Nine Signs You're Being Catfished by Your Online Bae

We've all heard and watched catfishing horror stories and TV shows and have secretly prayed, 'God, I hope that never happens to me.' But the thing about online networking and dating site is that catfishing is very real, and people are VERY good at it.

According to the FBI, romance scams result in the biggest financial losses to victims. Catfishing is a very prevalent online crime. Catfishing crimes spiked in early 2020 because of the pandemic lockdown. The authorities recorded a $304 million loss due to romance scams.

If you've been talking to someone on an online dating website for a while and looking for warning signs to protect yourself from becoming a victim of catfishing, you're in the right place.

This article will help you navigate your dating life by helping you spot online predators.

Before taking a closer look at the red flags and warning signs of online romance scammers, let's understand what online catfishing is.

Catfishing  

The term 'catfishing' is used for an individual who feigns someone else's identity to manipulate someone emotionally and use their data and information.

Catfishing can be extremely traumatizing for the victim as they don't only suffer financial loss, but they often get emotionally involved in the process.

Warning Signs

Read on to discover the warning signs that you're talking to a catfish.

1. Things Progress Quickly

 

Most of the time, a catfish comes on very strong by trying to be your ideal partner. They agree to whatever you say because they want to woo you and reel you in as quickly as possible.

After only texting a few times, they tend to profess their love and make promises. They want to gain your trust quickly to be able to manipulate you.

Remember, if someone you've met on a blind dating site is being too over the top, chances are they're trying to get in your good books to use you for their needs.

2. Avoiding Video Calls

Another huge warning sign is that they always avoid video calls whenever you want to take things to the next level. They also refuse to talk over the phone.

It's a red flag if they're constantly making excuses like their phone is broken or they have bad service.

A catfish will come up with all sorts of excuses to keep the lie going. So if the person you're talking to is persistently avoiding video calls, they may be a catfish.

3. They Have Zero Online Presence

If the person you've met on an online dating platform claim that they don't use social media, you should be wary of them.

A person who uses an online dating service would most definitely use social media. MAYBE they're too cool for Tiktok, Instagram, or Twitter, but if they aren't on Facebook, consider that a warning sign.

Even if they give you their social media accounts, make sure it's an authentic account. If it's a new account, has zero followers, or rarely posts—that's a bad sign.

4. Their Stories Seem Too Good to be True

We know it sounds clichéd, but if it's too good to be true, more often than not, it probably is.

If they share their traveling experiences and boast about their wealth, all these are warning signs. They're probably trying to win you over by impressing you.

You should be extra critical and ask them questions to see if their stories are genuine.

5. They Ask For Money

If you just started talking to someone online and they ask for money, that's it. Make a run for it.

Don't make the mistake of trusting someone you barely know with your bank account information. If they ask for money, that's a sure sign of trouble.

Money is exactly what most catfishes work toward the whole time.

6. They Have Perfect Pictures

We know this sounds a little over the top, but dating sites for locals have become very complicated and difficult. To avoid being a catfish victim, you must be over-critical.

If all the pictures they've shown are too perfect, they could be hiding something. Professional pictures and airbrushed headshots are an easy giveaway. An authentic person is likely to have different pictures on their account, but a catfish will only have retouched pictures of them.

7. Something Feel Off

Always trust your intuition or gut feelings, especially in such situations.

If you connect with someone online, and something just seems off or weird, it's better to put things to an end. But if you like the person, there are ways to check and see if they're using their true identity.

Try to look up their socials and find their friends. If you feel you're getting conned, you can either confront them or just end the relationship on the spot.

8. Trust Your Friends

Sometimes your friends are better able to assess your situation. They can analyze the situation from the outside. If your best friend believes you're being catfished, it's probably for a reason, and it's best to trust them.

9. It's All About You

If you respond to their texts, they will bombard you with many questions about you, your work, and your life but are reluctant to give any information in return.

You may have come across a catfish who's reading you like a book and taking notes on how to manipulate you.

Fraudsters often research you and stalk your social media accounts to make them seem like your perfect match. They aim to get you hooked and fast.

It's best to stay cautious and avoid providing too much private information to anyone you meet online.

 

Unblindate is one of the best adult dating sites that ensures a catfish-free online dating experience. You can meet local singles now without worrying that they're fabricating their profile information.

Unblindate app has a unique feature that requires all users to take a live picture while creating their online profile so no one can fabricate their profile information.

Their app is creative, user-friendly, and easy to navigate. If you're looking for a catfish-free online dating site for singles, Unblindate is the one for you!

Check out their app now!