How to spot a catfish?

NormInv

I actually prefer catfish to some self-righteous people on here. You know what you are gonna get from them and they always follow through on promises. Additionally, almost all the fake pics are better than real pic and this is FACT.

MityMax96

I'm kinda embarrassed but I've been there.

They want an immediate relationship. They will send long love letters almost immediately - copy/paste them into Google and see if they come up under scam websites. Reverse image search. They are almost always widow/widower, some kind of engineer for a petroleum company and working overseas in Europe or Africa. They will say all the right words. They refuse to meet in person or talk on the phone and if they do Skype it will be a dark background. If they talk on the phone they will have a deep accent even though they are American or British or whatever nationality they give. They promise to take care of all your problems and ride you off into the sunset on a beautiful white horse. If you continue speaking a potential catfish they will have a terrible accident shortly into a job, such as their passport was taken, they can't get their equipment into the country because of an unknown tax, they've been on the contract but can't pay their hotel bill, they have to pay land use taxes, their kid gets hurt and sent to the hospital, they get diagnosed with cancer, etc., all stuff that seems legitimate and tugs at your heart strings.

I recently caught two in a row on a dating website. Statistics say that 1 out of 10 profiles are catfish but I think it's higher or I am a prime target. After I reported them the website kicked them off within minutes.

There are some good scam websites that you can pay to have profiles checked out as well, just Google for them. I'd rather spend $10-20 now than lose what I lost in the past and never get back.

Also trust your intuition about this, if you feel there is something wrong there is probably something wrong. Look for red flags. If you want to PM me I will give you more details.

Hey!!!
How you doin??
Nice horse u got there

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

bethfartman

Reverse image search, google full name, google phone number, ask for specific photos if they won't video chat (wearing a hat, holding a note, etc...), message people on their friend's list (if you don't want to look like you're fishing, say something like you want to buy them a present, but since you just met you don't know what to get and thought they might know him better and have ideas...)

If there are too many things in common, they probably read your blog/follow you on social networks.


Basically, if you think they're a catfish, they probably are.

rollng_thundr

Catfish are one of the most elusive of all cats... you see pictures of theme everywhere.. but to find the actual one in real life...

Guns_N_Buns

I'm kinda embarrassed but I've been there.

They want an immediate relationship. They will send long love letters almost immediately - copy/paste them into Google and see if they come up under scam websites. Reverse image search. They are almost always widow/widower, some kind of engineer for a petroleum company and working overseas in Europe or Africa. They will say all the right words. They refuse to meet in person or talk on the phone and if they do Skype it will be a dark background. If they talk on the phone they will have a deep accent even though they are American or British or whatever nationality they give. They promise to take care of all your problems and ride you off into the sunset on a beautiful white horse. If you continue speaking a potential catfish they will have a terrible accident shortly into a job, such as their passport was taken, they can't get their equipment into the country because of an unknown tax, they've been on the contract but can't pay their hotel bill, they have to pay land use taxes, their kid gets hurt and sent to the hospital, they get diagnosed with cancer, etc., all stuff that seems legitimate and tugs at your heart strings.

I recently caught two in a row on a dating website. Statistics say that 1 out of 10 profiles are catfish but I think it's higher or I am a prime target. After I reported them the website kicked them off within minutes.

There are some good scam websites that you can pay to have profiles checked out as well, just Google for them. I'd rather spend $10-20 now than lose what I lost in the past and never get back.

Also trust your intuition about this, if you feel there is something wrong there is probably something wrong. Look for red flags. If you want to PM me I will give you more details.

I saw this exact story on Dr. Phil. Sad part is, the woman STILL wasn't convinced that her "soul mate" was a hoax...she was also $100k+ in the hole...I don't comprehend that level of naivety.

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

I don't Skype, so I must be a catfish. Meh.

Yeah, but do you KIK?

yea, no, because I'm not into exchanging nudes.... a few of my MFP friends have met me in person, though.

I FOUND THE CATFISH!!!! :laugh:

doh! Busted.... or, you could reverse Google image search and find out.

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

I don't Skype, so I must be a catfish. Meh.

Yeah, but do you KIK?

yea, no, because I'm not into exchanging nudes.... a few of my MFP friends have met me in person, though.

I use KiK w/ two people

at one time?? You've got talent!!

