How to spot a fake dating profile
Fake profiles exist on every dating site. Some are spam or advertising, some are scammers, and some are people pretending to be someone else. Knowing the common signs makes them much easier to spot.
Warning signs in the profile
- Photos that look professional. Model-quality shots, studio lighting, or pictures that look like adverts. Real people's photos are usually ordinary.
- Very few photos, or all from the same shoot. Real people tend to have photos from different times and places.
- A description that could be anyone. Generic phrases, no details, or text that doesn't match the photos.
- A job that keeps them far away. Working on an oil rig, in the military abroad, as a ship's engineer or a doctor with an aid organisation. Real people have these jobs too, but scammers use them because they explain why the person can never meet or video call.
- Contact details or links in the profile. Phone numbers, messaging IDs or links to other sites.
Warning signs in messages
- They want to move to another app very quickly. Often within the first few messages. Moving you elsewhere means the dating site can no longer see the conversation, and your report can't be saved with their profile.
- Strong feelings very fast. Talk of love, fate or a future together before you've met.
- They avoid simple questions. Vague answers about where they live, what they do, or why they can't meet.
- Messages that feel scripted. Long, polished paragraphs that don't really respond to what you wrote.
- They won't video call. There's always a broken camera, bad connection or another excuse.
- Money comes up. A sudden emergency, a customs fee, a plane ticket, or an investment opportunity. This is the clearest sign of all. See romance scam warning signs.
One sign on its own doesn't prove anything. Several together should make you careful.
Simple checks you can do
- Reverse image search. Use a reverse image search to see whether their photos appear elsewhere under a different name. Stolen photos often turn up quickly.
- Ask for a short video call before meeting. A real person who is interested will usually agree. Repeated excuses are a bad sign.
- Ask something specific. About a photo, their area, their work. Watch for answers that change.
- Take your time. Scammers push for speed. A real person can wait.
How sign-in helps here
Here you can only sign in with an existing Google or X account. That makes creating lots of fake accounts harder, but it doesn't make it impossible. Treat it as a filter, not a guarantee, and still use your own judgement.
What to do if you find one
- Stop replying. You don't need to explain or confront them.
- Report the profile. Choose "Fake profile", or "Sends people to other apps or services" if that's what happened. Your report is saved with the profile.
- Block them. You won't see each other anymore and they can't message you.
- Don't send money or personal documents, whatever the story.
Step-by-step instructions are in how to block or report someone.
Don't be too suspicious either
Most people are just people. Someone with one good photo or a short description isn't automatically fake. Some people are shy, new to dating sites, or not good at writing about themselves. The signs above matter most when they come together, and especially when money or a quick move to another app is involved.
FAQ
Are there fake profiles on this site?
Any dating site can have them. Google or X sign-in makes them harder to create, and profiles that send people to other apps aren't welcome, but you should still watch for the signs above and report what you find.
Will the other person know I reported them?
No. They're not told who reported them.
They asked for my number. Is that a scam?
Not necessarily. But being asked very early, before you've talked properly, is a common pattern for scammers. It's fine to say you'd rather keep chatting here for now.
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