How to Spot Fake Profiles and Romance Scams

The warning signs that matter most

No single sign proves someone is a scammer, but these appear again and again. The more of them you see, the more careful you should be.

• They ask for money, in any form. That includes a loan, an emergency, a "temporary" bank transfer, gift cards or crypto. It is the clearest sign of all.
• They refuse or avoid video calls. There is always a reason: bad signal, broken camera, working somewhere remote.
• They push to move off the platform quickly, to WhatsApp, Telegram or email, often within the first few messages. Apps have reporting tools, and a scammer does not want to be reported.
• They declare strong feelings very early. Calling you "my soulmate" or "my queen" within days is a way of building trust before asking for something.
• They have a sob story or a crisis: a sick child, a stuck shipment, a lost wallet abroad, a business problem, an inheritance that needs fees.

Other patterns to watch for

Many scammers claim a job that keeps them away: working overseas, on an oil rig, deployed with the military, a doctor or engineer abroad. It gives them a reason never to meet and always to need help with money.

Be careful too with anyone who brings up investing, trading or crypto, however friendly the advice. A common version is a new "friend" who shows how much they have made and offers to help you do the same. It is a scam even when it looks like it is working at first.

Watch for details that do not add up: a profile that is too perfect, a story that changes, a location that does not match their messages, poor grammar from someone who claims to be local, or replies that seem scripted or copy-pasted.

Simple checks you can do yourself

You do not need special skills. Try these in the first few days.

• Reverse image search their photos with a tool such as Google Lens or TinEye. If the pictures belong to someone with a different name, walk away.
• Ask for a quick live video call, even a few minutes. A real person can usually manage it. An excuse every time is telling you something.
• Ask a casual local question, for example about their area or a nearby place. Scammers who are not really local often struggle.
• Look for consistency. Do job, age, location and story stay the same across days?
• Tell a friend about the person. Saying it out loud to someone else often makes red flags obvious.

What a typical romance scam looks like

It usually moves in stages. First comes warmth and attention, often daily messages and compliments. Next comes trust, with deep conversations and plans for a future together. Then comes the problem: a sudden crisis that only money can fix. If you pay, there will be another problem soon after.

Some scams skip the romance and head straight for something else, such as asking you to receive money into your account and pass it on. That can make you part of a crime without realising it, so say no and report it.

Sextortion and image threats

Another version starts with flirting, moves quickly to private photos or video, and then turns into threats to share them unless you pay. If this happens, do not pay. Paying rarely stops it. Stop contact, keep the messages as evidence, report to the platform and the police, and tell someone you trust. It is not your fault.

If you think you are being targeted

Stop sending messages and do not send any money. Take screenshots of the chat and profile, and save any account details or links they gave you.

Report the profile in the app so it can be removed. Then report it to the police. In Ireland, contact An Garda Síochána. In the UK, report to Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting centre (in Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101). Reporting routes can change, so check the official site for the latest. If you are in immediate danger, call the emergency number: 999 in the UK, and 112 or 999 in Ireland.

If you have already sent money, contact your bank straight away. Tell them it was a scam. Speed matters, and banks have procedures to help.

Do not be embarrassed

People who have been scammed often feel too ashamed to tell anyone. Scammers count on that. Telling a friend, family member or the police is the most useful thing you can do, for you and for the next person.

Staying safe when you do meet

Fake profiles are one risk. Meeting a real person you do not know yet is another. Meet in a public place, tell a friend where you are going and who with, arrange your own transport and trust your gut. On Cravnn, Meet Safe lets you share your live location with trusted contacts during a date. Our guides on online dating safety tips and how to stay safe meeting a match have more.