Muddy_Yogi

They are cancer survivors. All of them. I think it's a requirement.

Hmmmm you may be on to something here.

silver_arrow3

I don't Skype, so I must be a catfish. Meh.

Yeah, but do you KIK?

yea, no, because I'm not into exchanging nudes.... a few of my MFP friends have met me in person, though.

I may be able to confirm you are who you say you are...

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

I don't Skype, so I must be a catfish. Meh.

Yeah, but do you KIK?

yea, no, because I'm not into exchanging nudes.... a few of my MFP friends have met me in person, though.

I may be able to confirm you are who you say you are...

and I may be able to confirm you've got a nice rack.

silver_arrow3

I don't Skype, so I must be a catfish. Meh.

Yeah, but do you KIK?

yea, no, because I'm not into exchanging nudes.... a few of my MFP friends have met me in person, though.

I may be able to confirm you are who you say you are...

and I may be able to confirm you've got a nice rack.

I think I may frame this comment. :laugh:

1princesswarrior

I'm kinda embarrassed but I've been there.

They want an immediate relationship. They will send long love letters almost immediately - copy/paste them into Google and see if they come up under scam websites. Reverse image search. They are almost always widow/widower, some kind of engineer for a petroleum company and working overseas in Europe or Africa. They will say all the right words. They refuse to meet in person or talk on the phone and if they do Skype it will be a dark background. If they talk on the phone they will have a deep accent even though they are American or British or whatever nationality they give. They promise to take care of all your problems and ride you off into the sunset on a beautiful white horse. If you continue speaking a potential catfish they will have a terrible accident shortly into a job, such as their passport was taken, they can't get their equipment into the country because of an unknown tax, they've been on the contract but can't pay their hotel bill, they have to pay land use taxes, their kid gets hurt and sent to the hospital, they get diagnosed with cancer, etc., all stuff that seems legitimate and tugs at your heart strings.

I recently caught two in a row on a dating website. Statistics say that 1 out of 10 profiles are catfish but I think it's higher or I am a prime target. After I reported them the website kicked them off within minutes.

There are some good scam websites that you can pay to have profiles checked out as well, just Google for them. I'd rather spend $10-20 now than lose what I lost in the past and never get back.

Also trust your intuition about this, if you feel there is something wrong there is probably something wrong. Look for red flags. If you want to PM me I will give you more details.

Hey!!!
How you doin??
Nice horse u got there

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Well, hello. I'm good, thanks :blushing:

jnichel

I don't Skype, so I must be a catfish. Meh.

Yeah, but do you KIK?

yea, no, because I'm not into exchanging nudes.... a few of my MFP friends have met me in person, though.

I FOUND THE CATFISH!!!! :laugh:

doh! Busted.... or, you could reverse Google image search and find out.

Well, I only have access to the profile pic and Google said that it was visually similar to this:



SO BUSTED! :laugh:

1princesswarrior

I'm kinda embarrassed but I've been there.

They want an immediate relationship. They will send long love letters almost immediately - copy/paste them into Google and see if they come up under scam websites. Reverse image search. They are almost always widow/widower, some kind of engineer for a petroleum company and working overseas in Europe or Africa. They will say all the right words. They refuse to meet in person or talk on the phone and if they do Skype it will be a dark background. If they talk on the phone they will have a deep accent even though they are American or British or whatever nationality they give. They promise to take care of all your problems and ride you off into the sunset on a beautiful white horse. If you continue speaking a potential catfish they will have a terrible accident shortly into a job, such as their passport was taken, they can't get their equipment into the country because of an unknown tax, they've been on the contract but can't pay their hotel bill, they have to pay land use taxes, their kid gets hurt and sent to the hospital, they get diagnosed with cancer, etc., all stuff that seems legitimate and tugs at your heart strings.

I recently caught two in a row on a dating website. Statistics say that 1 out of 10 profiles are catfish but I think it's higher or I am a prime target. After I reported them the website kicked them off within minutes.

There are some good scam websites that you can pay to have profiles checked out as well, just Google for them. I'd rather spend $10-20 now than lose what I lost in the past and never get back.

Also trust your intuition about this, if you feel there is something wrong there is probably something wrong. Look for red flags. If you want to PM me I will give you more details.

