Dating apps don’t have a real person behind every profile. Some create fake profiles to trap vulnerable people. You won’t fall for that with these tips.
Recognize fake profiles for dating apps
Dating app are overrun with fake profiles. This one catfishes pretending to be someone else to take advantage of vulnerable people. Sometimes as a joke, but also often to make money. For example, by asking for financial help or selling you something. That is not only a waste of your money, but also a waste of your time. You won’t fall for it with these tips.
1. Few photos and information
The first alarm bells should ring when a profile contains little information. Specific if only one or a few photos are used and little else has been entered. There is a good chance that someone has taken a photo from the internet and has made little effort to create a credible profile.
People who are really looking for contact usually try harder. For example, they also show a photo with their entire body on it and often have a crazy photo in between.
2. Too perfect
With a perfect profile, chances are it is too good to be true. With the perfect photos and not an ounce of negativity, it’s probably a made-up profile. Do the interests match your interests perfectly? Even then you have to be careful, because you may be a direct target.
3. Too sloppy
On the other hand, a profile can also contain a lot of errors. In particular, many spelling mistakes are a bad sign. Someone who is on a dating app for all the right reasons is probably doing their best to create a good profile. Catfishes are less careful.
4. Chats don’t get personal
If you have a match with someone and it is time to chat, there are also ways that you can easily spot catfish. A clear sign for a fake profile is that the conversation will not be personal. The messages are friendly, but general. Probably there is someone behind the profile who talks to a lot of different people to cast the widest possible net.
Even if things are not right in the chat, something strange is going on. Does the match suddenly say that it has a cat instead of a dog, while it was previously the other way around? Or does another fact suddenly change? Then it probably was a lie. Lies are hard to sustain.
5. Don’t want to meet up
The purpose of a dating app is to eventually meet up in person, and see from there. As soon as someone constantly avoids the question of whether you want to meet, or always has an excuse for why it doesn’t work, then you better stop. Chances are that the person behind the photos does not exist at all.
It is also a good idea to make a video call before meeting physically. Then you know for sure that you have the right person in mind.
Also read: It’s time for dating apps to take responsibility
Don’t forget to report!
Are you sure someone is fake? Don’t forget to report that person to the app you use. This way you ensure that no one else falls into this trap.
More dating tips
iPhone helps you on your way with even more tips. For example, we tell you how to select the best photos for your profile and how to best start a conversation. It is also smart to try other dating apps in addition to Tinder. Here are six reasons to use a dating app other than Tinder. Good luck!