increasingly popular in recent years, with millions of people turning to dating apps and websites to find love and companionship. However, with the rise of online dating comes the risk of being scammed or "catfished" by someone who is pretending to be someone they're not.


What is dating catfishing?

Catfishing is a term used to describe a situation where someone creates a fake online identity in order to deceive someone else into a romantic relationship. The term comes from the 2010 documentary film "Catfish," which followed a man who fell in love with a woman he met online, only to discover that she was not who she claimed to be. In the context of online dating, a catfish will typically create a fake profile with a fake name, age, location, and photos, and will use this identity to build a relationship with a person they've met online.

How common is catfishing on dating sites?

Catfishing is, unfortunately, quite common in the world of online dating. According to a survey conducted by the dating app Plenty of Fish, 53% of people have admitted to lying on their dating profile. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that in 2019, online dating scams accounted for the highest financial losses of any internet-facilitated crimes, with losses totaling over $475 million.

Can you catfish on Tinder?

Yes, it is possible to catfish on Tinder. In fact, any dating app or website can be used for catfishing. However, Tinder does have some measures in place to help prevent catfishing, such as the ability to report suspicious profiles and a feature that verifies the authenticity of certain profiles by having users submit a selfie that is then compared to their profile picture.

What is an online dating catfish?

An online dating catfish is someone who creates a fake online identity in order to deceive someone else into a romantic relationship. They may use a fake name, age, location, and photos, and will typically use this identity to build a relationship with a person they've met online.

What does catfish mean in online dating?

The term "catfish" in the context of online dating refers to someone who creates a fake online identity in order to deceive someone else into a romantic relationship.

How to catch a catfish on online dating sites?

Here are some tips for catching a catfish online:

  • Be wary of anyone who seems too good to be true
  • Be skeptical of anyone who refuses to video chat or meet in person
  • Research the person's photos and see if they appear on other websites or social media platforms
  • Use a reverse image search to see if the person's photos have been used by other people
  • Trust your instincts and be cautious if something seems off

Best dating apps to catfish?

It is not recommended to catfish on any dating app as it is illegal and can harm people emotionally and financially.

Catfishing Online Dating Statistics

As of 2023, catfishing has become a significant problem in the world of online dating. According to recent studies, the following statistics highlight the extent of the issue:

  • FTC reports romance scams hit record high of $547 Million reported lost
  • 53% of people have admitted to lying on their dating profile.
  • Around 10% of all dating profiles are estimated to be fake.
  • In a survey conducted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), more than half of respondents reported losing money to a dating scam in the past two years.
  • The average victim of a catfishing scam loses $2,600.
  • In the same FTC survey, it was found that people aged 40-69 were more likely to be targeted by dating scams, with women being more likely to be targeted than men.
  • A study by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) found that people aged 40-59 were the most likely to lose money to a dating scam.
  • In a survey conducted by the online dating site Zoosk, it was found that around 80% of people have been asked for money by someone they met online.
  • A survey by the dating site eHarmony found that 10% of its members had been targeted by a catfisher.
  • A survey by the dating app Tinder found that around 1 in 10 of its users had been scammed by someone they met on the app.
  • The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 15,000 complaints about romance scams in 2020, with victims losing a total of $304 million.
  • The number of romance scam complaints to the FTC has increased by more than 2,500% since 2015.
  • A study by the University of Portsmouth in the UK found that around 1 in 10 dating profiles are fake.
  • In a survey conducted by the Anti-Fraud Center, 15% of respondents reported being scammed by someone they met on a dating site.
  • The dating app Bumble reported that in 2020, it blocked over 3 million fake accounts.
  • A study by the dating site OkCupid found that around 4% of its users were scammers.
  • A survey by the dating site Plenty of Fish found that around 10% of its users had been scammed.
  • A study by the dating app Hinge found that around 3% of its users were scammers.
  • The dating app Grindr reported that in 2020, it blocked over 2 million fake accounts.
  • A survey by the dating site Match.com found that around 5% of its users had been scammed.
  • The dating app HER reported that in 2020, it blocked over 1 million fake accounts.
  • A survey by the dating site eHarmony found that around 7% of its users had been scammed.

It's important to note that these statistics may not be 100% accurate, as it is difficult to track the exact number of catfishing and online dating scams that occur. However, it's clear that catfishing is a prevalent issue in the online dating world, and it's important for users to be aware of the risks and to take steps to protect themselves.

Beware of Love Scams: Catfish Online Dating Stories

There are many stories of people falling victims to catfishing on dating sites, some of them have even lost their savings, and some have been emotionally harmed.

Spanish Woman's Cautionary Tale of Losing Money to African Catfish Scam Group

In 2019, a woman named Maria from Spain, started talking to a man named Michael online. They hit it off and started talking for hours every day. Michael told Maria that he was a businessman from the UK, and sent her pictures of a handsome man.

They quickly fell in love and Maria even sent Michael money to help him pay for a business trip. However, when Michael was supposed to come to Spain to meet Maria in person, he never showed up and his phone was switched off. Maria realized that she had been scammed and that Michael was not who he said he was. She reported him to the police and the investigation revealed that Michael was actually a group of scammers based in Africa who created fake profiles to trick people into sending them money.

Maria was heartbroken and devastated, but also learned a valuable lesson on how to protect herself from catfishes in the future.

This story highlights the importance of not sending money to someone you haven't met in person and to be cautious of people who ask for money from you. It's important to be aware of the possibility of catfishing and to take steps to verify a person's identity before engaging in a relationship with them.

Woman Loses $270,000 in Catfishing Incident on Match.com

Another example of a catfishing scam involved a woman named Diane who met a man named Jerry on Match.com. She believed he was her soulmate, but he was actually using the identity of a former Bosnian ambassador who had no knowledge of his image being used in a scam. The scammer convinced Diane to give him money for a supposed divorce and other expenses, and she lost $270,000. Unfortunately, once a scammer has gotten money, it is unlikely that the victim will ever see it again.

What is catfishing on a dating site?

Catfishing on a dating site refers to the practice of creating a fake online identity in order to deceive someone else into a romantic relationship. This can include using a fake name, age, location, and photos, and building a relationship with someone through messaging and other forms of communication.

Where are the catfish on dating sites?

Catfish can be found on any dating site or app, as they can create fake profiles on any platform.

It is important to be aware of the possibility of catfishing and to take steps to protect yourself while using dating sites.

In conclusion, catfishing is a severe issue in online dating. It's essential to be vigilant and to trust your instincts when using dating apps and websites. If something seems off about a person or their profile, it's best to be cautious and take steps to verify their identity. Remember, it's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to online dating.

Keep the Catfish at Bay with FaceCheck.ID the Ultimate Catfish Detection Tool

Another step to protect yourself from catfishing on dating sites is to use our service FaceCheck.ID. This platform allows users to find social media profiles linked to a specific individual by using their photos. This can be a valuable tool in identifying a potential catfish, as you can compare the information on their dating profile to their social media profiles to see if there are any inconsistencies. This can help you to verify that the person you're talking to is who they say they are and can also give you a better idea of their true identity. Using FaceCheck.ID can be a powerful way to catch a catfish and protect yourself from falling victim to online dating scams.

The Most Complicated Catfishing Scheme Uncovered by Investigators

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Siti is an expert tech author that writes for the FaceCheck.ID blog and is enthusiastic about advancing FaceCheck.ID's goal of making the internet safer for all.


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