Out of all social media platforms, Snapchat is the top choice for catfishers.

With disappearing messages, no visible friend list, and barely any posted photos, it’s the perfect place for anyone looking to stay hidden.

Before you start snap streaks🔥and other flames😏, take a moment to look for signs they might be a Snapchat catfish:

1. They have a very, very low Snapscore💯

Snapscores show how many snaps (real-time photos) someone sends. A low score might just mean they’re new, but it can also be a red flag. Fake accounts often avoid sending snaps, so their score stays low.

2. Added you from ‘Quick Add’🧐

Sure, new friends can be fun, but not always safe. People who add you through Quick Add are usually total strangers. 

Just because you share a mutual friend or two doesn’t make them legit. Letting your account stay visible there can attract the wrong kind of attention, including scammers looking for easy targets.

3. A lifeless account😵

If their username seems random, full of numbers, looks like a gaming username, and they don’t have a Bitmoji, it’s probably a fake. Some catfishers get reported and banned, so they keep creating new accounts. 

4. No snaps🤳

Scammers usually avoid sending snaps. And if they do, it’s just random stuff: objects, nature, media uploaded pics or low-quality snaps clearly taken off another phone. 

If your new Snapchat buddy keeps dodging live selfies, be careful because they might not be who they say they are.

5. Snap Map is always off📍

Okay, turning off Snap Map isn’t a crime. In fact, it preserves privacy. But if they say they live near you, yet never want to meet up and keep their location off? Kinda sketchy. 

Especially if they keep changing the story about where they live. Ask them to turn it on, and suddenly they get defensive, pretend they don’t know how, or just ignore you completely. That’s not privacy: that’s avoidance.

6. Their account keeps disappearing👻

One day you’re having deep conversations, the next—poof, they’re gone. No warning, no trace. Either they felt guilty for catfishing…or more likely, someone reported them.

If this keeps happening and you keep getting “Hey, it’s me, had some issues with my account” messages from new usernames, that’s a big red flag.

7. They live an odd life🤫

Snapchat catfishers have their scripts ready. One minute they’re an IT, the next, they work in finance. Maybe they’re super rich, or a “secret prince” who can’t show their face for privacy reasons. 

8. Avoids video calling 📱 

Snapchat makes video chatting super fun: you’ve got filters, games, even voice calls if you’re shy. So when someone constantly dodges it, it’s a little suspicious. Sure, video calls may be awkward, but constant excuses are suspicious.

How to Protect Yourself From Snapchat Catfishes?

• Reverse search their photos 

If you suspect they’re a catfish, use reverse image search. Save the photo they sent (likely from media upload), and run it through a tool like Google Images—it’s free, quick, and will show you who the photo belongs to!

If you want more accurate results, go for ProFaceFinder. It’s built to spot catfishes, misused photos, and it digs deeper across multiple sources. For just $5, you get two searches—totally worth it for peace of mind. 

• Don’t add back anyone you don’t know in real life

Sounds a bit dramatic? Maybe, but it’s the safest move. Snapchat is a personal space, built for close friends. It’s not the place to build deep connections with strangers.

Scammers use some apps to gain access to memories, private snaps, and even your location to gather personal info. Imagine one of them getting access to that—your privacy and reputation is at stake here.

• Remove your account from Quick Add and disable your location

Yeah, I know—this might sound too much, but when you decrease your visibility, you’re averting the gaze of dangerous strangers.

Doing this entails turning off Quick Add (done in your profile Settings), as well as your Location (also found in settings → ‘See My Location’).

• Be suspicious from the start and wary of their gaslighting

If you’ve already added back a stranger, don’t panic, but do stay cautious. Just because they say they’ve seen you around or seem to know something about your life doesn’t mean they’re being honest. 

Be careful with what you share. Don’t send snaps with your face, location, or people you care about. Even a harmless wall pic can open the door for a smooth talker to start building trust. Some of them are pros at this. 

Additionally, a catfisher’s whole personality revolves around playing with your emotions. If they find a drop of empathy, they’ll use it to their advantage and benefit from it.

• Avoid starting streaks 

Streaks are meant for keeping in touch with real friends by snapping every day. But when you start them with a stranger, the higher the streak count, the more likely you are to get scammed via emotional attachment.

To keep the streaks and sense of loyalty going, you might start sharing more personal stuff. That’s exactly what catfishes want. They quietly gather bits of your life and use them to build trust, then use it to their advantage.

• Insist on video calling

Ask for a proper, face-to-face video call. If they always have an excuse, “promise” to do it next time but never do, or worse—flip the script and say “How dare you not trust me?”, it’s time to give them the boot. 

And, please…don’t fall for the low-quality video call that feels more pre-recorded than a 2005 YouTube vlog. Seriously, it’s the oldest trick in the book.

• Reject any request for nudes

If they’re already asking for nudes—whether it’s after two days or two months—don’t do it. Seriously. Whether they’re a catfish or just a creep, who’s that desperate to see a naked photo of someone they barely know?

Don’t fall for their manipulation. Just because they sent you one first (that you probably didn’t even ask for), doesn’t mean you owe them anything. You run the risk of having your nudes exposed and/or being blackmailed.

• Don’t spend money on them

You don’t owe them anything. If they touch an emotional cord, take a moment to reflect: Would you ask a stranger online for money? Most people would turn to close friends or family, not someone they barely know.

Once you send money, the requests won’t stop. They might promise to pay you back or call it a one-time thing, but scammers often use guilt or urgency to keep the money flowing. In other words, you’re being used.

And remember: scammers are professional storytellers. They might send photos, fake receipts, or even voice messages to sound convincing. 

• Tell someone immediately

Whether you’re an adult or a minor, seek help. It might feel like your world is falling apart, especially if the person is threatening you with private photos or trying to meet in person.

Talk to someone you trust: a friend, a parent, a kind aunt, a supportive uncle, or a teacher you feel safe with. 

If they’re blackmailing you, block and report them right away. You may feel trapped, but you’re not. A scammer will keep asking for favors, and the faster you act, the less control they’ll have over you.

Who’s Most Vulnerable to Snapchat Catfishing?

Over 55% of Snapchat users are between the ages 13-24, making them ideal targets. Some rely on it to make new friends, and that’s where it becomes problematic. 

Lack of clear boundaries, full trust in strangers, and the idea of creating new bonds often lead to oversharing personal details, ignoring red flags, and falling into manipulative traps set by catfishers.

That’s exactly how predators like Alexander McCartney operated. By creating fake teen accounts and making friends with actual children, he exploited their photos and trust.

– Catfishers usually go for teens or those feeling lonely or bored, seeking someone to fill that gap in their lives.

Those Streaks Aren’t Worth the Risk

I know that if we were face-to-face, you would slam a door and yell “Don’t tell me what to do, you’re not my mom”, but I’m literally just trying to save you from being catfished by a 45-year-old, living in their mom’s basement.

You deserve real and fun connections. So, before snapping, ask questions, set boundaries, and if it doesn’t work, do yourself a favor: get away from them. 💛