The Suss Blog

Dating safety, decoded.

Calm, practical guides on spotting catfish, staying safe on first dates, and reading the signals before you meet. No fear-mongering — just what actually helps.

Got a specific message that feels off? Browse Romance Scam Lines, Decoded — one page per line, with safe replies.

FeaturedCatfishingRed flags

How to Spot a Catfish Before the First Date

A complete guide to spotting a catfish before you meet: photo forensics, reverse image search, behaviour patterns, romance-scam scripts, and exactly what to do next.

August 26, 2026 15 min read

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Latest guides

CatfishingPhoto checks

Reverse Image Search a Dating Profile: The Complete Guide

Step-by-step reverse image search using Google Lens, Bing, Yandex, TinEye and face search to check a dating profile photo before you meet.

August 24, 2026 11 min read

Romance ScamsScam Recovery

Romance Scams: How They Work and How to Get Out

How romance scams unfold from first contact to the final ask, why smart people fall for them, and how to exit safely and report it.

August 22, 2026 9 min read

First datesChecklist

The First-Date Safety Checklist

A complete first-date safety checklist: how to vet a match, what to set up before you go, how to stay aware during, exit strategies, and what to do after.

August 22, 2026 11 min read

Catfishing & fake profiles

CatfishingRed flags

How to Spot a Catfish Before the First Date

A complete guide to spotting a catfish before you meet: photo forensics, reverse image search, behaviour patterns, romance-scam scripts, and exactly what to do next.

August 26, 2026 15 min read

CatfishingPhoto checks

Reverse Image Search a Dating Profile: The Complete Guide

Step-by-step reverse image search using Google Lens, Bing, Yandex, TinEye and face search to check a dating profile photo before you meet.

August 24, 2026 11 min read

CatfishingAI detection

How to Tell if Photos Are AI-Generated (2026 Guide)

Learn the current visual tells, metadata checks, and video signs that reveal whether a dating profile photo or call is AI-generated in 2026.

August 18, 2026 9 min read

CatfishingRed flags

Fake Dating Profiles: 20 Signs to Check Before You Reply

20 real signs of a fake dating profile grouped by photos, bio, messages, and money — plus what isn't actually a red flag, so you judge fairly.

August 12, 2026 11 min read

CatfishingVerification

Is He Real? How to Verify Someone You Met Online

A step-by-step verification sequence — photos, names, video calls, and public records — to check if someone you met online is who they say.

August 6, 2026 12 min read

Romance scams & money

Romance ScamsScam Recovery

Romance Scams: How They Work and How to Get Out

How romance scams unfold from first contact to the final ask, why smart people fall for them, and how to exit safely and report it.

August 22, 2026 9 min read

Pig ButcheringCrypto Scams

Pig Butchering Scams: The Crypto Romance Playbook

How pig butchering scams combine romance and fake crypto platforms to drain victims, and how to spot a fake exchange before you fund it.

August 16, 2026 7 min read

SextortionOnline Safety

Sextortion: What to Do if Someone Threatens to Share Your Photos

Clear, immediate steps if someone is threatening to share your intimate photos: what to do right now, how to report it, and what to expect next.

August 10, 2026 6 min read

Money RequestsScam Prevention

They Asked Me for Money: What to Do Next

Someone you met online just asked you for money. Here is the pause script, the questions that break a scam, and what to do next.

August 4, 2026 6 min read

Verification how-tos

Background checksDating safety

How to Do a Background Check on Someone You're Dating

A practical, step-by-step guide to running a personal background check on someone you're dating, using public records safely and legally.

August 21, 2026 8 min read

Background checksPublic records

What a Date Background Check Can (and Can't) Tell You

A complete guide to date background checks: what public records actually show, what they miss, the FCRA line, how to read results, and what to do instead.

August 20, 2026 11 min read

VerificationDating safety

How to Find Out if Someone Is Married or in a Relationship

How to find out if someone is married or already seeing someone else, using behavioral signals, public records, and photo checks the right way.

August 14, 2026 6 min read

Background checksVerification

Sex Offender Registry Checks: How to Search and What It Means

How to search the sex offender registry correctly, confirm a true match, and understand what registry tiers and gaps actually mean.

August 8, 2026 6 min read

VerificationReverse search

How to Search Someone by Photo, Name, or Phone Number

How to search for someone using a photo, their name, or their phone number, and how to combine all three into one confidence judgment.

August 2, 2026 7 min read

Dating safety & behaviour

First datesChecklist

The First-Date Safety Checklist

A complete first-date safety checklist: how to vet a match, what to set up before you go, how to stay aware during, exit strategies, and what to do after.

August 22, 2026 11 min read

SafetyRed Flags

Dating App Red Flags: The Complete List by Stage

A stage-by-stage list of dating app red flags, from profile to first date, with a practical framework for when to pause, verify, or walk away.

August 19, 2026 10 min read

SafetyLove Bombing

Love Bombing: How to Recognise It Early

Learn to tell love bombing from genuine enthusiasm, the language patterns behind it, why it works, and a pacing protocol that protects you early.

August 13, 2026 8 min read

SafetyOnline Dating

Safe Online Dating for Women: A Practical Guide

A practical, empowering guide to safe online dating for women, covering profile hygiene, vetting matches, first-date logistics, and handling harassment.

July 30, 2026 9 min read

Reading is good. Checking is better.

Run a Suss check on the person you're about to meet — photo, behaviour, and profile signals in about 90 seconds.

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