Before your situationship turns into a full-on identity crisis, maybe ask a few questions first, especially if they’re suspicious.

Whether they give off major catfish energy or just seem a little too mysterious to trust, it’s smarter to ask now than to cry later while holding a bouquet you never bothered to send. 💐

Luckily, I’ve got the perfect list: Some questions that are casual and sneaky, some going straight for the truth, and a few random ones to throw them off their script.

1. “Can You Send a Quick Selfie?”

Basically, any question that aims to get them to send a photo works because catfishes usually steal the identity of other people.

Don’t settle for an old 2016 Snapchat memory, a low-quality picture, or a Stock image that’s terribly cropped in hopes of removing the watermark.

Maybe they’ll even send a heavily filtered and edited photo, or the opposite, a professional one. Until you get the realistic shot you would have sent them if they’d asked, don’t trust them. 

You can reverse image search their pictures with ProFaceFinder for as little as $5. All you have to do is upload the picture they didn’t feel ashamed of sending and check the results. 

Since ProFaceFinder scans faces (even altered ones!) you’ll get plenty of useful results—all that’s left for you is to assess whether they’re a catfish or not.

Observe how they act as well. 

• Do they find the lamest excuses to get you off their back? 
• Are they ignoring the question?
• Do they switch the topic?

2. “Can You Send a Video Saying My Name?”

This question makes sure to tell you if they’re using their own pictures or not, and as a bonus point, they’ll do a voice reveal.

*🔔 Buzz* They sent the video. All you see is a blurry or black screen. As you squint your eyes to see your screen better, a voice whispers your name…goosebumps.

The only thing they proved, however, is that they’re a living human being, able to pronounce a basic name—don’t take it personally, Jessica. 

If they don’t send a video where you’re able to see their face, their lips moving while saying your name, crisp quality, nice lighting, and a clear sound, they simply wasted 1 minute of your very busy life.

3. “Why haven’t we FaceTimed yet? Let’s do it right now!”

• “Oh, I suggested it but you probably forgot”
• “I’m just very shy/busy”
• “My phone is broken” or “I have a bad Wi-fi”

Who are they kidding? Every catfish dreads this question because it includes real-time video chatting. Even so, you can video call in nearly every social media platform.

Let’s imagine that after some time, they accepted your video call requests, but their room was pitch black, or the video’s quality was so off, it hurt your eyes. 👀

Maybe even their lips didn’t move. It’s not magic—they’re simply showing you a pre-recorded video from another phone. 

4. “Which social media platforms do you use? Let’s add each other!”

If they’re not a catfish, you’ll get to learn new things about them. You’ll notice their hobbies, check what interests they have, and see their friends for the first time.

But if they are a catfish, something will feel…weird. Maybe they’ve got five followers, all with suspicious usernames and AI-generated profile pics.

Their feed? Barely a handful of photos—usually super polished, model-level shots, not a single candid moment or friend in sight. No silly selfies, no birthday cakes, no chaos.

Group photos? None. No tagged friends. Their follower-to-following ratio is off, too. They don’t follow meme pages or pages that highlight their interests.

5. “Who took that photo of you?”

Now we get personal. What might seem like an unnecessary question might just reveal their intentions.

Catfishes don’t usually prep for this—they can’t Google a backstory. So, you’ll catch them scrambling for something vague like, “Uh…a friend.”

Really? Which friend? When was it taken? What were you doing? Was it a special occasion? Did you take more? Mind showing me another? You’re not just being nosy—you’re looking for a story, details, a thread that makes sense. 

6. “Why are we rushing?”

Catfishers love to sprint. Whether they’re after your wallet, your heart, or just bored on a Tuesday night, speed is part of the scam.

So, pause and ask them why. See what excuse they come up with. Maybe it’s, “Because I love you 😍”, or the classic, “I just feel such a strong connection”, or worse: “I literally can’t go a day without you”.

Cute? Maybe. Convincing? Not really. These lines are flatter than their fake identities. And if they get defensive or act like you’re the crazy one for asking? Let’s all say it together: “Manipulation doesn’t work on me.” 💅

Because if someone is serious about you, they won’t rush, guilt-trip, or gaslight you into skipping the getting-to-know-you part.

7. “What made you contact me?”

Let’s see if they actually have a reason or if you were just the next profile in their scam queue.

Do they mention something specific about your profile? A hobby, a photo, something you wrote? Or do they hit you with a cheesy line and a vague compliment like, “You just seemed… different”? Thanks, I guess? 🙄 

Catfishes don’t care for detail because they’re not looking for connection: if their answer sounds like it could apply to anyone, chances are you weren’t chosen for who you are, but what they think they can get from you.

8. “How do you feel about people who lie online?”

Talk about turned tables. Drop this question mid-convo and watch them glitch like a broken chatbot. Suddenly, you’re the one asking the tough questions—and for them, it feels like it’s their first scam.

It’s bold, unexpected, and just accusatory enough to make a scammer sweat. They might try to play it cool, but the intensity of the question could trip them up, making them slip from their carefully rehearsed script.

Maybe they might even get too defensive or try to joke it off: “Haha, why would you even ask that 😅”. And that’s when the cracks start to show.

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

Drop this when they start getting a little too comfortable, or if they’ve already hinted at needing “help”. It’s the kind of question that makes scammers reflect for a second.

And if you feel awkward asking it, pause for a second: who in their right mind asks a near-stranger for money unless something’s fishy?

It always starts with a story:

• A sudden medical emergency
• Grocery struggles
• Unpaid bills
• A “once-in-a-lifetime” investment

Whether they wrap it in charisma or just go straight for the ask, be frugal with your trust and money. Especially in this economy.

3 Tips For Busting Catfishes Online

Don’t go in with an “I can fix them” mindset—you can’t. And honestly, you don’t even know who you’re trying to save.

Don’t do it for the plot. Many people have lost their savings, dignity, and even sense of safety to catfishes. It’s not a game—at least not for you.

Your emotional, physical, and financial safety should be your top priority, and the tips below will ensure you aren’t put in jeopardy during your online journey:

1. Use reverse-search tools

We already talked about using ProFaceFinder to verify someone’s photo, but if you don’t have it, you can check their name or phone number on services like SocialCatfish or Spokeo.

2. Identify different types of catfishes and what works best against them

Okay, so we have image catfishes, or people who try to pass other people’s photos as their own, in which case you can ask them to FaceTime.

We have bots who are powerless against elaborate questions only a human can answer—in other words, first identify what type of catfish you believe you’re dealing with before moving forward.

3. Never comply

Whether they want you to send money or personal info, never comply for two reasons: first, because your safety could potentially be at risk, and…

Second, not getting what they want causes them to rage or move on to the next target, which is a telltale sign you’re dealing with a catfish.