What is Catfishing?
Catfishing is when someone creates a fake online identity using stolen photos and false information to deceive others. This is especially common on dating apps, social media, and messaging platforms.
Our catfish detection tool helps you identify fake profiles by:
- ✓Searching for stolen photos with reverse image search
- ✓Finding if photos appear on multiple accounts
- ✓Identifying stock photos and celebrity images
- ✓Verifying identity with face recognition
- ✓Discovering the real person behind suspicious profiles
Warning Signs of a Catfish
Look out for these red flags when meeting someone online:
Too Good to Be True Photos
Professional-looking model photos or images that seem too perfect. Run a catfish image search to verify.
Refuses Video Calls
They always have excuses to avoid video chatting or meeting in person. Genuine people want to connect face-to-face.
Asks for Money
Requests for money, gift cards, or financial help are major red flags. Never send money to someone you haven't met.
Inconsistent Stories
Their details don't add up or keep changing. Use people finder to verify their claims.
Moves Too Fast
Declares love very quickly or pushes for a serious relationship before you've even met. Romance scammers create urgency.
Limited Photos
Only has a few photos, especially if they look like they're from the same photoshoot. Use catfish picture search to investigate.
How to Detect a Catfish
Follow these steps to verify someone's identity online:
Upload Their Photo
Take a screenshot of their profile picture and upload it to our catfish image search free tool.
Run Catfish Search
Our catfish picture finder searches across social media, stock photo sites, and the web for matches.
Analyze Results
Review where the photo appears. If it's on multiple profiles or stock sites, it's likely stolen.
Verify Identity
Use our background check tools to verify their claimed name, location, and employment.
The Reality of Online Scams
Americans lost over $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2022 according to the FTC.
Over 70,000 people reported romance scams last year — and many more go unreported.
More than half of romance scams begin on dating apps and websites.
The average victim loses thousands of dollars before realizing they've been scammed.
Verify Profiles on Any Platform
Our catfish detection works with all major dating and social platforms:
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Protect Yourself from Catfish
Use our free catfish image search to verify online profiles and stay safe from scams.
Detect Catfish Free →