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THOUSANDS of singles around the world fall victim to catfish and scammers every year.
And with online dating becoming more and more popular as a way to meet people, it’s more dangerous than ever to fall for a catfish.
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When you’re looking for love, it can be heartbreaking to realize that the person you’re talking to isn’t who they say they are.
New data shows that 40 percent of the population knows someone who has been a victim of catfishing, while 22 percent have been victims of catfishing themselves.
Luckily, there’s a relationship expert helping singles stay safe in the world of online dating.
April Davis, Founder and President of LUMA Luxury Relationship Mediationhas shared five important ways to catch a catfish.
You can’t find them anywhere else online
Nowadays, almost everyone is present on social media, especially those who want to try out dating apps.
So if you can’t find them anywhere online, like on Facebook, Instagram or even LinkedIn, that could be a big warning sign.
April says: “If you’re suspicious, ask if you can add them on Facebook or Instagram.
“If they decline or the account they send you looks new, that’s a red flag.”
They make conversations personal very quickly
Catfish are known for their “love-bombing,” a form of emotional manipulation.
This happens when someone uses excessive and extravagant displays of love to manipulate another person.
So if the person you’re talking to immediately overdoes it with compliments, wants to communicate all the time, and within a few days is making statements like “I love you,” that’s a big warning sign.
The experts explain: “Catfish want you to feel special so that you can bond with them. They want to do that quickly so that they can take what they want from you and move on.
“If they can convince you that this is a whirlwind romance, they are more likely to scam you because you will be more likely to say yes when they ask you for things.”
They don’t open
If someone asks a lot of questions about you but isn’t willing to do much in return, this could be a warning sign that you’re dealing with a catfish.
This is because these scammers are obviously not who they say they are and it can be difficult for them to make their lies come true.
That’s why most catfish prefer not to give out any personal information at all, if they have no other choice.
April added: “Catfishers want to scam people with as little effort as possible, so they don’t want to go through the trouble of creating and maintaining a fake identity.
“If you insist on sharing personal details and your new conversation partner remains silent, you may have dodged a catfish.”
EXPERT ADVICE
APRIL Davis, founder of LUMA Luxury Matchmaking, shared her top advice for anyone thinking they’re talking to a catfish.
There are several ways to protect yourself from catfish.
“First of all, never give money, your bank details or your credit card details to someone you haven’t met in person. Also, be careful with your personal details.
Catfishes are usually scammers who try to convince you to send money, access your cards, or convince you to provide enough personal information so they can commit identity fraud.
“I wouldn’t give out much more than superficial information until you meet in person.
“Another thing to look out for is their photos. Do they look Instagram model perfect? Then the catfisher might have stolen them from a real Instagram model.
Take a screenshot or save their photos and do a reverse Google Image search to see if you can determine where the photo actually came from.
“One of the biggest indicators that you have a catfish is of course when they don’t want to video call.
“Some people are shy, yes, but if you’ve been talking to each other for weeks, there’s no reason not to video call.
“If someone becomes aggressive or ignores you after you ask, or if they use an excuse (‘my camera is broken’ is common, but someone I know was once told ‘my internet isn’t good enough because I work on an oil rig’!) then you should be very wary.”
They ask for money
If you ask for money, no matter the reason, that’s a big warning sign.
Whether they ask for a bank transfer or your credit card number, catfishes have a variety of sob stories to tell when they try to scam you.
April says, “Never give money or information to someone you only met online, especially if you’ve never seen their face.”
They don’t show their faces
It’s not surprising that someone who doesn’t want to show who they are during a video call or real-time photos could be a catfish.
The last thing a catfish wants is for you to see his or her real face, because they often steal photos from others and use them.
This means they will likely refuse to send photos or make video calls.
April explains that the best way to check if someone is legitimate is to ask them to send a photo of themselves performing a specific pose or activity.
Especially an unusual one that is hard to find pictures of online.
