Worried that the girl you’re chatting with is far too good-looking? Thinking she’s so far out of your league that something’s gotta be wrong? First off, don’t be so hard on yourself, bro. You’re a good person and infinitely deserving of love. Second—smart move clicking this. There are still scammers, catfish, and bots on Hinge; knowing the latest red flags (and what Hinge now offers to help) keeps you safe.
TL;DR
- If it feels off, stop chatting, block, and report immediately.
- Hinge now has optional Selfie Verification (video selfie + liveness check).
- Watch for red flags: quick move to WhatsApp/Telegram, requests for money or crypto, refusal to video chat, inconsistent photos.
- Scams are rising, with billions lost in 2024—never send money to online matches.
- Deepfakes and AI voice/video scams are growing; video calls and verification are key.
How Can You Tell If You’re Talking to a Catfish (or Bot) on Hinge
Worried that the girl you’re chatting with is far too good-looking? Thinking she’s so far out of your league that something’s got to be wrong? First off, don’t be so hard on yourself, bro. You’re a good person and infinitely deserving of love. Second though… good choice clicking on this article. There are a lot of scammers, catfish, and bots on Hinge, and it’s always good to be sure. But how do you know if those alarm bells ringing in your head are self-doubt or very real danger? I’m here for you. Read on to see the most common red flags to look out to know if you’re being catfished (or scammed) on Hinge. To put it bluntly, you’ve all heard the old phrase, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” This applies to spotting catfish and bot accounts. However, it is pretty difficult to apply this to online dating. Some people will be too harsh on themselves and think anyone expressing an interest must be a bot. Others will allow their ego to get them into trouble. Most importantly, though, don’t give anyone money, don’t give them any details that allow them to steal money, and if someone seems sketchy, don’t meet them. Quick 2025 update: Hinge now has Selfie Verification (a short video selfie with a liveness check). It’s not foolproof, but the badge helps filter out obvious fakes. If someone refuses to verify or dodges a quick video call, that’s a red flag. This article is going to be specifically looking at how to know if you are being catfished on Hinge, but this is a problem on all dating apps. If you’re looking for something aimed explicitly at catfishing on Tinder, take a look at my article on how to spot fake profiles on Tinder.
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Who Is Doing The Catfishing
First off, it’s quite important to note that catfish and bot accounts aren’t as common as you might believe from watching the TV show Catfish. They do exist and it’s worth thinking a bit about what drives people to become catfish. There are a few different reasons real people turn to catfishing. Let’s have a look at some of the different types you might find on Hinge.
Loneliness
The biggest (non-financial) reason that people turn to catfishing is that they are lonely. Perhaps they have low self-esteem and don’t think anybody would talk to them if they knew how they really looked. Perhaps they’re depressed and just craving a conversation. We definitely need to have sympathy for people who catfish for these reasons, but they’re still harmful. Catfishers like this can do real emotional damage to people. This kind of catfish will avoid video calls or maybe even all calls. They’ll be happy to talk over text but often won’t want to take it to the next level. They usually won’t add new pictures because… they don’t have any. New in 2025: some use AI filters or lightly edited videos. A quick live video chat (with a specific gesture or date mention) cuts through that fast.
Targeted Abuse Or Revenge
Some people create catfish accounts as a way of hurting somebody in particular. Maybe an ex (or a person their ex ran off with), maybe just somebody they have a crush on who doesn’t like them. Either way, it’s toxic AF, and these people are gross. This kind of catfish is similar to the lonely catfish. They’ll be unwilling to show pictures, link to an Insta or Facebook account, and they often won’t talk on the phone in case you recognize their voice. If you think you might be a victim of targeted abuse, report their ass.
Scamming You
These catfish are dangerous and want your money. They’ll strike up a conversation, and before long it will take a turn in a direction that pushes whatever agenda they’re about. On the low-danger end, they might just want you to subscribe to their OnlyFans or buy something from their MLM. Equally, though, they could come up with an elaborate story about why they desperately need some money. Some of these scam accounts are run by bots. These tend to be quite easy to spot as their grammar will be terrible, and they’ll get straight to asking for money. Some of them, though, are run by humans. These types of catfish are easy to avoid by simply not buying anything from them or sending them money. Common 2025 scam signs:
- They push to move the chat off Hinge to WhatsApp or Telegram right away
- They refuse to verify or video chat
- They bring up crypto, trading, or “investments” early
- Their photos look overly professional or AI-generated
- They invent sudden emergencies needing financial help
How Can I Prove I’m Not A Catfish
Ah, how the turntables have turned around… or whatever the phrase is. So now they think you’re a catfish? Well, assuming you’re not, it’s pretty easy to prove to them that you’re legit. Think about the advice above and then think of ways to prove that’s not what you’re doing. Send links to your Insta, do a video call, complete Hinge’s Selfie Verification so the badge shows, and don’t ask them for money. Make sure, though, that they’re not asking for personal details as a scam tactic. No one needs your bank info to prove you’re real.
What To Do With A Catfish
Fry that bad boy in some Cajun batter and have yourself a po’boy. But seriously, if you think you’ve got a catfish on the line there are a few things you can do. Firstly, don’t worry about their feelings. They’ve used you, and if you weren’t so smart, they’d keep going until your heart was as broken as a land speed record around Usain Bolt. Cut contact, report them so they can’t get anyone else, block them on any other platforms you may have added them on. If you’ve been scammed and worry they might have your details, tell your bank immediately. If crypto or “investment” scams are involved, report it to authorities right away. Note: Hinge does have verification—it’s optional via a short video selfie. Use it. If you want to try a different app, take the DudeHack quiz here to see what might work best for you.
FAQ
How do I quickly check if a Hinge match is real?
Ask for a quick video chat and look for Hinge’s Selfie Verification badge. Most real people are fine hopping on for a short hello.
Is it normal for someone to move the convo to WhatsApp right away?
Nope, big red flag. Scammers move off-platform to avoid moderation and push links or money requests.
Are deepfakes actually a problem in dating now?
Yes, and they’re getting easier to make. That’s why a live video call and Hinge verification are key before you meet up.
What scams are trending in 2025?
The biggest one is still the “romance investment” scam—mixing dating and crypto or fake business pitches. If they talk about making money fast, it’s a scam.
I already sent money—what should I do?
Contact your bank immediately, save all chats, and file a report with authorities. Fast action helps recover funds.
Does verification guarantee someone isn’t a catfish?
Not 100%, but it makes catfishing much harder. Use verification plus a live video to be safe.
