How to check if a dating profile is real

• Only one or two photos, or photos that look like professional model shoots with no casual pictures.
• A very new account, a near-empty bio or a bio that reads like a generic script.
• Their messages do not match the profile: a different age, location or job, or language that feels copied.
• They seem to be almost always abroad or unable to meet.
• Social accounts they share are brand new, have very few friends or followers, or are locked down entirely.
• They avoid every question that would confirm who they are.

A reverse image search looks for the same or similar pictures elsewhere on the web. If the "local nurse" you matched with turns up as a fitness influencer in another country, you have your answer.

1. 1Save or screenshot the photoTake a screenshot of one of their profile photos. Crop out the app's buttons so only the picture is left.
2. 2Google LensIn the Google app or Chrome, use Lens or "Search with Google Lens" and choose the screenshot. On a computer you can upload it at images.google.com.
3. 3TinEyeUpload the image at tineye.com. It is good at finding exact copies and older versions of a picture.
4. 4Bing Visual SearchUse the camera icon in Bing search to upload the photo for a second opinion.
5. 5Read the results carefullyLook for the same face under a different name, on stock-photo sites, or on an influencer's account. Try two or three of their photos, not just one.

A two-minute live video call, ideally through the dating app's own video feature, confirms the person and the profile belong together. It is a normal request and genuine matches rarely mind.

Repeated excuses, a camera that is always "broken", or a call where the picture is frozen or the face does not move naturally are all reasons to be cautious. Real-time deepfake video exists, so if something feels off, ask them to do something simple and unplanned, like turning their head side to side or waving a hand in front of their face.

If a video call is not possible yet, ask for a quick selfie doing something you choose, such as holding up three fingers or touching their ear. Someone using stolen photos cannot produce a new picture on demand.

Keep it simple and non-sexual. You are checking identity, not asking for anything intimate.

• Compare what they say now with what is in their profile and earlier messages.
• Notice whether their time zone fits where they say they live (do they reply at 3am their time?).
• Ask ordinary questions about their area, work or school and see whether the answers are specific or vague.
• Watch for scripts: the same phrases, poetry or life story that could have been sent to anyone.

Real people usually leave some trace: a profile with years of posts, tagged photos with friends, or a professional page. Brand-new or empty accounts are not proof of a scam, but they are worth noting alongside other signs.

Keep it light. You only need enough to know they are real. Searching for their home address, contacting their family or creating fake accounts to check them crosses into invading their privacy.

Many dating apps offer photo or video verification, where the app compares a live selfie with the profile photos and adds a badge if they match. Some also let you require that matches are verified before they can message you. Check your app's safety centre for what it offers in your country.

A badge is a useful signal, not a guarantee. A verified person can still be dishonest about their intentions, so keep the rest of your checks going.

AI image tools are getting better, so these signs are less reliable than they used to be. Treat them as clues, not proof.

• Skin that looks airbrushed or plastic, with every photo equally flawless.
• Odd details at the edges: earrings that do not match, warped glasses, strange teeth or fingers.
• Backgrounds that blur into nonsense, or text and signs that are garbled.
• Every photo taken in the same light at the same angle, with no friends, pets or everyday moments.
• Hair that melts into the background or the collar.