Spot a Fake Before They Scam You
Have you ever met someone online whose profile picture looks… too good to be true? Maybe it’s a model-like selfie, a soldier in uniform, or just a photo that feels a little too polished.
Scammers often steal real people’s photos to create fake profiles. But don’t worry — there’s a simple trick to find out if that picture is being used elsewhere.
It’s called a reverse image search — and it can save you from emotional manipulation, financial loss, or worse.
Here’s how to do it:
âś… 1. Use Google Images (on a computer)
Google makes it easy:
- Go to images.google.com
- Click the camera icon in the search bar
- Choose:
- “Upload a file” to upload the photo you want to check
- or “Paste image URL” if you have a direct link to the image
- Google will show all the places that image appears online
🔍 What to look for:
- Does the same photo show up on different names?
- Is it connected to a model, a scam report, or a dating profile with different details?
If yes — 🚨 It’s likely a scam.
âś… 2. Use TinEye
Another great tool is tineye.com
- Go to the site
- Upload the photo or paste the image link
- It searches the internet for exact and similar matches
TinEye is fast, accurate, and free to use.
âś… 3. Use Your Phone (Mobile Method)
If you’re on your phone:
Option A – Use Chrome:
- Open images.google.com in Chrome
- Tap the 3-dot menu > select “Desktop Site”
- Tap the camera icon and upload the photo
Option B – Use Google Lens:
- Download the Google Lens app
- Open it, choose the image, and it will search visually similar results online
🧠Pro Tips to Stay Safe:
âś” Always reverse search profile photos before building trust
✔ Don’t ignore your gut feeling — if something feels off, check it
✔ Combine this with other red flags like “no video calls” or “asking for money”
Scammers hate this one simple trick.
But you don’t have to fall for it.
The internet gives us tools — let’s use them to protect ourselves and others. 💪