Bumble is the dating app where “ladies first” isn’t just a saying—it’s the whole system. In order to make dating more comfortable and empowering, Bumble made it possible for women to make the first move. 

However, does this feature, together with the verification check mark and their Deception Detector, help protect users from catfishes? Or can a casual fake account slip by? Let’s see!

Does Bumble’s Deception Detector really catch scammers?

Even though it can’t be seen in action, this AI-powered tool helps to decrease the number of fake profiles. 

By looking out for patterns that catfish usually use, it makes sure to ban the accounts that seem suspicious. 

It looks for signs like: 

• Heavily edited photos;
• Copied bios;
• Certain keywords scammers use, and;
• Links in bios, especially if it’s an “investment opportunity”.

Even social media isn’t allowed to be linked, as many scammer accounts try to flee Bumble and maintain contact in other apps as soon as they get a match.

However, the system isn’t perfect. If a profile doesn’t have major catfish signs, it can easily go undetected. Experienced scammers also know how to build up the conversation without raising suspicions.

So, you still have to rely on your instincts as well as some tips and tricks.

How to spot a catfish on Bumble? Look out for these signs when swiping on Bumble:

1. Photos of different people on their profiles 

This one’s an absolute no-brainer—if the Bumble match you came across is using photos of different people on their profile, they’re a catfish.

The chances of them actually being one of the people are none to zero, as their tactic is choosing as many photos of objectively attractive people as possible.

To make sure I’m not being catfished, I usually opt for ProFaceFinder, upload their photos, and wait for the results. If multiple image sources show up, then yeah…they’re a catfish!

It’s quick and accurate, making it perfect for promoting a safer online dating experience, especially in apps swarmed with fake profiles.

2. An empty, dull, generic, or cliché bio 

I never initiate a conversation with someone without checking their bio first because it usually contains clues as to how legit the profile is.

For example, if it’s empty, chances are they’re a catfish; real people know the importance of a bio on a dating app, after all.

Another thing to look out for is a generic bio, e.g., “Man, 30, looking for fun”. Scammers are careful with the info they let out so as not to contradict themselves later on.

And last (but certainly not least), the presence of links in their bio, be it social media handles or a suspicious source they urge you to click on. Unless you want to be hacked, do NOT click on any.

3. Love-bombing right from the get-go

To me, flirting with your Bumble match is rather common. Do you know what’s NOT common, though? Overdoing it very early on.

Scammers tend to be overly romantic when talking to someone because that’s what, in their opinion, makes users fall for them.

Romance is all they talk about—they constantly try to steer the convo in that direction, even if you try to divert their attention from it.

4. They get defensive after you mention your suspicions 

When dealing with someone suspicious, I always let them know to see their reactions. 

I noticed a pattern with fake profiles, and that is that they throw temper tantrums when you bring up your suspicion, or try to change the topic in hopes of you forgetting.

Real profiles, on the other hand, try to solve the problem and prove themselves…in my experience, at least!

5. Says that they’ll get their account verified, but they never do

Forever thankful for Bumble allowing its users to request matches to verify their accounts. I must say, it’s been a game-changer for me.

Scam accounts tend to avoid this process because their photos are not their own, so if you ask them, they’ll flat-out refuse or give excuses.

6. Mentions money too much 

Money scams are the most typical ones not only in Bumble, but OkCupid, Hinge, and other dating apps, too.

If my match brings up any money favors needing to be done, I immediately unmatch and report them because this is a sign their profile is fake.

The same goes for having a bio along the lines of “I need money to pay off my debt, donate here → [fishy link]” or “Looking for someone rich”.

7. Refuses to video call 

It’s extremely difficult to fake your appearance on video calls, so what do I do with that? Ask all of my matches to video call, of course!

Catfishes will never go through with this, making it one of the biggest red flags you need to watch out for.

8. Behaviour contrasts with bio 

So, their bio says they’re a doctor, but when you ask them, they don’t know anything about medicine? Yep, they’re a scammer.

I always recommend asking them questions about the life they claim to have:

• Where they live;
• Their education;
• Their profession, and so on, to see if their story holds up.

9. Refuses meeting 

And of course, perhaps the strongest sign: your match refusing to meet up with you IRL out of fear of being exposed.

In this case, your Bumble match will tell you they’re too busy, or they’re out of the country, or basically anything to avoid you seeing them face-to-face.

But note that not wanting to meet up with someone you met online immediately is fairly common for safety purposes—try this out only after a while when your relationship has deepened.

How to avoid contact with Bumble scammers?

You know how we were told not to judge a book by its cover? Well, it’s time to ditch that lesson. In order to dodge catfishers on Bumble, you’ll have to analyze each profile and take extra precautions.

What can you do?

• Ask for them to get verified. 

If you come in contact with an unverified profile, always send them the request to get photo-verified. If they don’t, it’s better to move on.

• Use an image reverse search tool to scan their pictures. 

If you want a free option, use Google Images, if you want a cheap and accurate alternative try ProFaceFinder. By uploading a photo, you’ll see whether other names and info comes up.

• Investigate on Google. 

They said they work somewhere? Look up the company. It might have pictures, a list of employees or a contact number where you can ask them directly. 

They finished their studies with honours? Check the university’s posts. Their picture or name should come up.

Their social media, LinkedIn, or dating accounts might come up by simply searching their name.

• Insist on video calling. 

If they’re legit, they shouldn’t have an issue with it. Don’t fall for lame excuses. 

• Suggest meeting. 

First observe how they react. Some scammers accept immediately, lead you on, and then come up with excuses. Maybe they had a car accident, suddenly got sick or had to work late. 

Other catfishers decline from the beginning. They might try to manipulate you, to make you feel bad for being suspicious. 

• Talk with your close friends or family. 

They may have gone through the same thing and can help you. If not, talk to them about your Bumble match’s behavior because, as a third person, they’re not looking at them through rose-colored glasses.

How helpful is the “women message first” rule in helping avoid scammers?

This feature was initially designed to give women more control over who they match with, to avoid unwanted messages and unnecessary explicit pictures. It can also help spot and avoid contact with fake accounts. 

While swiping, I had time to analyze each profile. I looked for red flags in pictures, prompts, bios, characteristics, and whether their profile was verified. Before even chatting, I already had an idea of what to expect. 

– How reliable is Bumble’s account verification?

I was pretty surprised to see how seriously Bumble takes this feature. They suggest account verification so that users feel more comfortable with their matches. 

As an opening line, I was even able to ask for my matches’ verification. The conversation then went based on how they answered my request.

However, despite this, there are users who don’t verify their account—to add salt to the burn, some unreal profiles are even able to fake it.

Therefore, having a verified account is a great step in proving that you’re the real deal. However, you can’t rely 100% on the checkmark; be sure to ask for other proof as well.

Open your eyes, suspect, and consider the tips and tools I’ve suggested to make your dating life just a bit safer.