Excuses, excuses
One of the most easily noticeable habits of online dating catfish is someone who will always make excuses for reasons not to talk with you on the phone, Skype or meet in person. This is the person who is always sick with a disease that requires them not to use force and their voices, and certainly can not leave the house to meet for coffee. This kind of behavior can not seem strange at first. We are all human, and we have a general understanding that when life throws a curve ball unexpectedly, it can interfere with the pre-established social activities. Generally, it is courtesy to be lenient in this situation. In the world of online dating, there are different rules. A red flag could be when the person you're communicating with the claims of having chronic colds, or indicates the beginning of the conversation they travel or often work, which means they are generally out of touch. Online daters who want to get to know you, but have a million and one excuses to get out of attending a short coffee date could have ulterior motives and should be carefully monitored.
Go with your gut
We've all seen - the profile of someone who just looks too good to be true. We are too often willing to look beyond a set of six-pack abs that were obviously Photoshopped or believe an impressive list of resumes checkpoints. While it is fun to live in our online reality made for some time, it is in our best interest to follow our instincts when something seems off. You would not give your time in person to someone who is clearly trying to act or facade to impress you, so why give them online? A catfish often spice up their online profile with carefully elaborated details that they know will attract their target audience. Use your best judgment to assess the reality of the situation before you jump into an online relationship with this view Mr. or Mrs. Wonderful.
Where have you been?
A sure shot way of knowing if someone you've met online has genuine intentions is looking at where they are in relation to you. This may seem a strange detail to focus on, but it holds a lot of truth. What are the real chances of meeting someone who lives more than 100 miles away? In reality, such a person could be in the market for personal favors, or perhaps even an automated profile that is capable of stealing your information simply by engaging you in conversation. While it is tempting to give in to a brief discussion with the beautiful stranger from a distant land, it is likely that the model / actress who wants to know your astrological sign is actually a clever hacker.
There are easy ways to avoid becoming part of the epidemic of catfish. By simply stay alert and aware, you can be sure that your romantic dating online are the real deal.