I saw this exact story on Dr. Phil. Sad part is, the woman STILL wasn't convinced that her "soul mate" was a hoax...she was also $100k+ in the hole...I don't comprehend that level of naivety.

I got smart about it real quick. They hit me at one of the lowest points of my life. No confidence, family problems, lonely and sad, I had tragically just lost my first horse. I saw that Dr Phil show, I think that lady was widowed. They need to pass laws to stop this.

BinaryPulsar

I don't Skype, so I must be a catfish. Meh.

Yeah, but do you KIK?

yea, no, because I'm not into exchanging nudes.... a few of my MFP friends have met me in person, though.

I FOUND THE CATFISH!!!! :laugh:

doh! Busted.... or, you could reverse Google image search and find out.

Well, I only have access to the profile pic and Google said that it was visually similar to this:



SO BUSTED! :laugh:

:laugh:

MysteriousMerlin

Look for the group of old men down by the Mississippi river edge.

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

I don't Skype, so I must be a catfish. Meh.

Yeah, but do you KIK?

yea, no, because I'm not into exchanging nudes.... a few of my MFP friends have met me in person, though.

I FOUND THE CATFISH!!!! :laugh:

doh! Busted.... or, you could reverse Google image search and find out.

Well, I only have access to the profile pic and Google said that it was visually similar to this:



SO BUSTED! :laugh:

can I haz him?!? I'll be your bestest friend in the world....

jnichel

I don't Skype, so I must be a catfish. Meh.

Yeah, but do you KIK?

yea, no, because I'm not into exchanging nudes.... a few of my MFP friends have met me in person, though.

I FOUND THE CATFISH!!!! :laugh:

doh! Busted.... or, you could reverse Google image search and find out.

Well, I only have access to the profile pic and Google said that it was visually similar to this:



SO BUSTED! :laugh:

can I haz him?!? I'll be your bestest friend in the world....

He's not my type....I like my men like I like my coffee.....weak. Happy hunting. :laugh:

kinkyslinky16

They never show their face...



Oh. Well this is awkward.

All I show is face. That's how people know I'm legit.

This guy is definitely a catfish.

elprincipito

they have really sexy bodies and pretty faces ?

lucille_heather

No video chats!
If your gut feeling is saying they are a fake then they most likely are.

EmpireBusiness

They never show their face...



Oh. Well this is awkward.

All I show is face. That's how people know I'm legit.

This guy is definitely a catfish.

You're just mad I wouldn't noodle you.

kinkyslinky16

They never show their face...



Oh. Well this is awkward.

All I show is face. That's how people know I'm legit.

This guy is definitely a catfish.

You're just mad I wouldn't noodle you.

No, you're the one that begged. I refused. I might be willing to reconsider a noodling every now and then though

RachelSteeners

Call Nev & Max

Myhaloslipped

A suspicious Skype session, such as this one:

YamaMaya1

easy ways to spot a catfish:

1. they seem too good to be true. extremely attractive, has a modeling career and seems way too perfect to be real, stuff like that.
2. gets shady and/or defensive if you bring up trigger topics. pics, skype, meeting up, doubting their sincerity.
3. you have known this person for years yet havent advanced past phone calls or messages online.
4. one person (not you) seems to have all the control in your relationship. You feel like you wait by the phone or are always asking to meet up but there is always an excuse from them not to. You may even get stood up but they are quick to explain it was some "last minute work thing"
5. If there are pics you can usually search on sites like tineye and it will come up with the real person the picture is of.

just a few very obvious signs, be careful out there.

smantha32

they refuse to skype

I refuse to Skype because I'd never get anything done, it's hard enough as it is. If I got to start speaking out loud to all of my peeps I would have to stop sleeping.

I don't skype.. because I'm usually on the PC with no makeup on and wearing my pajamas. Plus sometimes the room isn't clean. I'll meet people for coffee though. lol

sixout

I never skype because my pictures aren't really me, then everyone would know the truth.

smantha32

I got smart about it real quick. They hit me at one of the lowest points of my life. No confidence, family problems, lonely and sad, I had tragically just lost my first horse. I saw that Dr Phil show, I think that lady was widowed. They need to pass laws to stop this.

There are already laws against fraud, which is what it is.
But it's really hard to catch those people.

_lyndseybrooke_

These dudes know how it's done.