Safety
How to spot fake dating profiles before they cost you
Most people you meet online are genuine. A few are not. Knowing the typical patterns helps you notice them early – and protect yourself and others.
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Common signs of a fake profile
No single sign proves anything. When several come together, take a closer look:
- Very few photos, or photos that look a little too perfect – like a catalogue.
- A barely filled-in profile, or one that says exactly what you want to hear.
- Replies that ignore your questions and sound copied from a script.
- A job that explains long absences: stationed abroad, on an oil rig, always travelling.
The most common scams
Romance scams follow a pattern: trust is built over days or weeks, often with big feelings very early on. Then comes a request – almost always for money.
- Money for an emergency, a flight, customs fees, a visa or a hospital bill.
- Gift card or voucher codes.
- “Safe” investments: a trading platform, crypto, “guaranteed returns”.
- Pushing to move to WhatsApp, Telegram or Instagram straight away – away from the platform’s protection.
- Video calls or dates that keep getting cancelled at the last minute.
What you can do
The golden rule: never send money to someone you don’t know well in person – however convincing the story. Take your time, ask for a video call before meeting, and trust your instincts.
If something feels off, stop the conversation, report the profile and block the person. If you’ve already sent money, contact your bank and the police.
How FOUND LOVE tackles fake profiles
FOUND LOVE is designed to make life hard for fake profiles: suggestions and messages only become available after a confirmed email address, phone number, identity and age. A phone number can belong to one account only. A conversation only opens once both people show interest – nobody can message you out of the blue.
If someone in a chat talks about money, investments or crypto, or pushes you to another messenger, you get a calm heads-up. Anyone sending unusually many or identical messages is slowed down automatically until someone on the team takes a look.
To be honest: no technology catches every scam. That’s why your attention and your reports matter just as much.