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Tips To Avoid Getting Catfished Online
With dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, Her, and OkCupid, the way our culture pursues romance has changed. Instead of trying to flirt with strangers at a bar, we can just swipe right from the comfort of our own homes.
However, as easy as online dating may be, it does come with a considerable risk: catfishing. Although we frequently hear about young, naive teenagers being duped online, catfishing can happen to anyone. In fact, anyone who’s been online dating for any length of time has probably dealt with a catfish at one point or another.
One survey revealed that around 1 in 3 people have been catfished online, and 20% of those victims actually sent money to the catfishers.
Any online dating site will give you the option to report a scammer, but many of these apps have no real defenses against catfishers — it’s up to us to figure out who’s fake and who’s real.
And, while spotting some fake profiles might be as easy as identifying the Nigerian prince asking for money, other catfishers are masters of disguise. Even if there’s no completely foolproof way to prevent getting catfished, here are a few tips to help you make sure the person on the other side of the screen is who they say…
