Romance scammers usually steal photos of real people. The FTC recommends reverse image searching a person’s profile picture and any photos they send: if the images are linked to another name, or the details don’t match, you are likely dealing with a scammer (FTC).
1. Save the photos
Screenshot each profile photo and any pictures sent in chat. Crop to the person’s face and surroundings; remove the app interface.
2. Google Lens
On a phone, open the Google app or Chrome and tap the camera (Lens) icon, then choose your screenshot. On desktop, go to images.google.com and click the camera icon to upload. Google’s help page explains the steps (Google Search Help). Look at “Exact matches”.
3. Bing Visual Search and TinEye
Repeat with bing.com/visualsearch and tineye.com. Different engines index different sites, so try at least two. TinEye can sort by oldest, which helps show where a photo first appeared.
4. Read the results carefully
- Same face under a different name, on Instagram, a model portfolio, or a news story? Very likely stolen.
- Photo on a “scammer list” or forum? Treat as high risk.
- No results? That doesn’t prove they’re genuine: scammers increasingly use less-public or AI-generated photos.
5. Verify live
Ask for a live video call, or ask them to send a photo holding a piece of paper with a word you choose. Repeated excuses are a warning sign.
Not sure about someone?
Take the free 10-question red-flag check, or get an AI-powered Romance Scam Check for US$29.
Take the free checkGet a checkMore guides
- How to tell if a call is a scam
- Romance scam warning signs
- Military romance scams
- Crypto romance scams (pig butchering)
- All guides
General information only, not legal or financial advice. ImposterWatch is operated by Cloud Investments FZE (UAE) and is not a background check or private investigator service.