The love-bombing phase
If someone is calling you their soulmate, their future wife or husband within days — before you've even video-called — they're probably reading from a script. Real connection builds slower than that.
The emergency that needs money
Sick relative, customs holding a package, phone needs topping up, crypto investment tip — every scam eventually asks for money, gift cards or your bank details. A real match will never do this.
Dodging video calls and meetups
Excuses pile up: broken camera, bad signal, travelling for work, sick pet. Someone genuine will find a way to let you see their face and hear their voice. Insist on it early.
Photos that don't add up
Too polished, too many professional shots, or photos that look like they belong to a model? Run a reverse image search. Scammers steal photos to build fake personas.