Look for the ID Verified tick
The quickest check is the ID Verified tick: members who choose to verify their identity get the tick on their profile.
Verifying is optional, so a profile without the tick isn't automatically fake — plenty of genuine members simply haven't done it yet. But the tick is a strong sign that someone is who their photos say they are, and it's one of the ways the community keeps catfishing out. If you haven't verified your own profile, it's worth doing: it shows other members you're genuine too.
Red flags on a profile
A fake profile usually gives itself away through photos and details that don't quite add up.
- Photos that look too polished. Studio lighting, magazine-style poses or pictures that look like adverts are more likely to have been taken from somewhere else.
- Only one or two photos. Real people tend to have a mix — holidays, nights out, a pet, a bad-hair day.
- A profile that could be anyone. Vague, generic text with nothing personal in it — no job, no town, no real interests.
- Details that don't match. An age, a location or a lifestyle that doesn't fit the photos or what they tell you later.
Red flags in conversation
The clearest warning sign of all is being asked for money — in any form, for any reason.
- Any request for money, bank details or gift cards. However sad or urgent the story, the answer is always no.
- Pushing to move off the site quickly. Someone who wants your phone number, WhatsApp or email straight away may be trying to get you somewhere the site can't see.
- Very strong feelings, very fast. Talk of love or a future together before you've even met.
- Always a reason not to meet or video call. A broken camera, a job abroad, a family emergency — every time.
- Answers that dodge your questions. Replies that feel copied and pasted, or that never quite respond to what you asked.
Never send money, share your bank details or buy gift cards for someone you've met online — even someone you feel you know well.
Keep your chats on the site until you're sure
Keeping early conversations on Plenty More Fish means they can be monitored, which protects you.
There's no need to hand out your phone number to get to know someone. You can message, comment and chat right here, and private chat groups let you talk without giving out personal contact details. Move things elsewhere when you're ready — not because someone is rushing you.
What to do if you spot a fake
Report it using the report button on their profile page, then stop replying.
Every report helps the team find and remove non-genuine accounts faster — members who help keep the community safe can even earn a badge for it. If something doesn't feel right, or you're not sure, get in touch with the 24-hour Customer Success team by phone, live chat or ticket. They're there any time, day or night.
If you think you've already been scammed, contact the Customer Success team straight away and report it to Action Fraud, the UK's national reporting centre for fraud.
What happens behind the scenes
Plenty More Fish is constantly monitoring for non-genuine accounts and content, which are suppressed and removed.
Scam detection and reporting are built in, explicit images are detected and blurred automatically so you choose whether to see them, and member ratings and the Anti-Ghosting badge help you see who's genuine and responsive before you start a conversation. The site is built with HubPeople, a member of the Online Dating and Discovery Association — an industry body that promotes best practice and high standards of trust and safety.