Am I being catfished? How do I know if I’m being catfished? What does it feel like to be catfished? What is the red flag of catfishing?

It’s a sad state of affairs when catfish investigation services (a.k.a Catfish Photo Search Service) become ever more valuable as we humans live out our days in a digital world. Around every turn, somebody is there with a fake personality, trying to take advantage of vulnerable individuals. We constantly get calls from people who are unsure as to whether their friendship or romance is real or not. 
  
Catfishing is the term given to this and more and more of us, no longer just elderly, vulnerable people, face the risk of being conned in this manner. 
 
But just as technology has created the problem, so too is it allowing us to fix it. Catfish photo search programmes can help you get to the truth if you suspect that a person you're in an online relationship with isn't who they say they are.

What's out there that can help me?

There are a few of these services online. Some are hit and some are missed. They often require you to do some extra detective work and make your own assumptions as to whether the individual you are dealing with is a legitimate person or not.
 
To help combat this uncertainty, we are waging a war on catfish fraudsters and extortionists on behalf of our clients. We have just launched a new advanced Catfish Photo Search Service where our expert team investigates and digs into the authenticity of photos and traces the origins of images on the web to determine whether they are real or not.
 
In recent years, we have refined our visual investigations services to the point where we can accurately find a person, if they actually exist. We can also quickly and accurately ascertain if they don’t exist. Our depth of expertise on this subject gives our client much-needed peace of mind because we can establish if a person is 
authentic or not, usually before any financial or emotional damage is done. 

Call Vilcol on 020 3820 0767 to find out how we can help.
  

The disturbing rise of catfishing

The anonymity of the internet has seen catfishing grow at an alarming rate. It involves a perpetrator creating a fake social media account using someone else’s photos they’ve found online and luring victims into a “relationship”.
 
In 2023, 22% of respondents in a UK survey said they had been catfished and nearly half knew someone who’d fallen victim to it.
 
The prevalence of social media makes it easy for con-artists to create convincing identities using someone else’s image or creating their own. A significant cause of this is AI which enables scammers to generate fake pictures and produce entirely fabricated online personas. 
 
Until now.
 
With our cutting-edge Catfish Photo Search Service, you can wave bye bye to those nagging feelings of doubt and say hello to certainty. 

Find out how by calling Vilcol on 020 3820 0767.
 

How our specialist Catfish Photo Search Service works

Our photo analysis technology, combined with our experienced investigators, provides information you need to determine whether you are being catfished or not.
 
By searching for matches across websites, social media profiles and various image databases, our catfish image search identifies whether a person’s image has been stolen or used in multiple locations with multiple fake profiles. 
 
That way you’ll know whether the individual you’re communicating with is the real deal or a fraudster.
 
Our trusted catfish photo search service isn’t purely technology driven. Our team of specialist private investigators have more than 30 years’ experience of tracing people. We combine this human expertise with our sophisticated catfish reverse image digital tool, as part of a discreet and thorough investigation that leaves no stone unturned.
 

Catfish red flags: how to spot if you’re being catfished

Spotting a catfish isn’t always easy, but certain red flags can signal that something isn’t right. If any of the following sounds familiar, it’s probably a good time to call on our catfish reverse image programme:

• They refuse video calls: a reluctance to meet via video chat can indicate they’re hiding their true identity.
• Their story seems inconsistent: watch out for conflicting details in their personal story.
• They’re overly affectionate too quickly: catfishers often try to build trust fast.
• They make excuses to avoid meeting in person: this is a common tactic to keep their real identity hidden.
• They ask for money or gifts: financial requests are a major warning sign.
   

Our catfish image search service can help confirm your suspicions so you can sever contact with your scammer and report them to authorities to prevent them tricking anyone else.

Interested in trying out our reverse image checker? Email customercare@vilcol.com or call 020 3820 0767 and let us know what’s concerning you.

 

The heavy toll of being catfished

Catfishing perpetrators are often driven by emotional, financial or psychological motives. Some catfishers seek external validation and attention, while others aim to exploit victims financially through scams or extortion. In extreme cases, it’s used maliciously like for blackmailing or identity theft. 
 
Being catfished is distressing. Where some people have been conned out of thousands of pounds of hard-earned savings, others have spent years in relationships with people they’ve never actually met but have connected with on a deep level.
 
Our catfish image search service delivers accurate results that may at first be difficult to stomach. This is especially so if you’ve been emotionally hoodwinked by the scammer. The mental toll can be huge, ranging from loss of faith, trust and confidence to loneliness, depression, embarrassment and/or severe financial loss. 
 
But as with all things bad, the less time it lasts the better. Can you afford to wait?
 

Catfish photo search as a pre-date service

Our catfish picture search provision also comes in handy as a pre-date service if you want to find out more about a prospective date to avoid being catfished. 
 

Is a relative being catfished?

In addition, if you think a relative is being scammed or catfished, we can check out the object of their affection professionally and discreetly.
 
We have recently worked on cases where siblings have been suspicious about the person in communication with their parent with justified reason.
 
If someone seems too good to be true, they probably are.  
 
To benefit from using our catfish photo search service, contact our experts now at customercare@vilcol.com or 020 3820 0767.
 

Catfish image checkers: fighting a world of digital fakery

Vilcol understands the pain and potential harm caused by being deceived online. That’s why our catfish checker service is unobtrusive, professional and highly effective. 
 
Because each catfish picture search process is so rigorous and human-led, we produce accurate results that you can trust. A catfish reverse image search can help you say goodbye to doubt and reclaim your peace of mind.
 
Contact our catfishing investigators on 020 3820 0767 and find out more about how our reverse image checker can gain you the clarity you need.
 

FAQs

How can you tell if someone is using fake photos?

Common signs of fake photos include overly professional, glamorous or model-like images, inconsistent backgrounds or images that appear on multiple unrelated profiles. When you use a professional Catfish Photo Search service like Vilcol’s, you also benefit from the insight and know-how of our premier team of specialist tracing investigators. 
 

Is using a catfishing photo search service legal?

Yes, our service operates within UK legal guidelines and uses publicly available information to help detect online deception. We do not hack, access private data or violate privacy laws. We use reverse image searches and other tools to verify the authenticity of profile pictures and trace potential catfishing scams.

 

What should I do if I discover I’ve been catfished?

If you find out someone has been using fake images to deceive you, stop all communication immediately. Report the profile to the relevant online platform and if necessary contact Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.

 

Why do people catfish?

People catfish for all sorts of reasons like seeking attention, emotional manipulation, financial scams or even out of boredom. Some do it to explore different identities, while others have malicious intent.
 

Is catfishing illegal?

Catfishing is illegal if a crime is involved like fraud, identity theft, financial scams or harassment. In the UK, many of these offences fall under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. That means while creating a fake online identity isn't inherently illegal, using it to deceive or harm someone can be.