Fake profiles and online scams: your questions

What is a romance scam?

A romance scammer builds a fake profile — often with photos stolen from an attractive stranger or generated by AI — strikes up a long-distance relationship over weeks, then invents an emergency to ask for money. These operations work at scale: the same script and the same fake profile are reused on dozens of victims at once.

That reuse is exactly what makes them detectable. A scammer rarely changes photo, username or number between two victims.

How do I recognize a fake profile?

The signs almost always come in the same order. The profile has few photos, often too polished — model-like or professional — and few connections. The person declares strong feelings within days. They consistently refuse a video call, with an excuse every time: broken camera, bad connection, military deployment, oil rig, humanitarian mission abroad. They quickly suggest moving off the app to WhatsApp or Telegram. Then comes the financial emergency: medical bills, a parcel stuck in customs, a plane ticket, an investment not to be missed.

If you recognize three of these, the odds of a scam are very high.

How can I check whether a profile photo is stolen?

A stolen photo usually appears elsewhere online under another name. A reverse image search can reveal this. NoDuble compares the photo against profiles already reported by other users: a picture may show up nowhere on the usual search engines yet already be flagged here by someone who faced the same attempt. Open-web search will later complement this database.

A clear, well-framed shot of the face gives better results than a blurry screenshot.

How do I spot an AI-generated photo?

This is the hardest case, because the face exists nowhere else — reverse search finds nothing. Look at the details generators still get wrong: asymmetric ears or earrings, distorted or oddly numbered fingers, irregular teeth, glasses arms that don't line up, a blurry or inconsistent background, hair that melts into the scenery.

Another simple clue: the person has only one photo, or several where the framing and expression are almost identical. Producing multiple consistent images of the same face is still difficult.

Can I check a profile link or a phone number?

Yes, and it is often more effective than the photo. A scammer changes photo more easily than username, because they juggle many conversations and need to keep track. The same identifiers therefore resurface from one victim to the next.

You can check a photo, a phone number or a profile URL. Checking by username alone is coming soon — in the meantime, include the username when you file a report: it already feeds the database.

How do I check a suspicious phone number?

Enter the number and NoDuble tells you whether it has already been reported in a scam by other users. Scammers reuse the same numbers heavily, especially on WhatsApp, which makes this check useful even when the photo turns up nothing.

They're asking me for money — is it necessarily a scam?

Not necessarily, but it is the most serious signal there is. The rule is simple: someone you have never met in person who asks you for money, for any reason, should be treated as suspect. Scammers rely on urgency to stop you thinking. If the request comes with "don't tell anyone" or "this is between us", there is no more room for doubt.

Be wary of indirect requests too: receiving and reshipping a parcel, cashing then forwarding a transfer, opening an account for someone else. These can make you an accomplice to an offence without your knowing.

How do I report a fake profile on NoDuble?

You note what the scammer used: the photo, the username, the profile URL, the phone number. You can describe what happened if you wish. Reports are moderated, and you don't have to give your identity.

A report is useful even if you lost nothing. That is exactly what lets the next person discover that the profile contacting them has already been used elsewhere. Report a profile.

Does the result prove the profile is fake?

No, and this matters. NoDuble gives you one more element to form an opinion, not a verdict. A photo can appear elsewhere for perfectly legitimate reasons, and conversely a scammer may use a brand-new picture or an AI-generated face that no one has reported yet.

So an empty result does not mean a profile is genuine. Read the result alongside the rest: the person's behaviour, how consistent their story is, whether they refuse to appear on video.

Can NoDuble tell me who the person in the photo really is?

No. NoDuble does not do facial recognition and does not try to identify anyone. The tool compares elements and flags reuse, nothing more. Identifying a person from their face raises privacy problems we have chosen not to cross.

What should I do if I've already sent money?

Act fast: the next hour matters more than anything. Contact your bank immediately to try to block or recall the transfer, especially if it is less than 24 hours old. Keep everything — screenshots of the conversations and the profile, numbers, email addresses, transaction references. Delete nothing, even out of anger or shame. Then file a report with the police.

And send nothing more. Many victims are later offered help to "recover the lost funds" in exchange for an advance: that is the same scam a second time, by the same people or their accomplices.

Where can I report an online scam?

You can file a complaint with your local police. Our reporting directory lists verified official bodies, phone numbers and reporting platforms by country. A report is useful even without any financial loss, because it helps protect the next person.

My photos were stolen and used on fake profiles — what can I do?

This is identity theft. Report each fake profile to the platform concerned, which has dedicated procedures, but keep evidence first: the profile may disappear afterwards. Consider filing a complaint — the fact that you are not the person who lost money does not stop you being a victim.

You can also report here the profiles using your photos, so that the people they contact are warned.

Are checks anonymous?

Yes. No account is needed to run a check, and the person whose profile you are checking is never notified. See our privacy policy for how data is handled.

Is NoDuble free?

Yes, checks are free.

What is catfishing?

Catfishing is creating a fake online identity to fool someone, usually in a romantic or friendly relationship. The catfish borrows someone else's photos and invents a life, sometimes without asking for money — for attention, control or manipulation. The warning signs overlap with romance scams: refusal to appear on video, a story that keeps shifting, pressure to move the conversation elsewhere.

You can read real stories from people who went through it, or check a photo or username that seems off.