While the quest for love in the digital age can be thrilling, it comes with hidden dangers.
From catfishing to scamming to fake images and AI-powered chats, digital imposters use deceptive means. Here are 4 tips to help you spot fakers and scammers:
1. Take a closer look at perfect photos:
- Photos that look airbrushed to perfection – with flawless skin and symmetrical features – might be AI-generated.
- Or they could be using stolen photos from real people. Run a reverse image search to see if they appear elsewhere online.
- Pay attention to details like shadows, reflections, watermarks and lighting. Inconsistencies could indicate manipulated photos or stock images.
2. Be wary of overly attentive conversation
- Generic flattery and poetic lines might be AI-scripted or search-engine responses. Pay attention to how they personalize their compliments and respond to your specific questions.
- If your match struggles to answer specific questions or avoids topics about their daily life, they might be relying on scripts.
- While AI chatbots are getting increasingly sophisticated, they might still struggle with sarcasm, humor, and understanding emotional nuances. Watch for unnatural language patterns and stilted responses.
3. Don’t ignore red flags:
- Catfishers often try to move the conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram and other networking apps quickly, hoping to avoid detection by dating app algorithms. Trust your gut if they seem overly eager to switch platforms.
- Beware of sob stories or attempts to guilt you into sending money or gifts. Legitimate connections don’t involve financial requests. Never send money or financial information.
- Scammers often fast-track the relationship, pressuring you for emotional declarations or commitments. Take things slow and observe their genuine interest in getting to know you.
4. Don’t be disheartened, just make mindful choices:
- Stick to reputable dating apps with better security measures. If something feels off, trust your gut, disengage and report their profiles. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Meet in person at a safe public place or suggest a video call instead of endless chatting. Both are useful ways to help figure out if someone is who they say they are – although they could be lying about other things aside from their appearance.
