Online dating is nothing new, but it has spawned new scams. As difficult as it is to accept, some people are not what they appear to be. It is hard to wrap your mind around, especially after you have put in the time and effort to create an honest, appealing profile. The question is, how do you know if you are being catfished?
The basics
One of the reasons people enjoy costume parties so much is that it’s fun to pretend. It’s not any different in online dating. Everyone loves to create personas for themselves. While it’s true that everyone wants to put their best foot forward, online dating provides an easy entry to those who want to lure people into their fantasy.
This is when cat fishing starts. Some people have built vast and elaborate personalities with compelling backstory. They use this skill to draw in and captivate for extended periods of time before showing their true colors.
Why they get away with it
Some false personas are easy to see through, like why would the blue-eyed prince of the Middle East enjoy listening to live folk music in a random coffee shop a mere fifty miles away from you? Some are harder to pinpoint. First of all, catfish really lay on the flattery. This is how they prey on the lonely. Who doesn’t like to hear good things about themselves? Once you have been flattered and drawn in, it;’s easy to overlook a dating profile that doesn’t truly ring true.
Warning Signs
Even if you are an experienced online dater or you are new to the game, there are some signs to look for. If there is a profile that seems too good to be ture, it probably is. If a profile states a vast array of interests, such as fly fishing, cozy nights at home, championship little league games and visiting museums, it’s likely that the person is trying to appeal to a large group of people to draw in as many as possible.
A major warning sign is if they claim to be falling in love with you, even though you have never met in real life and have only been talking to them for a few days.
Who can you trust?
It’s easy to be scared off by the idea of being taken advantage of. It is possible to find an honest, worthy partner online. You can always your research skills to check the facts about your potential partner. See how many details they offer about themselves. Just remember to not give too much away about yourself until you are sure and never share pictures that you wouldn’t want to see on the internet.