Online dating can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a little frustrating.
It's not always easy to tell if the person you're talking to is actually a human being or if they're a computer-generated bot.
In this blog post, we will teach you how to spot the signs that you're talking to a bot on a dating app or dating website, so that you can avoid getting scammed or wasting your time!
10 Warning Signs You Are Talking to a Bot
1. Repetitive Patterns
Chatbots are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their ability to answer queries quickly and efficiently. But while they're great for answering simple questions, there's one thing they do really well: repeating themselves. If someone gives the same answer every time you ask a question, it could be a sign that the person on the other end isn't a person - but a bot.
2. Knows Nothing About Current Events
A bot isn't going to have any knowledge about recent and well-known events.
So, if you're talking to someone and they don't know anything about what's going on in the world, it's likely that you're talking to a bot.
3. Has Bad Spelling and Grammar
Bots are also not very good at spelling or grammar. So, if you notice a lot of typos or errors in the way someone is communicating with you, it could be a sign that you're talking to a bot. Keep in mind some people have really bad spelling, so don't use this criteria alone to judge whether it's a bot or not.
4. Inconsistencies in Their Stories
When bots are trying to imitate humans, they often make mistakes. For example, they may give inconsistent answers to questions or change their story from one conversation to the next. If you notice any inconsistencies in what someone is telling you, it's probably a sign that you're talking to a bot.
5. They Avoid Video Chat
Bots are often designed to avoid video chat because it's harder to imitate a human on video. So, if someone you're talking to online refuses to video chat with you, it could be a sign that they're just a machine. And machines can't go on video chat with you - yet.
6. They Send You Links to External Websites
Bots will often try to redirect you to external websites. This is usually done in an attempt to get your personal information or money. If someone you're talking to online suddenly starts sending you links to external websites, it's probably a bot participating in online dating scams.
Scammers are always looking for ways to make money off unsuspecting victims.
If you get sent a link while on a dating site or app, it's either going to go to a webcam site where you'll be asked to pay for a private show, or it will go to an external website that's designed to look like the dating site or app you're on.
But if you look closely, you'll notice that the URL is different from the one you're on. This is a scammer's way of trying to get your credit card information or money.
7. They Have Limited Conversational Skills
Bots are not very good at carrying on a conversation. So, if you're talking to someone and the conversation is limited or one-sided, it's likely that you're talking to a bot. Be sure to ask some very specific questions to test their conversational skills.
8. They're Online at Odd Hours
Bots are often operated by people in different time zones. So, if you notice that someone you're talking to is online at odd hours, it could be a sign that it's a bot. Some people do have odd schedules, so don't use this criteria solely, but just keep it in mind.
9. You Can't Find Them on Social Media
If you're talking to someone and you can't find a single social media profile for them, it's likely that you're talking to a bot.
This is because bots are often created using fake profiles. So, if the person you're talking to doesn't have any social media presence, be wary.
Keep in mind that some people don't like social media, so it's possible they don't have an account.
So if you can't find a social media account on someone but still suspect they are a bot, then refer to the rest of the checklist on this page.
10. They Ask a Lot of Questions
Bots are designed to gather information from humans. So, if you notice that someone you're talking to is asking a lot of personal questions but not really giving any information about themselves, it's likely that you're talking to a bot.
11. They Type Incredibly Fast
Another way to spot a bot is to observe how fast they type. Some smarter bot designers have built-in delays to make the conversation look real, but some bots type back real fast. If you notice that someone you're talking to is typing very quickly, chances are it's a bot. Or, just really, really gifted at typing. But I doubt that.
12. Their Online Dating Profile Looks Fake
A quick way to tell if it's a bot is just to look at the profile. If there are only one or two pictures and they look like they're from a stock photo site, it's likely that you're looking at a bot profile.
You can take this one step further and do a reverse image search.
Another red flag is if the profile is just a bunch of text with no pictures. This is often the case with scammer profiles. They'll create a fake profile and then copy and paste a bunch of text from another source.
Also keep in mind that If the profile looks too good to be true, then it's likely fake. Bot profiles typically have pictures of beautiful women to lure unsuspecting men.
13. They Ask You For Money
There are real people that ask for money on dating sites but bots will do this too. The bot will try to get you to send them money for any number of reasons. They might say that they need it for travel expenses or to pay their bills. Some even go so far as to say that they're in the hospital and need money for medical treatment.
Whatever the reason, if someone you're talking to asks you for money or even gift cards, it's almost certainly romance scammers or a bot. Don't send them any money!
Conclusion
If you're talking to people on online dating sites or apps and you can't be sure if they're real or not, there are some things you can look for to see if they might be a bot.
These include inconsistencies in their stories, limited conversational skills, odd hours of operation, and asking a lot of questions without giving much information about themselves.
If you notice any of these red flags, it's best to be cautious and move on to someone else. There is plenty of fish in the sea!
