How to Spot a Catfish
Don’t get caught in the trap. Catfishing is for idiots.
You’ve probably seen MTV’s Catfish with Nev and Max. You no doubt thought that would never happen to you. But what if it has? What if someone you’ve been talking to is really someone else? We can’t all have MTV’s producers investigating for us to expose the truth. So what are the most obvious signs that you are being Catfished?
If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Are they super-hot, with an amazing personality, intelligence and their own house at 20? Well, let’s face it. If you’ve met them online, that’s almost certainly not an accurate representation of who they really are.
Don’t believe everything they say. If you planned to meet up but they were “in a car accident”, “got stuck at work” or have some other elaborate story, then it most likely isn’t true. Especially if this has happened on more than one occasion. If they’re planning a whole new life with you, including moving to a new country or away from their family without ever meeting you, then alarm bells should be ringing. Some will often claim to have amazing careers and huge amounts of cash to splash. If you’re uncertain, then your instincts are probably right… It’s all lies!
If suspicious, always reverse Google image search. Searching for their photos on Google could be like opening Pandora’s Box. This technique uncovers other social media accounts and websites linked to that image. The truth could reveal a harsh reality. The real person will often lead a totally different life, unaware that their images are being used by others to manipulate and humiliate naive, innocent people just searching for happiness. It’s easy to search, just follow this link and put your suspicions to bed.
Have they randomly disappeared? Going AWOL for weeks or even months could be a sign of a guilty conscience. Maybe they have realised the hurt they could cause and decided to stop before they got in too deep. It’s also possible they have someone else, or multiple people, that they are talking to or even in a relationship with. Whatever the reason, vanishing for long periods of time isn’t normal and is a tell-tale sign that you are being catfished.
Do they have friends and are they tagged? We all know what normal active Facebook accounts look like. But some fakes can be pretty convincing. A big give-a-way is when they post images with friends, yet don’t tag them. Another is if they aren’t tagged in anything either. We all have that friend who supplies us with daily memes or likes to post embarrassing photos on your birthday, so if they don’t, that is probably a cause for concern. Check their friends list too. If it’s too short, full of one gender or you have no mutual friends even though you apparently live in the same place, then it’s a fake.
Have you video chatted? It’s easy to pass off any old photo as yourself when you haven’t spoken face to face. So make sure you Skype or Facetime. This is probably the only way (other than to actually meet in person) to know for sure if you’re being catfished. They might agree to video call, but then it’ll be very dark or they’ll insist that their camera is broken. This is an obvious sign that they are trying to hide their real identity.
The Catfish of Instagram. Maybe they are who they say they are. But that doesn’t mean they look exactly like their photos. Most Snapchat and Instagram users filter their images, erasing any blemishes and obscuring any features that they are unhappy with. I think we’re all familiar with Kylie Jenner and her overnight transformation from an average 15 year old girl into a curvy, plump lipped woman. So again, make sure you video chat so that there are no surprises when you eventually meet up. (And remember to never meet someone for the first time on your own. Take a friend just to ensure your safety!)
So if you think something isn’t right, it’s probably not. Follow your instincts. Relationships are based on trust and if you don’t think they are being honest, then they’re not worth your time. There are plenty more (real) fish in the sea!
With thanks to Fabian Castillo
