12 Online Dating Red Flags You Should Never Ignore

One of the best parts of online dating is the huge number of users. This means way more possibilities for finding your person. Unfortunately, not everyone on dating apps is looking for love. Some weirdos are preying on unsuspecting users, so it’s important you keep your eyes wide open for these online dating red flags and get out of the situation ASAP if you notice any of them.

  1. Asking for money It goes without saying that you shouldn’t be sending money to strangers on dating apps. If you’re in a different state or country from this person, a common scam sees the person claim to want to buy you expensive gifts and they’ll ask for your address so they can be shipped. A day or two later, you’ll be told that you owe some outstanding amount of money for the gifts to be delivered and that you won’t receive them until it’s paid. This is clearly BS, so please don’t fall for it.
  2. Weird names Some people don’t use their real names on dating websites. Some will use very weird names such as “womanizer,” “rich boy” and other suggestive names. This is definitely one of the online dating red flags you shouldn’t ignore. There’s a reason they call themselves those strange names — either they’re sketchy as hell and have something to hide or they’re just there to play games. They’re sending a message and you shouldn’t take it as a joke. Anyone who’s seriously looking for love online will use their real name.
  3. Making inappropriate comments This will definitely vary from one person to another, but if someone you’re chatting to online is being inappropriate, don’t assume that they’ll behave better once you meet them physically. If they’re making you uncomfortable and initiating conversations that don’t sit right with you, don’t bother investing further in the relationship. This is one of those online dating red flags that could mean you’d be in actual danger if you decided to take your relationship into the real world.
  4. Asking for nudes If two mature adults consensually decide to share nudes, that’s your right and it’s not a problem. But if the person you’re chatting to sends unsolicited nudes without asking you if it’s okay and insists that you should return the favor, that’s seriously screwed up. Some people will even ask for your nudes on the first date before you’ve ever even met face to face.
  5. Moving too quickly This is one of the biggest online dating red flags (and one of the biggest red flags in general, regardless of where you met). You meet up for a first date and by the next day, they’re telling you they think you’re “The One” and asking you to be their girlfriend. They even start acting like you’re already in a relationship, demanding your time and being super possessive. This is a problem.
  6. Telling outright lies Some people claim all kinds of mad sh-t on their dating profiles knowing right well that they’re not telling the truth. They’ll tell you that they’re single yet they have their wedding picture on their profiles. Others will tell you they have no kids but a brief look at their social media timelines tells a different story. Someone who always lies even when the truth is glaring right in front of you is extremely problematic.
  1. They’re completely disrespectful Before you can even go on a date, you can tell the kind of person you’ll be meeting from their the way they talk to you. If they’re condescending or belittling, you’ll definitely want to stay away from them. Verbal abuse is another one of the most toxic online dating red flags to be on the lookout for.
  2. Refusing to get on a video call This is another of the most common red flags in online dating used by fraudsters and people with hidden agendas. If you’re dating someone online and you have no idea how they look because they won’t get on a video call, tread carefully. Even if they’ve been sending you photos, they may be other people’s photos and the only way to verify that they are who they say they are is to get on FaceTime or Zoom or whatever. If they won’t do it, you’ve every reason to be suspicious.
  3. They’re easily irritated when you don’t respond right away These sorts of people are so impatient and can’t wait a minute for you to respond. If you don’t reply to their text within five minutes, they’ll send repeat messages asking why you’re ignoring them. Be careful of this common online dating red flag, mostly used by manipulators who want to dictate how and when you communicate without respecting your boundaries.
  4. Only having party photos Assuming that you’re looking for a healthy and balanced relationship, you want to stay away from someone who seems to have no life beyond being a party animal. If they have no photos of themselves with family, friends, colleagues, or engaging in hobbies, and all you see is photos of booze and more booze, that’s a red flag. It’s clear that partying is all they do and you’ll have to live with it if you choose to build a relationship with them. This is one of those online dating red flags that only applies if you’re not a party animal yourself, of course.
  5. Their bio is vague or pretty much blank It shows how lazy or unwilling this person is to commit. If they can’t put some effort into creating a bio and uploading a picture, they’re unlikely to commit to a relationship. They could also be trying to hide something or are up to some shady business. Or, they could just be displaying beige flags, which are just as bad as red flags when it comes to online dating.
  6. Overly edited photos We all want to look our best on our dating profiles, but too many filters are not the vibe. Doing this shows that the person is insecure and you might feel cheated when you finally meet them in person. To avoid being disappointed, just pass profiles with overly edited images.
Lifestyle Content Writer/Mom/Nature lover
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