5 Signs Your Online Hookup Is A Catfish Scam

[Wayne]

http://www.manofthehourmag.com/apps/blo ... tfish-scam

Ever let a trusted friend hook you up with a blind date? You could’ve sworn he noticed all the Melanie Iglesias posters, but he went with a Nicole Kidman lookalike instead. Gentleman, the keyword here is blind, and blindsided you will be by letting anyone but yourself determine your dating prospects.

Case in point: Catfishing. It's blind dating’s virtual partner in crime, and it’ll put your ego on blast one fraud at a time.

Being “catfished” happens after a 5’9 Russia model named Svetlana successfully seduces you, then looks like your high school gym teacher in person. Sadly, you’ve been lured by an internet scam artist of the lowest kind. They’re not out to steal your identity or your money. No, they’re out for your dignity, and losing to a fake internet presence could be the ultimate bruise to your self-worth.

Whether they’re bored, lonely or just cynical bastards doesn’t fix the reputation-killer. Instead, like trolls, catfishers are behind a new cult-like MTV following. A really clever sitcom entitled “Catfish: The TV Show on MTV” (seriously?) has everyone’s eyes open wide to this trend. The show's executive producer, Nev Schulman, experienced it firsthand and acknowledged the heartbreak in 2010 with his documentary entitled, “Catfish.” (We’re hoping his PR team gets to work on this redundant lingo.)

Looking for love with the affections of a keyboard and mouse makes anyone susceptible to the catfish trap. If online dating is etched on the bucket list, live out your wildest pursuits while you’re young. But first, make sure to adhere to these five red flags before getting your hormones all riled up.


1. Photoshop Perfection
Some women are a little too clever with makeup and Instagram filters. The beautifying smartphone app is nothing compared to the shopped photos scam artists use for catfishing.

This red flag is big on common sense. If her skin doesn’t look real, her eyes are a non-existent color, or her face has been cropped to another body in an amateur-ish way, face palm yourself. This one is not a keeper. Even if the photo is a seemingly normal one, check out the fine details such as the background and the people she is surrounded by. At this point, you should be able to smell a Facebook fraud from a mile away.


2. Overly Affectionate
You start off with the no-strings-attached bit, but the winky faces and hey baby’s start threatening the vibe. If this casual, online hookup goes from fun and friendly to uncomfortably flirty in no time, they likely want something from you. And it's nothing you'll want to reciprocate.


3. Too Much Too Soon
Back in middle school, peers went from just-meeting to together forever in a few days' time. Anybody who tries this unrealistic dating pattern after age nine is missing a chunk out of their brain. Anybody who falls for this is also missing a chunk out of their brain. (Maybe you both need each other?)


4. No Live Action
Remember Svetlana? Getting with a hot, foreign chick is somewhere within any man’s fantasy. Scam artists are well aware. Don’t let the sex appeal of English-as-a-second-language have you drooling too much. “She” probably doesn’t “exist.”

Get to the bottom of it by requesting live action. Chat for a month or so, then move on to the next level: turning on the webcam! If the person on the other end doesn’t have a webcam, one of two things could be true: they’re living in the Stone Age of electronics, or they're living a life totally opposite of what they’ve described to you.


5. No Internet Presence
In 2013, virtually anyone is identifiable on Google. Refine your search terms to include a name and the occupation your potential imposter is taunting. If nothing comes up within the first few result pages (or if no keywords are found at all), go into hiding.

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Getting catfished is undeniably humiliating. The joke that was Mante Te'o's three year relationship thing will be around for generations of people to poke fun at. iPhone’s and their screenshot mechanism is at the heart of blackmail, and a catfish-er could easily post all their scummy evidence on the social web. Nothing is safe or anonymous if any machinery is involved.

But there are ways to safely date online, though you'll need to smart about it. Check out reputable online dating sites such as match.com or Christian Mingle if you’re friendly with the Lord. Apply said red flags to your experiences, and don’t rush when getting to know anyone virtually. Build a connection, and physically meet this person sooner (within six months) rather than later. If they beat the webcam/Google/liar tests, you’ve got a winner.