As host of “Catfish: The TV Show,” Nev Schulman has seen a lot of ways people get deceived when dating. The father of three says catfishing happens all the time, especially when it comes to looking for love on the Internet. But he says there are simple and smart strategies to save time and steer clear of deceptive matches.
These are Schulman’s tips to help single parents avoid romance scams, overall poor matches and “any situation that could end up feeling like a waste of precious time.”
- Watch out for common red flags - These include not being able to find the person on social media to back up what they’ve told you about who they are, not being able to get them on a video call to communicate before meeting up, and them coming up with excuses “based on drama, misfortune, death and illness.” Like if they cancel plans to meet for the first time because their grandma’s sick or they broke their leg, Schulman warns to be wary.
- Consider green lights - On the flip side, Google Image search photos from their dating app and if the pictures don’t come up associated to anyone else, that’s a good sign. So is having lots of friends on social media and being tagged in lots of photos.
- Get out into the world - Sure, dating apps can be convenient, especially when you’re a busy single parent, but Schulman encourages people to get out of your comfort zone and talk to people in real life.
- Watch out for the guy who says he loves moms - While this seems like a good thing and that the guy who says it must also love kids - which is what women with kids want to hear - the “Catfish” host points out that they may want you to be their mom and take care of them.
- Be honest about your wants and expectations - Being straightforward from the beginning helps you avoid making assumptions about what a potential partner wants and keeps you on the same page.
- Don’t be afraid to dive in - According to Schulman, you should “really always go headfirst, full throttle into things.” He explains that’s because “if it’s going to work, it’s going to work and if it’s going to have problems, the sooner you find out, the better.”
Read the full article at Parents