8 Warning Signs You're Being Catfished!

Are you being catfished?

The internet can be a great place to meet new people. But it can also be a dangerous place, full of scammers and catfishers who are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. So how can you tell if the person you're talking to online is real or not? Read on for 8 red flag signs that you may be being catfished.

Being catfished means being deceived by someone online who pretends to be someone else. This person creates a false identity to build a relationship with you with the intent to gain attention, nude pics, or money from someone. They may use a fake name, picture, and a fake social media profile.

Top 8 Reasons Why People Catfish Others

• Money – The perpertrator establishes trust then comes up with a believable story why they need money fast appealing to your emotions and compassion.
• Nude Pics – The perpertrator romances the victim first then asks for nude pics.
• Insecurities – Insecurities may be the cause for catfishing, where people find more love using someone else's identity. People may feel insecure and unworthy, so they create a fake online persona to get attention and love.
• Mental illness – Mental illness is a disorder that someone with low self-esteem might have. They might only be able to effectively communicate when they pretend to be somebody else. Different conditions can lead someone to having mental issues, such as depression and anxiety.
• Hide their identity –Someone who is hiding their identity on social media might use someone else's photos and/or information. They might want to troll others, talk to people outside of an existing relationship, or be catfishing intending to try to extort money.
• Revenge – Some people use catfishing as a tool to seek revenge on former partners. They create social media accounts and use the victims images, information and identity to demoralize them or damage their reputation. Catfish can also lure the victim into a fake relationship in order hurt them emotionally.
• Harassment – As a form of harassment, the perpetrator might create more than one catfishing account to be able to harass their victim. These multiple accounts are to make the sender seem like they're not being stopped and that other people are also participating in the persecution.
• Exploring sexual preference – When someone is wondering about their sexual preference, they might make an anonymous profile to explore what they are curious about without giving away their identity.

How to tell if you are a victim of catfishing

There are a few signs that you may be talking to a catfish. First, if you have only talked to this person online and have never met them in person, this is a red flag. Second, if the person seems too good to be true, they probably are. Be wary of anyone who tells you everything you want to hear or who seems too perfect. Finally, if the person refuses to video chat or meet up with you in person, this is another sign that they may not be who they say they are.

If you think you may be talking to a catfish, there are a few things you can do to confirm their identity. First, use FaceCheck.ID to run a reverse image search on their profile picture. This will show you if the picture is being used by someone else online. You can also try searching for their name or other information they have given you on Google.

They refuse to video chat with you

If someone you're talking to online refuses to video chat with you, it could be a sign that they're trying to catfish you. They may be using a fake profile picture and don't want to be caught. It's best to be cautious if someone refuses to video chat with you.

They have a fake social media profile

If you're talking to someone online and you suspect they might be catfishing you, one of the first things you should do is check their social media profiles. If their profile seems fake, with few or no photos, no posts, and few or no friends, then there's a good chance they are catfishing you.

They always have an excuse for why they can't meet up with you in person

If someone you're talking to online always has an excuse for why they can't meet up with you in person, it's a sign that they might be catfishing you. They might say that they're busy with work or that they live far away. If they're always making excuses, it's probably because they're not who they say they are.

They claim to live far away from you

If someone you are talking to online claims to live far away from you, it may be a sign that you are being catfished. Catfish typically create fake profiles and use them to lure people into relationships. They often pretend to live in another city or country, which makes it difficult for their victims to meet them in person.

Overall, if someone you are talking to online seems too good to be true, they probably are. Be wary of anyone who claims to live far away from you or asks for money. These are both common signs that you may be being catfished.

They ask you for money

If someone you are talking to online asks you for money, it is the biggest red flag that you are being catfished. No one should ever ask you for money unless you're already in a serious long-term relationship. Usually, they will have a very good story about why they need money right now and will try to appeal to your emotions and emphaty. If someone asks you for money without even meeting them, there's a is 100% chance they are trying to scam you.

They never want to talk on the phone with you

If the person you're talking to online never wants to talk on the phone with you, it could be a sign that they are catfishing you. They may give a variety of excuses, such as they don't have a phone, or they're too busy to talk. However, if they're truly interested in getting to know you, they should be willing to talk on the phone at least occasionally.

They want to text only

If the person you're talking to always wants to text instead of talk in person or on the phone, it's a sign that they might be catfishing you. They might be trying to avoid having their voice or appearance revealed. If this is the case, it's best to move on and find someone else to talk to.

They have multiple social media profiles

If you're talking to someone online and they seem to have multiple social media accounts, it could be a red flag sign that you're being catfished. They may have multiple Facebook profiles, Twitter or Instagram accounts, for example. This is often done so that the person can create a false identity.

The Bottom Line

If you're talking to someone online and they display one or more of the above warning signs, you're likely being catfished. If you suspect that you are being catfished, you should stop communicating with the person immediately. You can also report them to the dating site or social media platform where you met them.

Author Siti Hasan

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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