Fake Profiles: How To Find Out?

Social media is an excellent tool if you know how to use it and not being used through it. I guess we all know that there are always people who use other identities to trick you into believing that they are the right person with whom you think you are talking. 

OMG, each day I get tonnes of messages claiming that I have been talking to them, some of them even were really thinking that I have e-dated them. I tried my best to explain to people that these are fake profiles, nothing related to me, that my pictures were used to catfish you… But in vain. And, today, I decided to write an article and explain to you guys on how to understand that you are talking NOT with me. 

But before giving you any tips, I want to stress – I DON’T interact with people whom I don’t know personally using any apps! (I wish I could finish this article by writing just this sentence, but apparently, it isn’t enough info for many people to again go through a not very pleasant situation called catfishing). 

Now let’s talk on how to keep yourself safe from these fake profiles:

• RESEARCH – you got a message, fine. Open it and right-click their photos, copy the URL and paste in Google image box. Google will search for other sources of that image online. And you will understand whom these pictures belong to. Unfortunately, Instagram images aren’t indexed, so Google won’t be able to search for them. Try taking a screenshot of them on your phone and uploading them to Google Image Search. This will work best if you are talking on an app. 
• BLOCK IF THEY ASK FOR MONEY – guys, remember one thing I or anyone whom they pretend to be DO NOT need money, trust me. If this online ‘buddy’ is already asking you for money to send you something or to come and visit you while promising to pay you back, let’s be honest, they won’t, and they are not the person whom you think they might be. So just say bye to them by blocking or reporting the account.
• GET REAL – If it seems too good to be true – it probably is Watch out, if it’s all getting a bit too serious, too soon and they’re making unreal promises, get the hint. They aren’t going to fly you somewhere, and a famous person most definitely doesn’t send random people friend requests and chats with random people. Sorry, move on. 
• TRY KEEPING AWAY FROM DSTIMG SITES – Around 1 in 10 online dating profiles are fake. Scammers will use any tool that they have available to trick you into sharing sensitive information or giving them money. So be careful and remember famous people, influencers are not using online dating sites.
• ASK THEM FOR A VIDEO CALL – If the person is really persistent or you’re not sure, ask them to make a video chat with you. Tell them also to take a picture and write a specific word on the image, i.e., your name, so that you know it’s not just another picture that they found online. They’ll probably run from you right after that.
• REPORT, REPORT, and AGAIN REPORT – Pilotamireh001, Pilot_Amireh, Amireh The Pilot, or any such kind of profile – then IT IS A FAKE ONE. Guys, please any time you see or get a message from these kinds of profiles, REPORT, don’t even think that it might be me. My profiles have been verified by social media! If you don’t see any blue tick on the account, then just click the ‘Report.’ 

Let’s use social media correctly and with knowledge. I love sharing my journey with you and creating something amazing, but meanwhile, I don’t want you to be lied by people who pretend to be me or someone else. Please, keep yourself safe.

Until next time and as always, “We Speak Aviation”!