September 27, 2023
Internet scams are becoming more and more common, and messaging apps like Kik are the key tool in scammer’s arsenal. This is because there are not very many ways to trace the scam back to the scammer with these apps. But no worries. There are a few ways to find out if you’re being scammed, and even find the person behind the scams. Keep reading to find out exactly how.
What is Catfishing on KIK?
KIK Messenger is an instant messaging app for mobile devices. Users need a wifi connection to send messages, pictures, webpages, and other content. Anyone can download the KIK app in the Apple app store or in the Blackberry Windows store and simply have to create an account. Once connected, you can interact with any user once you have their username and you have added them to your account.
How do Kik Scams work?
There are two ways that people scam people on KIK. The first is the use of automated bots. The person typically initiates a conversation with a simple greeting, and then the bots take over. The bots respond to your messages by trying to get you to visit websites and these websites can request many things from you. Some sites request personal info while others require you to subscribe and pay money.
The second type of scam that happen on Kik are catfish scams. This is where scammers steal the photos of an attractive man or woman and create fake accounts. They then initiate romantic relationships with people online and get them to send them money. They do this by creating an emotional bond with them, then asking them to send money for fake emergencies. Someone times these emergencies are as simple as needing to pay the wifi bill to continue talking to you, and other times they are more elaborate and dramatic.
5 Major Signs You’re being Catfished On Kik
There are four major signs that the person you’re talking to on Kik is a romance scammer.
- You met the person on another social media platform and they asked you to move to Kik. This is a red flag that you’re being romance scammed. Scammers like you use messaging apps because the platforms are less likely to detect that they are scamming people and shut down their accounts.
- They start being too affectionate too quickly. Someone being affectionate in a relationship is generally a great thing. But, if they are being too. affectionate too quickly, it is a sign that they are trying to scam you. If they start telling you how great you are and confessing their love immediately, they could be love bombing you.
- Their English is shotty. Oftentimes, English isn’t these scammer’s first language. Because of this, they sometimes make mistakes with spelling and grammar. if their messages are full of errors, or if they don’t understand the slang you use, it might it’s a sign that they may not be who they claim to be.
- They ask you for money. The goal of these scams is to get you to send them money. This means that at some point, the person you’re talking to will ask you to send them money, usually in the form of gift cards.
- Their images come up many times in a reverse image search. If you run your scammer’s images in a reverse image search and there are many exact matches, it means that the photos you’re using are very commonly used by scammers. Use the reverse image search toolbar below to see if the person you’re talking to is real.
Other signs you’re being Catfished on Kik Messenger!
- The user sends you links to websites without warning
- The user’s responses seem very plain as if it’s not a person(bots!)
- They try to get money from you
- Despite your attempts to get to know them better, they never open up to you about their identity
How to avoid being Catfished when using Kik
- Know the signs! Always be informed of what internet hackers are using for tricks and stay one step ahead of them
- Trust your gut. If it seems sketchy, it probably is!
- Only converse with people you know. This greatly reduces the risk of adding someone that could be a hacker
- Match their username to other social profiles to make sure it’s really them.
With the Social Catfish people search, you can often find a person’s location and verify their identity with only a few pieces of information. Check out our services now to get peace of mind.
Is Kik Safe to Chat on?
Kik, like any other messaging app, has some risks associated with it. While the app itself is generally safe, the anonymity it provides can make it a breeding ground for cyberbullying, online harassment, and other potentially dangerous situations.
Additionally, Kik has been known to attract scammers and predators who use the app to target vulnerable individuals, particularly young people. For these reasons, it’s important to use caution when using Kik, particularly when interacting with strangers. It’s important to never share personal information with people you don’t know, to report any suspicious or inappropriate behavior to Kik’s safety team, and to consider using privacy settings to limit who can contact you and see your profile.
