1. Check the photos
Save a profile photo and run it through a reverse image search. Google Images or TinEye both work, and both are free. If the same photo turns up under a different name, or on a stock photo site, that is a clear answer.
2. Watch the pace
Declarations of love, talk of a shared future, or a crisis needing money, all within days of matching, are one of the most common scam patterns there is, not a sign of a rare, intense connection.
3. Get on a video call before anything else
A short video call filters out most fake profiles immediately, since it is much harder to fake convincingly than photos or text. Do this before sharing anything financial or deeply personal, not after.
4. Never send money
Do not send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to anyone you have not met in person, regardless of the reason given. Emergencies, customs fees, and investment opportunities are all common versions of the same scam.