Catfishing Scam: 5 Ways to Avoid Romance Fraud Conmen

Guest Blogger Lana

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How can you protect yourself from a catfishing scam?

Should I feel concerned for my subscribers safety?

Hello, this is Orlando from this site InfidelityFirstAidKit.com. I wanted more insight into the threat of online dating scammers so I invited my friend and online dating coach Lana Otoya from Millennialships.com who successfully assists strong independent women to attract and meet high-quality men on dating apps to do a guest post.

Here’s what she had to say…

Catfishing and Scammers in Today’s Dating World

The dating world has changed a lot in the past decade. With 39 percent of all couples now meet online, it surely is the most effective way to date.

But what about the safety of it?

What about catfishing or romance fraud? Is online dating as safe as we think it is?

If you’re worried about a catfishing scam or romance fraud, it’s comforting to know that although it’s common, there are ways you can protect yourself.

Here are my top 5 ways to avoid romance fraud conmen and a catfishing scam.

How to Protect Yourself from a Catfishing Scam and Romance Fraud

#5 – Use Safe Dating Apps

Conmen and catfish are on all dating apps and sites, but some apps are worse than others. The best way to avoid a catfish is to stick to dating apps that have extra measures to stop scams. The best dating apps and sites for this are as follows:

Bumble

Bumble is great because it requires all users to submit a selfie verification.  This ensures that their photos are accurate and recent. The way it works is as follows.

Bumble will make the user do a specific pose, usually a facial position (i.e. Smiling, frowning, or winking) or asking the user to hold up a certain number of fingers.  Then they will manually compare this to the user’s profile photos. If the user fails the test, they are completely denied access to the app.

Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel has a similar process but for some reason, it doesn’t prompt all users to do this like Bumble. I have seen most users get prompted with the verifications, but I have also seen it where the prompt never came and the user was allowed to continue. Although it’s not as absolute as Bumble, it’s still better than not having a screening process at all.

Hinge

Hinge is very strict about making sure that users are not using any kind of GPS or location faking software. If they detect anything suspicious, they will require the user to verify themselves with a real phone number. While not as catfish proof as Bumble, this limits conmen and romance fraud from signing up for multiple accounts or from random countries.

Paid Dating Sites

Dating sites that require a user to pay for a subscription have significantly fewer romance scams and catfish. This includes sites like Match.com and eHarmony.

In general, you should avoid very niche or underground sites as they are likely to have more scams. If the site looks like it’s from the ’90s, it’s probably best to stay away. Popular dating sites that are known to have more fraud are Tinder and Plenty of Fish so steer clear of those.

==>Check for FAKE Dating Profiles

(Note from InfidelityFirstAidKit.com)

Who are you really talking to? Is he just playing you and hitting on dozens of women?

Check for fake dating profiles with a background check from Instant Checkmate. [Click here] for more details about what you can find with a background check.

#4– Meet in A Public Area

When online dating, the best way to ensure someone is real is by meeting them in person. 

Conmen who are committing romance fraud are looking for your money. Catfish are looking for a pen pal. Both of these scams require that you never meet the person behind the screen.

The quickest way to test a potential scammer is to see how willing they are to meet up. Most people who are looking to start a real relationship don’t want to spend a lot of time texting. If they haven’t asked you out after texting for a few days, go ahead and ask them and see how they react.

Remember that when you meet them, it’s safest to meet in a public place where there are others around. This means a restaurant or bar and not at their home. It’s best not to have them pick you up or drive you home on the first date.

If someone doesn’t ever want to meet up, this is a big red flag that they are hiding something.

Better SAFE , than sorry

(Note from InfidelityFirstAidKit.com)

Who is he really? Find out if they have a criminal record or worse, a sex offender with a background check.

Are his photos real or fake?

[Click here] to get more details on how a background check can keep you safe.

…the best way to ensure someone is real is by meeting them in person

#3– Watch for robotic or suspicious language

Many romance scams aren’t even done by people, they are done by robots. Spotting a bot on a dating app is simple. All you have to do is make sure that you’re asking specific questions and that they are giving you specific answers.

If you ask them what their favorite movie is and they respond with “yeah that’s cool, so what do you do for fun?” you can tell that this disjointed conversation is not legitimate.

Other romance scams are done by real people, but the language is often suspicious. They might be overly eager to get you to move the conversation off the dating app. 

They can be very high pressure, saying things like “I’m really attracted to you and would love to continue this via email.” Saying that they are “failing for you” is another common one.

If they are falling for you a little too quickly, that is a big red flag.

Another way to spot a catfishing scam is by the method of communication they suggest. Most real people want to use phone numbers and text you after they have connected on a dating app. Scammers will often want to use email, Kik, or some other messaging site that doesn’t require a phone number.

#2– Reverse Image Search on Google

Many scammers will steal fake pictures off the internet and use them on dating sites. An easy way to see if someone is doing this is by using Google reverse image search.

The way you do this is by completing the following steps:

1. Save a screenshot of the person’s dating profile
2. Go to this link: https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en
3. Click on the camera button
4. Click on “upload image”
5. Upload the screenshot of the image

Once this is done, you will see where that image has appeared on other websites across the internet. If you find that photo is being used somewhere else, like on Facebook or LinkedIn with a different name. It could be that they stole the image and are using it to con you.

Or find out if he’s married or cheating.

(Note from InfidelityFirstAidKit.com)

Discover the photos of him with his wife or girlfriend.

[Click here] to find out how.

#1 – Never Give Any Money

The final and biggest way to stay safe while online dating is to never give anyone money.

Romance fraud can be quick or slow. They can quickly ask you for some money after they move the conversation off the app. This is often easier to spot.

But they can also be slyer about it. Expert conmen can string you along for days or weeks before they make up some story or excuse for why they need you to send them money.

Conclusion

Although no one wants to think of this side of the internet, the truth is that romance fraud is a very common occurrence. According to a study from Phactual, a whopping 10% of profiles on free dating sites are fake.

You can never be too careful when trying to avoid fraud online as many scammers and even robots are getting more advanced in their methods. Although it can be time-consuming to go through the steps I have outlined, it is worth it to stay safe and not waste time on someone who isn’t serious.

Meet the Author

Lana Otoya from Millennialships.com

Lana Otoya is a professional dating coach at Millennialships.com. She is dedicated to helping confident and successful women meet confident and successful men. [Click here] to get your own free copy of her “How to Attract Higher Quality Men” Checklist

Have you been a victim of a Catfishing Scam or Romance Fraud?

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