Multiple Faces Detected
January 24th, 2022
It’s a common question, especially in the age of catfish scams. With so many people out there pretending to be someone they’re not, you might be wondering how to tell if someone is real online. In this blog post, we will discuss some ways you can find out if the person you’re talking to online is who they say they are.
In 2020, Americans lost $4.2 billion to online scams. Much of the money lost was due to romance scams. Romance scams are scams in which people steal the photos of internet celebrities and start an online relationship with the intention of asking for money. It is important to know the difference between catfishing and catfish scams.
Catfishing Vs Catfish Scams
You can’t trust everything you see online. Catfishing is when someone uses computer software, like filters, to modify thier bodies or make themselves appear more attractive online. Most people do this to a degree, with angles, lighting, and filters, but it becomes catfishing when the images on someone’s profile don’t resemble thier appearance in real life at all. Although this type of catfishing can be disappointing if it happens to you when online dating, it is generally harmless.
Catfish scams, on the other hand, are far more dangerous. With romance scams costing people millions of dollars every year. it is important to be aware of the signs that someone might not be who they say they are online.
Spotting Red Flags
Romance scammers have copy-and-paste excuses for why can’t video chat or meet in person. Because of this. Romance scammers typically have common identities that help them avoid situations that will expose them as being scammers. These excuses usually revolve around thier jobs. Here are the top three professions that romance scammers use in their social media accounts to avoid video chatting and meeting in person.
- Member of the Armed Forces – Another one of the most common identities for a romance scammer is a member of the military serving overseas. This gives them the perfect cover for why they can’t see you. The scammers usually claim to be on a top-secret mission that prevents them from being able to video chat. They also come up with stories for why they need you to send them money. The scammer usually says that the victim needs to pay “leave fees”. This is a scam where the scammer claims that the person they are talking to needs to pay for them to be discharged so they can finally meet in person. This scammer identity is common for both male and female online personas.
- Peace Corps Doctor – This is another popular identity for a scammer. They will usually claim to be in the Peace Corps or some other type of medical mission where they can only text or talk through various messaging platforms.
- Oil Rig Worker – If the person you’re following someone who claims to be working on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean, it is likely they are not who they say they are. The romance scammer typically will claim to be in a dangerous location where physical contact isn’t possible and may even try to get you to send them money for emergencies. They will also use this as an excuse for not being able to video chat.
When talking to someone online, if they say that they work in one of the professions above, it is a huge red flag. But this can be confusing because of course, there are real people who actually work in these professions. That’s why the next three signs to look out for are crucial because if you see these three red flags in a row, it is highly likely that the person you met online is a scammer.
- They’re from America but live overseas: They work in a profession that causes them to have to work overseas (military, oil rig work, peace corps doctor, an engineer working overseas etc.)
- They can never video chat: They will always have some excuse as to why they can’t video chat, like being on an oil rig or working in a war zone, or having a bad connection.
- Â Asking you for money: If the person you met online asks you for money, especially before you’ve met them in person or video chatted them, it is highly likely they are scamming you. Scammers usually request money in the form of gift cards or Bitcoin because it is the easiest way to hide thier activities from the authorities.
These 6 signs will help you know if the person you are talking to is real. At Social Catfish, we have seen thousands of romance scams. Many of these scammers have similar tactics and stories. THat’s why we’ve developed state-of-the-art tools to help you find out if the person you’re talking to online is real.
Avoid Romance Scams With Social Catfish
Staying safe online is important, especially when it comes to your personal information. One way to stay safe is by using a reverse image search engine like Social Catfish. With Social Catfish, you can easily find out if the person you are talking to online is real or not. Use the search bar below to find out if the person you’re talking to is who they say they are.
