Do you think you’re being lied to by your online dating lover? If you have been dating someone using an online dating site and things are starting to smell a bit like fish, then you might be a victim to a new trend called “catfish.”
If you have been living under a rock for the last few years, then you probably have no clue what catfish means. Catfish means you’re being lied to by someone on an online dating site. Any type of deceit in the online dating world falls under catfish, and our New Jersey matchmakers want to teach you how to protect yourself.
How to Spot a Catfish When Online Dating in New Jersey
So what does an online catfish do? What are the signs they give away? For those who are venturing into the dark world of online dating, our New Jersey matchmakers here at South Jersey Matchmakers will show you precisely how to spot a liar or a fake.
1. Google Search Their Full Name
An easy way to track down your online lover is to do a Google search of their name. If nothing comes up, you can also search for their email address. You might be surprised at all the pages that come up. Make sure you put quotation marks around your search word, as they results will be more specific.
2. Look Closely at Their Photos
If you are becoming suspicious of your online lover, or you think they are too good to be true, take a closer look at their photo gallery. Do they never seem to get old in their photos? If their gallery is real, they have likely had social media for several years, which means they must have aged, had different hairstyles and colors, and even different friends.
Check, not only for friends in photos, but check and see who has tagged them. If their whole photo gallery is only composed of selfies, then this could mean your online lover is a narcissist or a fake, in which case, you should stop online dating them.
3. Search Their Images on Google
The majority of online dating liars will not use their own photos. Our New Jersey matchmakers know a lot of online dating site users will opt to use someone else’s photos. All you have to do is drag their photo into Google search images and take a close look at the results. Odds are that if your online lover is fake, you will notice the image come up on different websites.
4. Look at Their Friends List
How many people is your crush friends with? They should have a balanced number of friends without being too suspicious. If your online lover only has five friends, or the other extreme of having thousands, then you are in trouble.
Check out the people on their friends list, are they active with them? Does your crush only log on to put up posts from time to time? Do they have real life albums with friends that really exist? Our New Jersey matchmakers encourage you to keep your eyes open for any suspicious activities.
5. Check Their Interaction with Friends
People who use social media will have some sort of interaction that will show up on your homepage. Real friends will normally post comments or crack jokes with their close friends. Look for things like, “I miss you,” or, “Let’s get together” because these are real interactions.
People who are lying will not have any interaction with anyone. They keep everything hidden so no one can catch them lying.
6. Beware of Fishy Jobs
Does your online lover have a suspicious job? If so, then they could be lying to you. Common jobs liars use include: models, producers, photographers, and “self-employed.” If your online lover doesn’t own or work for a real company that you can Google, then it’s likely they’re lying to you.
7. They Refuse to Talk Via Phone
If your online lover refuses to talk to you via phone, then our New Jersey matchmakers warn that you’re dating a scammer. Even grandfathers today don’t have any problem using the phone or Skype, so if the person you’re dating online refuses to talk to you via phone, beware.
8. They Are Asking You for Money
There is a fine line between someone lying to you and doing a full out online dating scam. If your online lover is asking you for money to pay the bills, buy groceries, or pay the rent, then they are not just lying to you, but they are also scamming you.
9. They Tell You Ridiculous Stories to Get Out of Meeting You
Do you and your online lover live in the same town? Have you yet to meet them? Many online dating liars will come up with fake stories just to escape meeting you. Some will say they were in a car accident, they had to fly out of town for work, or that they had to take care of a sick or injured family member. Our New Jersey matchmakers want you to watch out for ridiculous stories to get out of meeting you.
Why Do People Lie Using Online Dating Sites?
If you think you caught yourself a catfish and want to confront them as a liar, don’t lose your cool in the process. Some online dating liars only think of it as a game and others do it because they want to escape their life. The reasons vary, but you’ll never get to the bottom of it all. Many of them are facing their own demons and have personal insecurities that you don’t need to be caught up in. The online dating world is very dangerous; after all, it’s the unknown.
If you think you’ve been catfished with online dating sites, the best thing you can do is move forward. Our New Jersey matchmakers encourage you not to let it get you down. If you are looking for a safe and secure alternative to online dating, a way that no one can play tricks on you, contact one of our expert matchmakers here at South Jersey Matchmakers so we can get you started on your quest of finding love.
All members are prescreened and have undergone a criminal background check to ensure safety and security in a risky dating world. Our matchmaking professionals have member safety at the top of their priorities.
