How to spot a catfish or romance scam in Hawaiʻi
Never send money, gift cards, crypto or a verification code to someone you haven't met in person. If a match asks, stop replying and report them.
Common catfish and romance-scam signs
- Too perfect, too fast. Big feelings within days, talk of "destiny," or plans to move to the islands for you.
- Always away. Working overseas, on a ship or an oil rig, or "just about to fly in," so they can never meet or video chat.
- Moving off the app quickly. Pushing you to WhatsApp, Telegram or text before you've met.
- Money, sooner or later. A medical bill, customs fee, plane ticket, or a "can't-lose" crypto or trading tip.
- Asking for a code. Anyone who asks you to read back a text code is trying to take over one of your accounts.
- Photos that don't add up. Model-quality shots only, no casual photos, or a story that doesn't match the pictures.
Check a profile photo yourself
You can run a reverse image search on a photo to see if it appears elsewhere online under another name. Save or screenshot the photo, then upload it to Google Lens or TinEye. If the same face shows up as a model, an influencer, or under several names, treat it as a catfish. A match that comes up empty isn't proof either way, so a short video chat is still the best check.
On Kamaʻāina Date, look for the Photo verified badge, which means the member passed a live selfie check. You can also filter to see verified members only.
What to do if something feels off
- Stop sending messages and don't send money. Use Report and Block on their profile or chat, and our team will review it.
- Report romance scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
- If you already sent money, contact your bank or card issuer right away; they may be able to stop or reverse it.
- Read the FTC's guide, What to know about romance scams.
How we help
Kamaʻāina Date screens new photos, catches photos reused across different accounts, blocks temporary email addresses at signup, and shows a gentle warning when a message mentions money, gift cards or crypto. These checks flag accounts for review by a person; they never ban anyone automatically.