Before you get emotionally attached to an online stranger, ask them a few smart questions to see if they’re telling the truth about who they are.

Below, you can find the best casual (but blunt) questions that make even the pro catfishes stop, pause, and think, “…I’ve been caught!”.

1. “Can you send a video talking?”

This question is the best solution for catfishes who are using other people’s photos. It’s simple and effective because real-time videos are hard to fake.

You can keep it casual: 

“Can you send a short video saying your name and telling me what you like about me? Good lighting, please! I want to actually see you.”

Real people usually do it, even if they’re a little shy. Catfishes stall or send something sketchy: a black screen or blurry footage, whispering your name with their face and accent hidden.

Remember: If you can’t clearly see their face and lips moving, they might have edited the video. Make sure they say the full sentence – no one-liners.

Whether they send a video or not, use a reverse image search tool. ProFaceFinder lets you verify if they’re faking their appearance.

2. “What’s a go-to spot in your town that most people don’t know?”

Catfishes and scammers usually stick to generic, Google answers – the famous square, the big museum, or the ancient statue. 

Think about it: how many French people find peace at a crowded place like the Eiffel Tower every day? 

A person who’s not lying will likely mention something small and personal: a quiet café they always go to, a shortcut locals use, or a park bench they sit on when they need to think. 

3. “What social media do you use? Let’s add each other!”

If a person is real, they’ll add you on their socials. You’ll see hobbies, interests, and friends – basically proof of a living person.

If they’re a catfish, things will feel off. They’ll have very few followers with random usernames and suspicious profile photos. Their feed is thin: a few pictures, with no candid moments or friends. 

But they might prepare a surprisingly realistic account, too. There are still cracks, though: no group photos, tagged friends, or interest-based pages. 

Their follower-to-following ratio is off, crowded with empty or suspicious profiles. That’s why they avoid sharing their username.

4. “Who took that photo of you?”

Imposters rarely use their real selfies, and since they can’t use Google to fake a memory, their answer is often something vague like, “Uh… a friend.”

This is important: don’t leave it alone. Ask additional questions:

• “Which friend?”
• “When was it taken?” 
• “What happened before or after that photo was taken?”
• “Did you take more photos?”

It’s personal. It’s casual, but this question reveals a lot. Look for details that connect naturally, not a story that feels patched together.

5. “Why are we rushing?”

Catfishes pretend to be “romantic”. They do it to keep you from thinking clearly. They will say they love you and want to get serious very early on. 

When you slow things down to question their intent, they start to panic. Their answers are empty and manipulative. Examples:

👉 “Because you are everything to me, and I don’t want to lose you…”

👉 “I am convinced you are the love of my life even though we just met…”

This question makes them uncomfortable and defensive. Someone serious won’t rush intimacy or pressure you to move faster than you’re ready.

🚩 Red flags to watch for: Mentions of marriage, moving in together, asking for money, pressuring you into sending nudes, etc. All while it’s been a few weeks or months!

6. “What made you contact me?”

This question reveals if they have an actual reason or if you were randomly selected. Genuine interest comes with details because there’s curiosity and attraction.

A catfish will answer vaguely because they’re not invested in who you are; their compliments are broad and could fit anyone.

⚠️ Likely catfish answer: “Your awesome personality and sense of humor!”

✅ Probably okay: “I saw that you like The Legend of Zelda. That’s my favorite video game.”

7. “When can we meet?”

Upon hearing this question, a catfish will stop their love-bombing and turn to manipulation instead, as they can’t meet you offline due to faking their life/appearance.

A real person might hesitate, but they’ll still aim for something concrete. A date, a loose plan, a public place, or even a “Next weekend for coffee?”.

Catfishes might keep the timing blurry and give repeated excuses: they’ll say “soon”, “after this week”, or “once things calm down”. Every time you get close to meeting, they’ll always cancel at the last minute.

8. “Have you ever asked for money online before?”

Use this when the catfish starts asking for money or “financial aid”. It’s a question that makes scammers hesitate. A fake will mention the following:

• A sudden emergency
• Money problems
• Bills that “can’t wait”
• An investment you’d be crazy to miss

Don’t feel awkward. As long as they’re initiating money talk, questioning it is the sensible thing to do. Nobody has money to blow on a catfish in this economy.

Ask the Catfish the 5 Ws: What, Why, When, Who, and Where 

Here’s a little tip from a journalist: Ask that person the 5 Ws. For example, if they tell you they moved out, this is how to poke for extra information:

What: “What made you choose this city?”

Why: “Why did you decide to move out?

When: “When did you decide it was time?”

Who: “Who did you come with?”

Where: “Where else would you like to go?”

– Follow up on vague answers: “Which one?”, “Who exactly?”, etc. Track details, timelines, and small claims because they expose inconsistencies.

You can also ask a set of “straightforward questions” on suspicious things: “Don’t you think asking a stranger for money is inappropriate?”. 

Imply you’re onto them, and usually, that’s enough to chase catfishes away. Set boundaries early about protecting your assets and taking things slow.