How To Avoid Being Catfished On Dating Apps

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It’s 2020, and dating has never been more challenging. Those who have the luck of meeting someone in public or at work are becoming rarer, and the majority of people are turning to date apps to conveniently and efficiently comb through the pool of potential partners.

While meeting someone online means you don’t have to leave your couch to spark a connection, it also can be dangerous. The ugly truth is, as easy as it is to swipe left or right, it’s just as easy to pretend to be someone else and catfish a trusting and unsuspecting individual.

Years ago, conducting a background check before a date was something only paranoid people did, but today, it is a legitimate measure to keep yourself safe. It has always been common for businesses to run background checks on potential employees, and as dating move further away from face to face interactions, individuals are using background checks before a date to avoid the disappointment or even danger of learning they are being deceived. Read on to learn tips and tricks to avoid being the victim of a catfisher.

Clear Expectations

Be upfront when you first start talking with someone online that you will want to meet them in person (or Skype if they are not close to you) within X days of talking. This gives a potential catfish a small window of time to scam you and will cause many to bail at the beginning before you start investing your energy.

Do not allow excuses. Be prepared for a scammer to agree to a meetup and then cancel at the last minute due to an “emergency.” Sure, emergencies do happen, and you may let a situation like this slide once, but if it happens again, end the relationship. There is something they are hiding, and it’s better to get out now before you continue to waste your time.

Don’t Hide from your Friends

Tell your friends about the person you have been talking to online and get their opinion. Often we are so infatuated with a person and the things they are saying; it is easy to miss red flags that others who are close to us can catch. If you are embarrassed to disclose the information, ask yourself why. It could be you are lying to yourself because you WANT the person to be real, but know deep down they are too good to be true.

Trust Your Gut

If you are noticing patterns of inconsistency in your conversations, CALL THEM OUT. If they talk about an accomplishment but can’t follow up with any details, be wary, especially if what they are saying should have proof online, and you find nothing. Never worry about coming off as paranoid. Real people understand it is a dangerous game you are both playing and it’s essential to be prepared to be tricked and to take measures to keep yourself safe.

Background Check Before a Date

Do not be afraid to perform a DIY background check or even pay someone to perform the service before agreeing to meet a potential partner in person. Even if you have found no red flags in your conversations, it never hurts to be extra careful. Some people are master manipulators and can make even the most cautious individual believe what they are saying. If money is tight, run a reverse search engine on their pictures to see if you can find the same images on other sites or profiles.

If you have the means, it is worth it to pay for a background check. Paid background checks will give you information on your online crush’s criminal history, their education and jobs, and the places they have lived. If the information doesn’t match what they have been telling you about their past in casual conversation, call them out. If they double down and refuse to admit to the lie, cut your losses and bounce. Don’t waste any more time on someone who can’t answer straightforward questions about their history.

The worst that can happen if you agree to run a background check or check with your friends about someone you have been talking to online is what they might think of you. The worst thing that can happen if you don’t is much darker. Take the safe route and protect yourself