When experiencing online dating, lots of people risk meeting catfishers instead of actual potential partners. But what is catfishing in online dating online dating? And even more importantly – how to avoid it?
What Is It?
Let’s learn more about catfishing in online dating and its meaning. When someone creates a fake identity or pretends to be someone else on the internet to trick people into thinking they’re real – that’s the meaning of catfishing in online dating. They might use fake photos, stories, or personalities to deceive others and form relationships based on lies. It’s like pretending to be a different person to get attention or manipulate someone’s feelings.
How Catfishers Act
To understand that you’re dealing with a fake account, keep looking for some red flags.
Stealing Photos
Catfishers may use photos of other people, often from social media or modeling websites, to create fake profiles. They do this to deceive others into thinking they are someone they’re not, often to gain attention or manipulate emotions.
Fabricating Personalities
Some catfishers create elaborate personas with detailed backstories and fake identities. They may invent fictional careers, hobbies, and life experiences to lure unsuspecting individuals into online relationships.
Using Stock Photos
Instead of stealing specific photos of individuals, catfishers may use generic stock photos found online to create fake profiles. This allows them to maintain anonymity while still presenting an attractive or appealing image to potential victims.
Using Multiple Accounts
Catfishers may operate multiple fake profiles simultaneously to increase their chances of success. They may use different personas and profiles to target multiple individuals or to manipulate conversations and relationships.
Manipulating Emotions
Catfishers often use emotional manipulation tactics to exploit their victims’ vulnerabilities. They may feign love, sympathy, or concern to gain trust and affection, only to later exploit or betray those emotions for their own gain.
Creating Fake Social Proof
Some scammers might create fake social proof to support their fabricated identities. They may create fake friends, family members, or social media accounts to validate their fake persona and deceive their victims further.
How To Avoid Catfishers
To stay safe and actually meet love, you have to be careful and protect yourself. Here are a few tips on how to avoid scammers.
Check Profile Pictures
This means using tools that let you search for where else a photo appears on the internet. By doing this, you can see if the photos someone is using on their dating profile belong to someone else. If they do, it’s a sign that they might be pretending to be someone they’re not.
Verify Details
When you’re talking to someone online, ask them questions about the information they’ve shared in their profile. If their answers don’t match up or they seem hesitant to give clear responses, it could mean they’re not being truthful.
Video Call Confirmation
Requesting a video call allows you to see the person face-to-face through your computer or phone. This helps confirm that they’re the same person shown in their profile pictures and that they’re being honest about who they are.
Protect Personal Data
Be careful about sharing private information like your address, phone number, or financial details with someone you haven’t met in person or verified their identity through other means. This protects you from potential scams or identity theft.
Listen to Your Intuition
Pay attention to any feelings of doubt or suspicion you might have about someone you’re talking to online. Your instincts can often pick up on red flags or inconsistencies that indicate someone might not be who they claim to be.
Meet in Public
If you decide to meet someone in person, always choose a public location for your safety. Additionally, let a friend or family member know where you’ll be and who you’ll be meeting. This ensures that someone else is aware of your plans and can help if needed.