How to spot a fake profile on dating and friendship sites

Updated October 18, 2026

Most people you'll meet online are real and well-meaning. But fake profiles exist, and they almost always want the same thing: to win your trust and then ask for money or personal information. Learning to spot them takes just a few minutes.

Signs in the profile

• Magazine-cover photos: all perfect, professionally lit, none from everyday life.
• Very few photos, or photos where you can barely see the face.
• A vague, generic bio that could belong to anyone.
• A movie-plot job: deployed soldier, doctor in a war zone, engineer on an oil rig.
• Details that don't add up: says they live in one city but talks about another; says they're 35 but the photos look much younger.

Signs in the conversation

• Replies that feel copy-pasted and don't answer your questions.
• Over-the-top compliments and declarations of love very early.
• Pushing you to move to another app.
• Always an excuse not to video chat.
• Sooner or later, a problem only money can fix.

How to check

1. Reverse-search the photos. On your phone, open the photo in Google Lens (or use Google Images or TinEye). If the same photo shows up under other names, on model sites or in stock photo libraries, it's fake.
2. Ask for a short video call. Real people usually agree, even if they're shy.
3. Ask specific questions about the city or job they claim. Vague answers are a warning sign.
4. Prefer profiles with the Verified badge. On Hello Beijo, the badge shows who recorded a live video checked by our moderators.

Something feels off? Do this

• Don't send money, intimate photos or documents.
• Use Report on the profile. Moderators review it and the person won't know who reported them.
• Use Block if you don't want any more contact.

Also read: romance scam warning signs and how to prepare for a first video call.