Fake profiles and catfishing

A fake profile uses someone else’s identity and photos to deceive you. Catfishing is keeping that fake identity going in a relationship, sometimes without asking for money — for attention, control or manipulation. The same stolen photo is often used on several profiles at once.

Signs of a fake profile

• Few photos, too polished, or all shot in the same setting.
• Refuses to appear on a video call, every time you ask.
• A personal story that changes between conversations.
• Few friends or little real activity on the account.
• A quick push to move to a private messaging app.

How to check a profile photo

Two checks work together. A stolen photo often appears elsewhere under a different name; but it may appear on no search engine and still be reported here by another victim.

• Run a reverse image search on the photo.
• Compare the photo, number or link against profiles already reported on NoDuble.

What if the photo is AI-generated?

This is the hardest case: the face exists nowhere else, so a reverse image search finds nothing.

Look at the details generators still get wrong: asymmetric ears or earrings, distorted fingers, irregular teeth, an inconsistent background.

Be wary of a profile with a single photo, or several photos with almost identical framing.

What to do

• Don’t share personal information or money.
• Report the profile to the platform.
• Report it on NoDuble to warn the people it will contact next.
• If your own photos are used on a fake profile, that’s identity theft: keep the evidence before reporting, because the profile may disappear.

Frequently asked questions

Not sure about a profile? Check a photo, number or link, or report a profile to protect others.