IN a world of catfishes, ghosters and keyboard warriors, online dating can be hard.
In fact, millions of women are turning their backs on dating apps in hope that Mr Right might be down the fruit and veg aisle in Tesco or sitting outside their local pub.
Women want to meet men face-to-face, so they know what Mr Maybe really looks and acts like before locking in a proper first date.
It’s why blind dating events are having a resurgence and young singletons are seeking out partners in supermarkets by using fruit in their trolleys to signal their availability.
But according to some dating experts, technology can still play a helping hand in helping you meet The One.
One app that’s bridging that gap between tech and real life romance is Happn.
It’s a location-based dating app that helps users find people they've crossed paths with - quite literally - in real life.
Anyone with the app downloaded will be digitally acquainted with fellow Happn users that they’ve been near.
Saw a cutie at the pub? Happn will ping him onto your feed.
Walked past a hottie on the street but didn’t have the balls to stop and ask for his number? If he’s on Happn, you can send him a message.
“We aim to make this easier for singles by allowing them to meet potential crushes through a whole manner of ways,” Claire Renier, dating expert at Happn, tells Fabulous.
“People can always connect based on location if they have crossed paths in real life, and they can also connect because they have a shared love of the same hobbies.
“For example, we recently launched a new exclusive feature, CrushPoints For All, where daters can add their favourite places to their profile.
“This means they can find people who like the same bars, restaurants or clubs as them.
“Thanks to this, women in particular might be more comfortable with making the first move and messaging a man first on Happn.
“They know there’s a mutual interest, they’re from the same area and probably have mutual friends or acquaintances.
“This also helps reassure them about the person’s identity.”
Claire adds that she’s a firm believer that “real-life encounters are the essence of any human connection”.
“By allowing individuals to discover each other within the context of their local environments, we hope they can take back the control of their lives and seize opportunities in their surroundings,” she says.
New data has revealed that 40 per cent of us know someone who has been catfished, while 22 per cent have fallen for catfish themselves.
April Davis, founder and president of , has shared five key ways you can catch a catfish.
1. You can't find them online
Almost everyone has a social media presence - especially those who are willing to try dating apps. So if you can't find them anywhere online, like a Facebook, Instagram or even LinkedIn account, this could be a major red flag.
April says: “If you’re suspicious, ask to add them on Facebook or Instagram. If they refuse or the account they send you looks new, that’s a red flag.”
2. Conversations got personal, quickly
Catfish are well known for ‘love-bombing,’ which is a form of emotional manipulation.
So, if the person you’re talking to immediately goes over the top with compliments, wants to communicate all the time, and makes statements like ‘I love you’ within a few days of speaking, it’s a big red flag.
3. They don't open up
If someone is asking a lot of questions about you but is not willing to offer up much in return, this could be a catfish red flag.
This is because these scammers are, of course, not who they say they are and it can be hard for them to keep their lies straight.
As a result, most catfishes would rather not give out any personal info at all if they can help it.
4. They ask for money
Asking for money, no matter the reason, is a huge red flag.
Whether they want a bank transfer or your credit card number, catfishes have a wide range of sob stories to tell when it's time to try to swindle you out of your cash.
5. They won't show their face
Unsurprisingly, someone who doesn't want to show who they are in a video call or real-time pictures could be a catfish.
The last thing a catfish wants is for you to see their real face because they usually steal pictures from someone else to use.
This means they are likely to refuse to send photos or do video calls.
