Date with confidence
How to Spot a Fake Dating Profile and Flirt Safely
The warning signs, the quick checks and exactly what to do if a match isn't who they say they are.
Nine Signs a Dating Profile Is Fake
Fake profiles on dating sites tend to follow the same script. One sign on its own can be innocent, but two or three together mean it's time to step back.
- Photos that look too good. Model-perfect shots, studio lighting, only two or three pictures and nothing candid. Scammers often borrow real people's photos to make a profile believable.
- Copy-and-paste messages. Long, generic replies that never quite answer your questions, or a writing style that suddenly changes, which can mean more than one person is running the account.
- Too much, too soon. Gushing compliments and declarations of strong feelings within days of saying hello.
- A hurry to leave the site. They want to move to WhatsApp, Telegram or text straight away, often with a story about rarely logging in. New Zealand's Netsafe keeps it simple: if you met on a dating site, keep chatting there.
- Always a reason not to video call or meet. A broken camera, a job abroad, a posting with the military. The excuses never run out.
- A sudden emergency. A hospital bill, a missed flight, a customs fee or a visa problem that only your money can fix.
- Money in any form. Bank transfers, cash, gift cards and their codes, payment apps or crypto. Some ask you to receive or forward parcels or payments instead, which is just as risky.
- A tip on investing. A "sure thing" crypto or trading platform they want you to try. The FTC warns that romance scammers often play the long game, then offer to help you invest.
- A request for secrecy. Being asked to keep the relationship from your friends is a warning sign in itself.
How to Check a Dating Profile Is Real
Run a Reverse Image Search
Screenshot a photo from their profile and search it with Google image search or TinEye. If the same face turns up under another name, on a model's portfolio or on several profiles, you've found a fake.
Ask for a Quick Video Call
A real person might be shy, but they'll usually manage a few minutes on camera before you meet. Endless excuses are an answer in themselves.
Look for the Verified Badge
On Naughty Dating, members earn a verified badge by passing an ID check, and a live video call with a moderator is another way to prove they're real. The badge is the quickest reassurance on the page, and our naughty dating profile tips explain how to get your own.
Check Their Reputation Score
Every member has a reputation score built from their behaviour and other members' feedback. A poor score is a good reason to slow down.
Extra Eyes on Every Profile
You're not doing this alone. On Naughty Dating, every photo, video and piece of text is checked by AI and by human moderators as it's uploaded, and that's only the start.
- Behaviour monitoring looks for unusual or suspicious activity, so scammers and bots can be picked up early.
- Off-platform contact alerts warn you when a match tries to move the conversation to WhatsApp or another app.
- Reporting and blocking let you flag a profile or shut someone out immediately.
- ID and video verification give real members a way to prove who they are.
- One-click feedback on your conversations feeds the reputation score every member carries.
- 24/7 human support by chat, phone and messaging when something doesn't feel right.
We're also involved with the Online Dating and Discovery Association, whose Date Safe advice the UK's Report Fraud service points people to. Our safety page covers every protection, the features page explains verification and badges, and if you're still weighing us up, read is Naughty Dating legit.
What to Do If You've Been Targeted by a Romance Scam
First, it isn't your fault. Romance scammers are patient: Report Fraud, the UK's fraud and cyber crime reporting service, says that for almost a third of the people targeted, a romance fraud lasts more than a year. Then act quickly.
Stop Replying
Don't send anything else, and don't tell them you've worked it out. However urgent their next message sounds, it can wait.
Save the Evidence
Screenshot their profile, your messages and any payment details before you block them.
Report Them on Naughty Dating
Use the report button on their profile, then block them. Our support team is on hand day and night.
Call Your Bank
If you've sent money or shared card details, tell your bank or payment provider straight away. The sooner they know, the more they can do.
Report the Scam
The authorities use reports to track scammers and warn other people. Here's who to tell.
| Country | Report to | How |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud); Police Scotland in Scotland | Online or 0300 123 2040; in Scotland, call 101 |
| USA | Federal Trade Commission (FTC) | ReportFraud.ftc.gov |
| Australia | Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre | Online at Scamwatch |
| New Zealand | Netsafe for advice and support; NZ Police to report the crime | Online with Netsafe; police on 105 |
One last warning: anyone who gets in touch offering to win your money back is very likely another scammer. Report Fraud warns that fraudsters sometimes return to past victims claiming they can recover what was lost. For more advice on flirting safely, browse our naughty dating guides.
Fake Profiles and Scams, Answered
How can you tell if a dating profile is fake?
Look for photos that seem too professional, a thin profile, messages that don't answer your questions and a push to move to WhatsApp. A request for money, gift cards or crypto settles it.
Why do scammers want to move the chat off the dating site?
Away from the site there's no moderation and no report button, which suits a scammer. That's why Naughty Dating warns you when a match tries to take the conversation elsewhere early.
Can a reverse image search find a fake profile?
Often. If their photos turn up under a different name or on several profiles, walk away. A clean result isn't proof on its own, so pair it with a video call.
What should I do if a match asks me for money?
Say no, stop replying and report them on the site. Someone you've never met in person has no reason to need your money, however convincing the story.
Where do I report a romance scam?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report it to Report Fraud, and in Scotland call Police Scotland on 101. In the USA, use ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In Australia, report to Scamwatch, and in New Zealand contact Netsafe or NZ Police on 105.
Get Your Own Verified Badge
Join free, take the free ID check and show every match you're the real thing.
Join free