How to spot a catfish: 10 signs your match isn't real

10 warning signs of a catfish

1. They always have a reason not to video chat. Broken camera, bad signal, "not ready yet." Weeks of excuses is the single biggest red flag.
2. Their photos look too polished. Studio lighting, model poses, or every photo looks like it came from a magazine or someone's highlight reel.
3. Very few photos, or none that look recent. Real people usually have a mix: different years, friends, everyday moments.
4. Their photos show up under another name. A reverse image search turns up the same pictures on someone else's social media.
5. The story keeps shifting. Job, hometown, age or family details change, or don't add up.
6. They rush you off the app. Pushing to move to text or another messaging app within the first few messages.
7. Love bombing. Intense affection, "soulmate" talk or plans for the future after a handful of conversations.
8. They're always far away. Working overseas, on a ship, deployed, or traveling, so meeting is always "soon."
9. Plans to meet fall through at the last minute, again and again.
10. Money comes up. An emergency, a ticket to visit you, gift cards, or a "can't-miss" crypto or investment tip. This is the line between a catfish and a scam.

One sign on its own isn't proof. Two or three together means slow down and verify before you invest any more time.

How to check if your match is real

• Ask for a quick video call. Two minutes on camera settles most doubts. Someone genuine will usually say yes.
• Ask for a specific selfie. For example, holding up two fingers or a thumbs up. It's hard to fake with stolen photos.
• Run a reverse image search on one or two of their photos to see where else they appear.
• Look for mutual friends or someone who can vouch for them.
• Check their verification on DateDish. Every DateDish profile is verified with a selfie, a Verified badge means their ID was checked and matched to their face with facial recognition, and no one can message you without a selfie taken within the last 30 days that you can see. Wingman Validation™ lets people who actually know them vouch for them.

For a full walkthrough, see how to verify a dating profile before you meet.

Never send money to someone you haven't met

Romance scams are among the costliest kinds of fraud reported to the FTC every year. The pattern is almost always the same: weeks of attention and affection, then a sudden need for money, gift cards, crypto, or help with an investment. No matter how real the relationship feels or how urgent the story sounds, don't send money, gift cards, crypto or personal financial details to someone you haven't met in person.

What to do if you've been catfished

• Stop engaging and don't send anything else: no money, photos or personal details.
• Take screenshots of the profile and messages.
• Report and block them on the app where you met, and anywhere else they contacted you.
• If money was involved, contact your bank right away and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov.
• Go easy on yourself. Catfish are practiced at this. Being targeted says nothing about your judgment.

Date people who show their face

The simplest catfish filter is a real, recent face. On DateDish, every member, men and women, verifies with a selfie, Verified badges are backed by an ID check matched to their face, and a selfie from the last 30 days is required to chat. Then you decide if the date happens: accept a date request, suggest a different day or venue, or pass. No bots, no catfish, no BS.