As the old saying goes, “If something is too good to be true, it probably is.” So if you connect with someone online, be that a dating app or someone who slides into your DMs and they seem a little too perfect, experts caution that you should be wary. The signs that you might be getting catfished are similar to the warning signs that often come early in abusive or toxic relationships. One telltale sign is an onslaught of love bombing. “Love bombing, unlike real love, is a self-centered, anxious pursuit, with the singular goal of acquiring someone because it boosts the bomber’s ego,” Craig Malkin, clinical psychologist and author of “Rethinking Narcissism,” explained to HuffPost.
Love bombing is an easy way for predators to build a rapport and quickly bond with their victims. If you connect with someone who seems too eager and fast, that is a red flag. While it may not necessarily point to a catfishing situation, it does point to toxic patterns and instability in the other person. So, how do you avoid it? The best way to stay clear of this catfishing trap is by keeping firm boundaries and trying and move the relationship from the digital realm into the real world as quickly as possible. If you notice your potential love interest has a lot of nice things to say, is talking about making serious commitments before even meeting you, that’s a red flag.
