You log into OkCupid, excited to meet someone new. The messages are flirty, their profile looks great, but something feels off…that’s because scammers are still lurking on the app, even after nearly 20 years.

Here’s everything you need to know to recognize them fast and stop them in their tracks.

How Do Catfishes Target OKCupid Users?

They start by creating convincing profiles with attractive photos and a story designed to pull you in.

Their main targets are users they see as vulnerable – often older people or those visibly struggling emotionally. Most of them lean on sob stories and tragic pasts, positioning themselves as victims in need of a “rescuer”.

Why? Because sympathy is powerful. By playing with your heartstrings, scammers gain attention, trust, and in most cases, money.

But not every fake profile is obvious. Some scammers blend in, and others don’t put in effort. That’s why figuring out who’s real can be tricky.

Here’s what I check to make sure I’m not wasting time talking or falling for a catfish:

1. Check Their Profile Pictures Closely

Look for multiple natural photos: selfies, hobby shots, or pictures in everyday places, especially near their claimed location. A little makeup, editing, or a filter is fine since real profiles usually show variety.

Fake accounts, on the other hand, usually stick to one or two model-like photos. Watch out for watermarks, blurry crops, or zoomed-in shots. These are classic signs that the picture was stolen.

2. Use ProFaceFinder to verify their photos

When I’m suspicious, trusting my gut isn’t enough, so I check. I upload their picture to the ProFaceFinder Catfish Image reverse image search tool and see what comes up. 

ProFaceFinder searches through social media, news sites, blogs, listed offenders, and dating apps. For $6 (2 searches) or $10 (7 searches), you’ll know if that face is stolen or tied to anything shady.

3. Inspect Their Prompts and Bio

Prompts are meant to show personality and interests. Real users usually add something unique, funny, or personal. Fake profiles often take two routes:

• Overly affectionate, flirty answers filled with emojis or cliché cheesy lines that got old years ago.
• Bland, copy-paste answers that make you wonder if they even read the question.

Oh, and don’t click on random links or social handles because those might direct you nowhere good.

4. Are You Suddenly Getting Spam Calls?

Never share your phone number with online strangers because it’s sensitive information. But if you already did and now spam calls are flooding in, you gave it to a scammer.

Block their profile, change your number, and report them to OkCupid (or even to authorities if needed).

5. Look Out for Location Inconsistencies

One of my favorite tricks is simply asking where my matches live. Real people answer consistently, whereas scammers often slip up.

They say one city or country at first, and a completely different one later. And when it’s time to meet in person, they’re suddenly “overseas” or have an urgency. Classic catfish behavior.

6. Ask Specific Questions 

Scammers avoid details because remembering every lie proves to be difficult. So, they stick to vague answers to dodge slip-ups. That’s why I ask about specifics:

• Childhood, family, friends.
• Work, goals.

Repeat the same question later on. If their story changes, it’s made up.

But remember, not everyone opens up quickly online. Some people prefer to keep things private, and you should, too.

7. Ask to FaceTime or Meet

I know they might say they’re busy, but so are most of us. Insist on having video calls or meeting in public.

If they’re not interested, they probably don’t see you long-term or, obviously, they’re a catfish.

8. Check Their Socials

A genuine match won’t rush you off OkCupid right away. But once you do exchange socials, take a closer look:

• Is the account brand new?
• Do they have friends or followers?
• Are there real posts and interactions?
• Do their photos look natural, with group tags and comments?

If your match has no socials or it looks fake based on the checks above, they’ve likely opened fake accounts to try and convince matches they’re real.

9. They Try to Get Too Close, Too Quickly

Catfishes usually turn up the charm right away, hoping to hook you fast. Over-the-top flirting, nonstop sexual comments, or constant “I love yous” are big warning signs.

If the conversation is nothing but cringy lines or sexual comments, it’s not chemistry, but rather manipulation. A little affection is fine, but if it’s excessive, don’t ignore it.

Watch Out for These OkCupid Scams

Not every scammer asks for money outright. Here are the types of scams you should watch out for:

• Romance Scam: They love-bomb you at first, then ask for favors (usually money). 
• Cryptocurrency Scam: After building trust, they pitch huge investment opportunities. You lose money, they convince you to keep investing until you realize–it’s a trap.
• Gift Scam: Claims to send gifts, then asks for “delivery fees”. No gift ever arrives.
• Medical Emergency Scam: Fakes illnesses or crises to guilt you into sending money or giving more attention.

Are You More Likely to Get Scammed on OkCupid?

Yeah, kinda. OkCupid asks fun questions like “Do you like scary movies?” or “Where would you go on holiday?” They’re great for matching you, but they’re also free intel for scammers.

Say you mentioned you’re after a long-term relationship. Suddenly, you’ve got smooth talkers vowing eternal love. The more they know, the easier it is to act like your perfect match.

How to stay Safe From Catfishes on OkCupid!

You know the signs of an OkCupid catfish…now what? Now’s the time to put what we learned into practice! You can find useful tips for damage control, avoiding catfishes, and an overall safer online dating experience below.

• Only talk to verified accounts. They’re more likely to be the real deal.
• Do NOT meet up with someone unless you’ve FaceTimed first. This ensures you’re verifying their legitimacy.
• If you meet up, do so in crowded areas. Avoid dark, secluded places and hopping on vehicles alone.
• Always reverse image search their photos with ProFaceFinder, Google, FaceCheckID, or other trustworthy services.
• Never give up sensitive information: full names, living addresses, phone numbers, or God forbid, credit card info.

And with this, I wish you happy and safe dating!