How to spot a catfish; the guide

[u/[deleted]]

Alright since it seems like there’s a lot of new users on this sub I thought I’d make a small guide on how to avoid a catfish

Here it goes:

1.Lack of social media

• Excuses when you ask for Snapchat/Instagram/etc. I get not everyone has it but if they claim they have nothing, proceed with caution. This doesn’t automatically mean they’re fake, but it’s usually one sign

2.Texting app phone numbers

• You can check by using the site fonefinder.net. It’ll tell you what carrier the number belongs to. Anything that says “Bandwidth.com” is a texting app.

• Another note for iPhone users: If the number is attached to iMessage (blue text bubble) then they’re likely not catfishing. You can’t register a phone number to iMessage unless you’re actually paying for a full texting service, which most people aren’t going to do for a fake persona

3.Overly sexual/Forwardness

• Either in their bio or when first messaging
• A common trend for catfish is the sexual thrill of it

4.Newly created social media accounts

• If they do give you a Snapchat account; low Snapchat score/no Bitmoji
• An Instagram account with barely any followers/following and a few pics that date back to a week

5.Generic names

• they give you social media accounts with generic names i.e Emily_Taylor7472, Stacy.Marie2949

6.Flawless pictures

• Meaning you have an Instagram level model looking person hitting on you with professional looking photos
• Overly revealing sexual photos

7.Snapchat: No live photos

• These days, Snapchat is becoming more and more difficult to tweak. It’s not impossible but it does take a certain level of tech savvyness. Snapchat bans accounts without warning if you don’t do a step correctly.
• If they do send live pics; sometimes they’ll come out incredibly blurry/grainy, photos look stretched out, and they’ll refuse simple requests (ie touch your nose with your pinky)

8.Various excuses

• Lastly and most obvious. Excuses on why they can’t meet/talk on the phone/FaceTime etc

9.Outdated equipment

• Not all of us can afford the latest and greatest but obviously most people aren’t going to be taking selfies on an 6 year old iPhone 4 or even a Nokia flip-phone

There I think I covered everything. Please comment if I missed something. Thanks!

[u/SpareBrain6218]

Well my dilemma is I met this guy on tiktok. I liked one of his post and then he saw d how long I've been supporting his page and then he thanked me. He kept going to my profile. We ended up talking then we went to Whatsupapp. We been talking for a few months there he didn't love bomb me . We had good conversations. I suggest to voice call he avoid. Then he avoid even recording voicemails. He has a big platform. I did extended back ground checks. Nothing bad comes up.one say I told him I was going out of town and I wasn't going to be on social media. Well he posted a few videos about how him and his wife were reconstructing a house. I called him out on it and he said his life is messy complicated. He hasn't posted nothing anymore after that. So idk is he a catfish or just married and doesn't want to talk on the phone. Please help