The private investigators in Boise spend a lot of time on cases related to identity theft. One such trap you should be cautious of is known as the catfish. This is essentially a scam that involves a person pretending to be someone else online reaching out to you for friendship, companionship and love. While the catfish scheme is more common in online dating sites, it happens frequently in all social media platforms. Here are some tips to protect you from a catfish scam.
1 – Do some Homework
As soon as you are contacted by someone you do not know, it is a good idea to conduct a bit of your own detective work. The private investigators in Boise advise that you should check their profile first for red flags. Some will be obvious such as photos that appear to be staged and do not include friends, they have very low friend counts in any social media account and their account has a recent date of sign up.
2 – Watch For Other Signs
There are other telltale signs used in catfish scams that can help you to identify when you are being used. The private investigators in Boise say that even if the searching you have conducted does not produce enough evidence for you, there are two clear signals. They include the person either tugging at you for sympathy or asking of assistance, and a declaration of love for you very early on without actually meeting you.
3 – Push The Face-To-Face
Probably the most effective way to get to the bottom of a catfish scheme is to request a meeting. If the other person refuses or uses several delay tactics, then you are better off severing that connection. Remember, regardless of how promising an offer may sound, you should protect your personal information just the same. Be careful what details you release as you get to know someone just in case it isn’t really someone they say they are.
Reach Out To Custer Agency Today
People fall victim to many different scams all the time with the catfish one an easy one to avoid if you stay calm and don’t let your emotions get in the way. The private investigators in Boise can give you the advice you need to protect you and your family from any kind of online scam. Contact the professional detectives at Custer Agency today for assistance.
