# How to Tell If Someone Is Catfishing You: 9 Signs > The warning signs of a catfish, a free five-minute check you can run on any profile, and what to do when their story doesn't add up. October 17, 2026 · Mirabu team Someone is probably catfishing you if several of these turn up together: photos that look too polished or appear online under another name, a story that keeps shifting, strong feelings very early, and an excuse every time you suggest a video call or a meeting. One sign on its own proves little. Three or four together are a good reason to slow down and check, and the check takes about five minutes. A catfish is someone using a fake identity online. Some want attention or to hide who they are. Many want money, and they don't only work on dating apps: nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to a romance scam in 2025 told the [FTC](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/04/new-ftc-data-show-people-have-lost-billions-social-media-scams) it started on social media. ## 9 signs you might be talking to a catfish 1. **The photos look like a photo shoot.** Every picture is flattering and professionally lit, or oddly blurry, and there are no casual shots with friends. [Scamwatch](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/relationship-scams) lists both as signs of a fake profile. 2. **The profile is new or thin.** Little personal information, few connections, and almost no comments or likes from other people. 3. **It moves fast.** They say they've never felt like this after a few days and message you constantly. Scamwatch calls this love-bombing. 4. **They want to leave the app straight away.** A quick move to WhatsApp, Telegram or text is a classic early step. Both the [FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams) and Scamwatch flag it. 5. **There's always a reason they can't video chat or meet.** They're working abroad, on an oil rig, deployed with the military, or their camera is broken. 6. **The details don't add up.** Their job, age or hometown changes between messages, or doesn't match what their profile says. 7. **They want the relationship kept secret.** Or they nudge you away from the friends and family who ask questions. 8. **Money comes up, sooner or later.** A medical bill, a plane ticket, a visa fee, a crypto "opportunity", or a request to receive money and pass it on. Scamwatch warns that moving money for someone else can involve you in money laundering. 9. **They push for intimate photos or private details.** Or they get irritated when you ask ordinary questions. ## A five-minute check anyone can do You don't need to be a detective. These four steps catch many catfish. 1. **Reverse image search their photos.** Upload each picture to Google Lens, Bing Visual Search or TinEye and look for the same face under a different name, on a model's portfolio or on an old account. Our guide on [how to reverse image search a person](https://www.mirabu.app/blog/how-to-reverse-image-search-a-person/) shows exactly where to tap on a phone or a computer. 2. **Search their name, username and phone number.** Add the word "scam", or the job they claim plus "scammer", as the FTC suggests. Other people sometimes post the same story, almost word for word. 3. **Check how old the account is.** Instagram's [About this account](https://help.instagram.com/697961817256175) shows the date an account was created and how many times its username has changed. A profile full of "lifelong" memories that appeared last month deserves a second look. Our guide to [spotting fake accounts](https://www.mirabu.app/blog/how-to-spot-fake-accounts-and-bots/) covers what each platform shows. 4. **Ask for something only a real person can do right now.** A selfie making a gesture you choose, or a short video call at a time that suits you both. Someone genuine may feel shy but will usually find a way. Someone who always has an excuse is giving you an answer. A video call is a strong check, but not a perfect one. The [FBI](https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA241203) warns that criminals can use AI to generate video for real-time chats, so watch for faces that blur or warp, shadows that don't fit and hands that look wrong. If you'd like a second pair of eyes on the photos, Mirabu's [Face Search](https://www.mirabu.app/face-search/) looks at where a photo shows up online, whether it seems to have been taken from other profiles, and the oldest copy it can find. You get two free scans a day without an account, the person is never notified, and uploads are deleted from Mirabu's servers within 24 hours. Treat what any tool finds as a signal, not proof. ## What to do if the story doesn't add up - **Pause before you reply.** You don't owe anyone an instant answer, least of all someone who is rushing you. - **Don't send money, gift cards, crypto, ID documents or intimate photos.** That holds however long you've been talking and however sad the story. The UK's [Report Fraud](https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/romance-fraud/) service gives the same advice. - **Talk to someone you trust.** People outside the conversation often spot what we can't, and catfish count on secrecy. - **Keep the evidence.** Screenshot the profile, the username and the messages before they disappear. - **Don't confront them or try to expose them.** Stop replying, block them and report the profile to the app or site where you met. - **If money or personal details are involved, act today.** Call your bank or card provider, then report it: in the US at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/); in England, Wales and Northern Ireland at [Report Fraud](https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/) or on 0300 123 2040 (in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101); in Australia at [Scamwatch](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam). Our guide to [romance scam warning signs](https://www.mirabu.app/blog/romance-scam-warning-signs/) walks through the next steps. ## Questions people ask ### Is it catfishing if they just use filters or old photos? Usually not. Flattering or slightly dated photos are common. Catfishing is about a false identity: someone else's face, a made-up name or a life that doesn't exist. ### Can a catfish fake a video call? Some can, with AI tools or pre-recorded clips. Most still avoid calls altogether, which is why constant excuses are such a strong sign. If a call feels off, ask them to do something simple and unplanned, like turning their head or waving. ### Will they know I searched their photo? No. A reverse image search works on the picture, not on their account, so nothing is sent to them. Mirabu never notifies the person being checked either. ### I've already sent money. Is it too late? No. Contact your bank or the payment service straight away and ask them to stop or reverse the payment, then report it. Be wary of anyone who later offers to recover your money for a fee. ## Sources - [New FTC data show people have lost billions to social media scams](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/04/new-ftc-data-show-people-have-lost-billions-social-media-scams), Federal Trade Commission, April 2026 - [What to know about romance scams](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams), FTC Consumer Advice - [Relationship scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/relationship-scams), Scamwatch (ACCC) - [Romance fraud](https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/romance-fraud/), Report Fraud (City of London Police) - [Criminals use generative artificial intelligence to facilitate financial fraud](https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA241203), FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, December 2024 - [What is About this account on Instagram and Threads](https://help.instagram.com/697961817256175), Instagram Help Center - [Report a scam](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam), Scamwatch --- Related terms: [Catfishing](https://www.mirabu.app/glossary/catfishing/) [Check it with Face Search](https://www.mirabu.app/face-search/) · [All guides](https://www.mirabu.app/blog/)