LIFESTYLE | opinion www.womanthismonth.com March 2022 79 So how can you sniff out a fake? Here are seven instant red flags you need to be able to spot: The bio is missing that human touch One of the first things that can indicate a catfish is if their profile just looks ‘blank’ and lacks that human touch. This includes things such as a bio, occupation, interests, and other basic information. However, often the ‘human control’ catfish will create almost a new identity to trick people into matching with them, therefore you may still need to be cautious. Many people often connect their other social media accounts with their Tinder profile, so if you cannot find the person on Instagram or Facebook, this is a red flag. No distance Whilst this can be understandable that someone may not want to advertise a location for their own safety, the reason people will go on Tinder is to match with people in close proximity to them. With this in mind, no location is an instant red flag. This can show signs that you may be dealing with a bot or someone located overseas ready to scam you. It is also important that, when meeting someone you have matched with, to meet in an area close to your home. It is not recommended to go any further than 15 miles out of your way the first time you are meeting someone. ‘Picture perfect’ profile pictures If you have a feeling you recognise the person from somewhere else, whether it be another Tinder profile or a famous celebrity, and most of their pictures look extremely professional and unnatural, swipe left. It is likely the person behind the profile has ripped these pictures from the internet or somebody’s Instagram profile and copied their name and description into the bio. Verification status Recently, Tinder launched a new ID verification function to prevent catfishing, meaning global users will be prompted to verify their identity prior to interacting with others. Whilst it isn’t obligatory, it will help legitimate users prove they are the same person behind their pictures. So, if somebody doesn’t have a blue verification tick next to their name, always be wary they may not be who they appear to be. They only have one photo Whilst this doesn’t always indicate a fake profile, if you only have one photo to judge of someone, this is usually a red flag. After all, you want to see them from different angles, right? Refusal to video chat If you suggest it’s finally time to have a face-to-face chat and the person makes up an excuse like ‘their camera is broken’, this could be an indication they aren’t who they say they are. Although, it’s important to remember the person could just be extremely shy and not confident enough to chat over video call. Refusal to meet in person After a while, if it feels like the right time to meet up but the person refuses, this can be a sign they are a fake. If somebody is genuinely interested in getting to know you, they will go out of their way to meet up in person. Whatever you choose to do, we hope stay safe and find a genuine match online! Top tip: If you can’t seem to work out whether the person in the picture is real, screenshot the image from the profile and put it Reverse Face Search in Google Images and see if you can find the face elsewhere.
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