What to do When The Real Person Doesn't Match the Picture

By Top10BestDatingSites Staff

What to Do When They Don't Look Like Their Photo

One of the biggest concerns people have on dating sites is that they will meet a person whose actual appearance is very different from his or her photo. This, unfortunately, is not uncommon, as dating sites do not typically verify the actual age or appearance of members. At the same time, you don't want to let a fear such as this prevent you from getting the most out of dating sites. Let's look at how you can prevent this type of problem, and what to do about it if it does occur.

Look for Warning Signs

• Before you meet someone in person, you can often spot some warning signs that he or she isn't exactly the person depicted in the profile. Being aware of the warning signs can save you a lot of hassle and disappointment. Keep in mind that the following red flags do not always mean that someone is not to be trusted. They should, however, get you to pay close attention.

• The Photo Looks Too Good to be True - While looks are subjective to some extent, Profiles that feature young, fit and gorgeous men or women are not always trustworthy. In some cases, these are outright scams, with the intent to get you to visit another website. In other cases, the person may be using an old photo or even a photo of someone completely different.

• The Person is Evasive - People who have something to hide are usually evasive when it comes to communicating. They may only be available to chat or talk on the phone at very specific times. They may tell you stories about how complicated their lives are. In general, if someone seems reluctant to meet you in person, he or she may have a good reason for this.

• Only One Photo is Posted - One solitary photo is more likely to be fake or misleading than three or more. While someone could go to the trouble of collecting a group of misleading photos, most people won't go to that much trouble.

What to do if You Meet Someone Whose Photo is Misleading

What if, despite being aware and vigilant, you meet someone whose photo turned out to be misleading? At this point, you can only make the best of the situation. You have several options.

• Cancel the Date - If someone posted a misleading photo, you have every right to cancel the date. You don't have to make a scene, but just let them know that you aren't going to start a new relationship on a dishonest note.

• Call Them Out On It - You could sit down with the person and address the issue. This can be awkward, but if you see any redeeming qualities in the person you have actually met, it might be worth a try.

• Pretend You Don't Notice - This is for those who want to play it safe or who have trouble asserting themselves. You can do this, but keep in mind that someone who tries to fool you with a photo will probably not be very trustworthy in other ways either!

Don't Let Misleading Photos Discourage You

Photos that are altered, outdated or just plain fake are a fact of life on the internet, and especially on dating sites. On the other hand, you shouldn't have an inflated view of the problem. The majority of people are honest and don't engage in this type of behavior. At the same time, it doesn't hurt to have your guard up so you aren't unprepared for the occasional dishonest person you meet.

About Top10BestDatingSites Staff The Top 10 Best Dating Sites staff are your guides to the world of online dating websites and services. The team navigates the world of online dating and share their findings to help readers find online dating success. Our team includes dating experts Laurel House, Ken Solin, James Preece, Erika Ettin, Nida Sea, Vanae Tran, Carmelia Ray and many more talented writers. Top 10 Best Dating Sites staff have extensive first-hand experience in: signing up for and using various online dating sites; researching the ever-growing online dating market; and copywriting and editing for various online and print publications about online dating.