You’ve been chatting with someone on Tinder or Bumble for a few days, and now you are ready to meet up in person.
Except there is one problem – how can you be sure that your match is who they say they are?
It is no secret that there are many scammers on dating sites and it is becoming more difficult to tell who is real or who is trying to take advantage of you.
Surprisingly, not everyone who has a fake bio wants to scam you and there are actually a few other reasons why people might have fake dating profiles.
For example, some people create fake dating profiles to boost their ego or to practice their communication skills because they’re shy in real life.
Others make fake dating bios to prank, stalk, or even get revenge on someone.
There are also people that create fake profiles because they’re curious about online dating but not ready to upload their own photos.
Lastly, fake profiles are often used by people that cheat on their partners.
So what are some ways to figure out who is real and who is not when meeting people online?
First of all, be wary of anyone who seems too good to be true. If someone’s profile photos are photoshopped or look too professional, that’s a red flag.
Also, take a look at what your matches say in their dating bio and if something doesn’t seem to add up, that’s another warning sign.
Finally, don’t forget to trust your gut because if you feel that something is off about your match then it probably is.
Now that you are familiar with a few signs that someone is using a fake dating profile, let’s take a look at all the other red flags that you may notice.
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How to Spot Bots, Fake Profiles, and Scammers on Dating Sites?
1. They Don’t Have Much Info in Their Bio
If someone has a very generic or empty dating bio, that’s a warning sign that they might not be real.
Most scammers won’t bother writing any info in their bios and instead will use attractive photos to get people to message them.
2. They Have a Lot of Spelling Errors
If someone has a lot of spelling errors in their dating profile, it could be a sign that they’re not who they say they are.
Many scammers come from countries where they don’t speak English so they often make a lot of writing errors.
3. Their Age Seems Off
If someone’s age doesn’t sound right, it might be because they’re not real.
For example, if someone says they’re in their early 20s but their photos look like they’re in their 30s, it’s a red flag.
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4. Their Photos Look Like Stock Images
If someone is using stock images (you can tell by doing a reverse image search) as their profile photos, that’s an obvious sign that the bio is fake.
5. Their Messages are Very Generic
Generic messages are often sent by fake accounts created by scammers.
Their goal is to message as many people as possible to bait someone into sending money or sharing personal information.
Be wary of anyone who only sends messages like “hey” or “what’s up?” These could be signs that you’re dealing with a scammer.
6. They Ask For Money Or Personal Information
If someone you’ve never met before starts asking for money or your personal information, that’s a huge red flag.
No matter how much they profess their love for you, this is always a terrible idea.
Scammers will often try to create trust with their victims by chatting with them online for long periods of time before eventually asking for money.
They may even send small amounts of money to their victims at first to gain their trust.
If you’re talking to someone online and they start asking for personal information or money, cut off all communication immediately.
There’s no reason why someone you’ve never met would need your Social Security number, bank account information, or your home address.
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7. They are Not Willing to Video Chat or Meet in Person
If you’ve been talking to someone online for a while and they refuse to video chat or go on a date, they might be using a fake dating profile.
Scammers will often try to keep the conversation online because it’s easier to lie that way.
They can create any type of persona they want and you won’t know the truth until you meet them in person… if you ever do.
If they always have an excuse for why they can’t have face to face conversation with you, be suspicious.
8. They Don’t Have Any Social Media Presence
Most people have Facebook, TikTok or Instagram and it’s pretty rare to find someone who doesn’t even have a LinkedIn profile.
If you come across someone on a dating site who has zero social media presence, that could be a red flag.
9. They Seem Too Good To Be True
If their profile seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Scammers often use images of attractive people to create a profile that seems perfect in every way to get as many matches as they can.
10. Their Messages Seem Scripted
When you’re getting to know someone online, pay attention to how they chat with you.
Do their messages seem a little too generic or copy-pasted?
Scammers often use the same message over and over again because it’s easier than trying to come up with something new each time.
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11. Their Stories Don’t Add Up
When you’re getting to know someone online, pay attention to the stories they tell you about their life, their job, their family, and their friends.
Do they seem a little bit too perfect?
Fake profiles are usually created by people who want to portray themselves as perfect in every way.
They will often make up stories about their lives to make themselves seem more interesting so that more people would message them.
12. They are Asking for Your Intimate Photos
No matter how much you think you trust someone, you should never send them your private photos.
Once those photos are out there, you have no control over where they end up. Not to mention, intimate photos can be used as blackmail.
If someone is pressuring you to send them your pictures before you’ve even met in person, that’s a huge red flag.
13. They Claim to Be Traveling Abroad
This is another common ploy used by scammers.
They’ll say that they’re outside of a country and won’t be able to meet up with you for weeks or even months.
They may even send you photos of them in front of famous landmarks to prove that they are where they say they are.
Be especially careful if they tell you that they got robbed or lost their wallet while they were abroad and now need money to get home.
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