Fake profiles exist on every dating and hookup platform. Some are bots that push you towards another website; others are scammers who build trust and then ask for money. Knowing the patterns protects your time, your money and your privacy.
Eight warning signs
- They message you first with a link. Real people rarely open a conversation by sending you somewhere else.
- They want to move off the app immediately. Asking for your number or another chat app within a few messages is a common way to escape the platform’s moderation.
- The photos look professional or inconsistent. Model-quality pictures, or photos that look like different people, are a red flag. A reverse image search often finds the original source.
- The profile is almost empty. A single photo, no bio and generic answers suggest an account made in bulk.
- They avoid video. Someone who always has a reason not to video chat may not be who they say they are.
- Their story escalates quickly. Intense compliments, declarations of feelings or urgent problems early on are typical of romance scams.
- They ask for money, gift cards or crypto. No genuine match needs you to pay for their travel, a “verification” or an emergency. Stop the conversation.
- They ask you to “verify” on another site. Requests to confirm your age or identity on a third-party site, often asking for card details, are a well-known scam.
How platforms help
Platforms with photo or ID verification show a badge on verified profiles. It doesn’t guarantee good intentions, but it makes fake accounts harder to create. Our comparison tables have a “Profile verification” filter so you can favour platforms that offer it.
Some sites also state in their terms that they use operator-run or promotional profiles. Read the terms before you pay. We note this in a platform’s profile when we find it.
What to do
- Report the profile using the platform’s report button.
- Don’t send money, codes or intimate images.
- If you have been threatened with the release of images, don’t pay: contact the platform, keep evidence and report it to the police.
- Change your password if you clicked a suspicious link.
See which platforms verify profiles in our comparison of the best hookup apps.