Top 10 Signs of Catfishing and How to Protect Yourself

I remember talking to a woman who thought she’d found the love of her life on a popular dating app. He was an architect working in Dubai. He looked like a model. He sent long, poetic texts every morning. But every time she asked to FaceTime, his camera was 'broken.' Or the Wi-Fi in his hotel was 'too spotty.' You know how this ends. It ended with a request for $2,000 to cover a 'temporary banking freeze.'

She was being catfished. It’s a story as old as the internet, yet thousands of people fall for it every year. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, romance scams and catfishing cost victims hundreds of millions of dollars annually. It isn't just about the money, though. It’s the emotional gut-punch of realizing the person you shared your secrets with doesn't actually exist.

If you have a gut feeling that something is off, trust it. Here are the top 10 signs of catfishing you need to watch for.

1. They Look Like They Just Stepped Off a Runway

We all want to put our best foot forward. But catfish almost always use photos that are professionally lit, heavily edited, or look like stock photography. If every photo looks like a high-fashion shoot and there are no 'candid' shots—like a blurry photo of them eating a taco or a messy-hair morning selfie—be careful.

Often, these scammers steal photos from minor influencers in other countries. I’ve seen cases where a guy in Ohio was using photos of a fitness model from Brazil. A quick reverse image search can usually blow their cover in seconds. If that photo pops up on five different Instagram accounts with five different names, you have your answer.

2. The Great Video Call Escape Artist

This is the biggest red flag in the history of red flags. We live in a world where even a $40 burner phone has a front-facing camera. There is no legitimate reason someone can’t hop on a 30-second video call in 2024.

They will have a million excuses. Their phone fell in the sink. Their religion forbids it. They have 'video call anxiety' (a classic guilt-trip tactic). If they refuse to show their face in real-time, they are hiding who they are. Period. End of story. Don't let them convince you otherwise.

3. Their Life Story Reads Like a Soap Opera

Catfish love drama. It’s a tool they use to create an immediate emotional bond. They might tell you about a tragic car accident, a deceased spouse, or a high-stakes business deal that’s about to fall through.

This serves two purposes. First, it makes you feel sorry for them, which lowers your guard. Second, it creates an excuse for why they can’t meet you in person yet. If their life sounds like a Netflix limited series, they’re likely lying over text to keep you hooked.

4. They Move Way Too Fast

I’m talking about the 'L-word' on day three. Catfish use a technique called 'love bombing.' They shower you with affection, compliments, and promises of a future together before you’ve even had a real conversation.

They want to get you emotionally invested as quickly as possible. Why? Because an emotionally invested person is much more likely to overlook the red flags we’re talking about right now. If it feels too good to be true, it probably is. Real relationships take time to breathe.

5. The 'International Business' or 'Military' Excuse

Why can’t they meet up for coffee? Oh, because they’re currently stationed on an oil rig in the North Sea. Or they’re a doctor with Doctors Without Borders in a remote village. Or they’re a high-ranking military officer on a 'top secret' mission.

These jobs are the perfect cover. They explain the weird hours, the lack of video calls, and the inability to meet. If they claim to be in the military, you can sometimes verify their status, but usually, the reverse phone lookup tool is a faster way to see if their 'local' number is actually a VoIP line tied to a scammer overseas.

6. They Won't Give You Their Social Media

Or, if they do, the profile was created three weeks ago. A real person usually has a digital footprint. They have friends who tag them in photos. They have a LinkedIn profile with a work history. They have a Facebook page with embarrassing posts from 2012.

If their Instagram has 12 photos all posted on the same day and zero comments from actual friends, it’s a 'burn' profile. Scammers build these quickly to look semi-legit, but they lack the depth of a real human life. For more on this, check out our guide on fake dating profile signs.

7. They Ask for Money (Eventually)

It might not happen in the first week. It might not even happen in the first month. But eventually, there will be a crisis.

• "My daughter needs surgery and my credit card is blocked."
• "I need money for a plane ticket to finally come see you."
• "I’m stuck at the airport and need to pay a customs fee."

They will often ask for payment in ways that can't be traced: wire transfers, crypto, or—strangest of all—gift cards. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explicitly warns that no legitimate romantic partner will ever ask you to pay for something with a Steam or iTunes gift card.

8. Their Grammar and Phrasing Are 'Off'

I’m not talking about an occasional typo. We all do that. I’m talking about someone who claims to be a Duke University graduate but struggles with basic English syntax or uses phrases that don't make sense in an American or British context.

Many professional catfishing rings operate out of call centers in West Africa or Southeast Asia. They use scripts. If you notice they use 'the' in weird places or call you 'Amara' when your name is 'Amanda,' they’re likely juggling multiple victims at once.

9. They Refuse to Meet in Public

Even if they live in the same city (or claim to), they will cancel every single date. They’ll be on their way to the restaurant and then—BAM—a flat tire. Or their boss called them in for an emergency. If you’ve been 'talking' for two months and they’ve canceled four times, you aren't dating. You’re being toyed with. A real person who likes you will make the effort to show up.

10. They Ask for Explicit Photos

This is a darker side of catfishing known as sextortion. Once they have an intimate photo of you, the tone shifts. They stop being the 'loving architect' and start being a blackmailer. They’ll threaten to send the photo to your boss or your family unless you pay up. Never, ever send compromising photos to someone you haven't met in the flesh and built real trust with.

What to Do if You Suspect a Catfish

First, stop talking to them. Don't 'confront' them to get closure. They are professional liars; they will just spin a new web to keep you around.

Second, do your homework. Use an email lookup to see if their address is linked to other names or scam reports. Run their photos through a search engine.

Third, report them. If you met them on Tinder, Hinge, or Bumble, report the profile so they can't hurt anyone else. If you lost money, file a report with the IC3.

FAQ

Can a catfish call you on the phone?

Yes, absolutely. Many catfish will talk on the phone to build trust. However, they usually use apps like Google Voice or WhatsApp to hide their real location. Just because you've heard a voice doesn't mean the person is who they say they are. Always insist on video.

Why do people catfish if they don't want money?

While many catfish are after your wallet, some do it for emotional reasons. They might be lonely, insecure about their own appearance, or struggling with their identity. These 'emotional catfish' can be just as damaging because they waste months or years of your life on a lie.

Is catfishing illegal?

Catfishing itself isn't always a crime, but the things catfish do often are. Fraud, identity theft, and extortion are all illegal. If someone creates a fake profile just to chat, it's a violation of the app's Terms of Service, but if they take your money, it's a felony.

How can I tell if a photo is stolen?

Look for inconsistencies. Does the person look like a different age in different photos? Is the background a city they've never mentioned? You can use tools to check the metadata of an image, but a simple search is usually enough to find the original source if it was stolen from a public profile.

Don't let your heart get ahead of your head. If you see these signs, take a step back and use ClueSignal to verify the facts before you give away any more of your time.