PoF has been around forever, and while there are a lot of good matches, there are also plenty of catfishes waiting to waste your time.

Not everyone is trying to deceive you. But when you match with a good-looking person, the excitement of messaging and awkwardly flirting might blur the lines. 

You can often spot a fake before you even send the first “hey”. The red flags are there; you just have to choose whether you want to pay attention now or cry about it later. Here’s what to look out for:

Green Flags (Probably not a Catfish)	Yes/No	Red Flags (Probably a Catfish)	Yes/No
Send casual pictures.		Requests money or makes most topics about it.
Doesn’t mind video and voice calls–even if it’s spontaneous.		Avoids meeting multiple times (urgencies, accidents).
Suggests, plans and attends dates.		Dry promises without actions.
Details stay consistent over time: job, schedule, neighborhood, hobbies.		They’re very sexual and flirty from the beginning.
Comfortable staying in-app until you both do a quick live check.		Make every conversation about them and their needs.
Answers specific questions naturally and remembers details you’ve shared.		Copy-paste openers, vague answers, ignores your specific questions.

The Catfish Test

1. Suspicious photos that don’t make sense

Photos that are either too perfect (or too broken) are a sign of catfishing because they’re one of the most difficult aspects to fake.

Look out for:

• Studio-level glamour shots, 
• AI-Generated pics (smooth skin, weird glitches like extra fingers, or mismatched skin color),
• The same face showing up under different names.

Another interesting thing I’ve noticed is contradictions such as looking NOTHING like the race they claim to be.

If it feels fake, take a reverse-image test. Upload a profile pic to ProFaceFinder Catfish Reverse Image (or ask them for a fresh, clearer selfie first). One quick search can reveal social media, other dating accounts, or criminal records.

No shady subscriptions. You pay per search ($6 for 2 searches, $10 for 7). Cheaper than coffee and way less stressful than weeks of talking to a scammer.

2. Bios that push money or explicit talk

Lines like “support my lifestyle”, “don’t message if you’re broke,” or aggressive sexual openers are not about connection. 

Even if they aren’t a catfish, that kind of approach is a turn-off, unless your kink is living paycheck to paycheck with a sugar-daddy fantasy. Any side hustle pitched on a dating site is basically a scam in disguise. 

Please don’t become a stranger’s source of income. If you feel like giving, great, just do it through trusted causes, not random profiles. People who need real help don’t advertise on PoF.

2. The “too perfect, too new, too empty” combo

A flawless profile photo, a fresh account, and barely any details give off  “suspicious” energy, not “soulmate”. 

If details of their life keep changing, or they show zero personality beyond waiting for someone to improve their life: Keep. It. Moving. You deserve better.

3. On/off visibility

One moment they’re gone, one moment they’re “new here”, over and over again. Profiles that vanish and reappear like a bad magic trick aren’t worth your time.

Casual users don’t remake their accounts repeatedly because it takes too much effort and resets their progress. But for scammers, it’s their full-time job.

Here’s what you can do: Get their Instagram or Facebook. Do they have real friends, group pics, inside jokes in the comments, or just 2 followers and a bunch of emojis? 

If it feels like they’re trying harder to look real than to be real, you’ve got your answer.

4. Random usernames

Handles like “Sara_928471” or “justaguy2024” might not scream SCAMMER (could be just lazy typing), but add it to other shady signs, and it starts to smell fishy. 

Genuine users usually create meaningful accounts with a name, hobby, or even a cheesy pickup line. Random/empty handles and dull words aren’t the best look, especially when you want to get someone’s attention.

5. No PoF Verification

PoF gives you tools, so use them. Ask for verification if you’re unsure because a genuine match won’t make excuses or stall forever. If someone refuses to prove they’re real, they’re not.

What’s Safe to Share (and What’s Not) With a PoF Match

When you first start chatting, think of information like clothing: some layers shouldn’t come off until trust is built. Oversharing too soon can hand catfishes exactly what they need.

Safe to Share (early on):

• First name.
• General interests (music, hobbies, favorite food).
• Broad location (“I’m in NYC” is fine, but your street name isn’t).
• Light life details (pets, travel dreams, what show you’re binging).

Keep to Yourself (until you’ve met in person and trust is earned):

• Full name and home address.
• Workplace, daily schedule, gym location, travel plans.
• Family details (like your mom’s maiden name or details about your childhood).

🛑NEVER reveal your:

• Credit card information.
• Social security number.
• Other sensitive documents.

*These are the kind of details you simply cannot share with a partner you met online and don’t have an official relationship with (roommates, engagement, or marriage).

If it could let someone find you, hack you, or drain your account, don’t tell it. Scammers thrive on breadcrumbs: bits of info that seem harmless alone but build up into a full profile of you.

Share enough to spark interest, not enough to hand over the keys to your life.

Cut Communication If It Feels Off

If someone rushes into intimacy, such as asking for nudes, know it’s a strategy to eventually lower your guard. 

Alternatively, from the moment monetary favors and weird patterns of communications come to play, it’s time to walk away. If you’re direct, a short line is all you need:

• “I’m not comfortable continuing this conversation. Wishing you the best.”
• “This doesn’t feel like a good fit for me. Take care.”

There’s no need for long paragraphs unless you’re hungry for drama. 

And if they keep pushing, guilt-tripping, or threatening? Block and report. You don’t owe anything to someone who already crossed the line.

All you need to do is reverse image search their photos, check with the signs above, and stand your ground!