Dating websites and apps can be a great dating to meet someone from the comfort of your own home, but some scammers use these platforms catfish win people's trust and take their money. If you're online dating, read these tips so you know how to spot a catfish.
How to spot a catfish
A catfish is someone who sets up a fake online profile to trick people who are looking for love, usually to get money out of them. Someone dating for personal information, like your full name, address, date of birth or bank details.
They're telling you they love you, but you've only been talking for a couple of days or weeks. Someone who quickly suggests talking by email, text or phone rather than via the platform where you met them. You've searched their name on the internet but they don't seem to exist. Or they do, but the photos don't match the photos on their dating profile. Someone who only tells you vague app about themselves, and nothing that can be fact-checked.
Someone asking for money in order to come and visit you because they live far away. Someone asking you to keep the relationship secret or trying to isolate you from your friends or family. Even if they live in another country, there are lots of ways to meet them online, such as Skype and Facetime. If they're avoiding showing dating their face, this could be a sign that they're not who they say they are.
Watch out for inconsistencies in app stories, and if something doesn't make sense, ask about it. Avoiding scams information guide 4 MB. Find out more about online dating. See our tips on how to use social media safely. We offer support through our free advice line on Lines are open 8am-7pm, days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over local Age UKs. Dating can be a minefield. Especially online.
Why Do People Catfish?
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Watch out for emails asking catfish to pay to renew your TV Licence. As we get older, relationships can change and you may begin to lose loved ones. While there's no one way to deal with Back to top. Postcode Please enter a valid postcode Submit. Scams and fraud How to spot a catfish Spotting TV Licence scams Doorstep scams Postal scams Phone scams What to do if you're the victim of a scam Investment scams and fraud Avoiding scams information guide. How to spot a catfish. What is a catfish? How can I spot a catfish?
How can I avoid getting catfished? What should I do if I've been scammed on a dating app or website? Watch out for these behaviours to avoid check this out scams and catfish.
They want to know your personal details Catfish asking for personal information, like your full name, address, date of birth or bank details. Conversations that get personal very quickly They're telling you they love you, but you've only been talking for a couple of days or weeks. You can't find any trace of them online You've searched their name on the internet but they don't seem to exist. They ask you to keep your relationship secret Someone asking you to keep the relationship secret or trying to isolate you from your friends or family.
They avoid face-to-face contact Even if they live in another country, there are lots of ways to meet them online, such as Skype and Facetime. Their stories don't add up Watch out for inconsistencies in people's stories, and if something doesn't make sense, ask about it. There are things you can do to help avoid relationship scams and catfish: Report and block: If you become suspicious, most dating platforms and social media sites will let you report a member. You should also be able to block any members that make you feel uneasy or unsafe.
You should also report them on app app or website that you met them on. Want more information? Avoiding scams information guide 4 MB Find out more about online dating See our tips on how to use social media safely.
We're here to help We offer support through our free advice line on You might also be interested in. An expert's dating advice for over 50s Dating can be a minefield.
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