Many of us enjoy sharing images online and checking out snapshots of our connections on social networks. While most people share genuine pictures of their lives, some might use someone else’s photos or significantly edited versions of their own.

If you suspect that someone is using fake pictures online, there are several steps you can take to uncover the truth.

1. Reverse Image Search

One of the most popular and effective ways to detect fake pictures is to run a reverse image search. Reverse image search tools let you upload the picture in question and find web pages containing the same image on the web. If the person has ever used the same picture as their profile picture on other social media platforms or posted the pictures anywhere online, they should be able to pick it up.

If the search results show that the same image has been used in multiple places, it’s likely that the picture is genuine. However, if the search results show that the same image has been used in completely different contexts or for different people, it’s a red flag that the picture is fake.

We’ve tested a dozen of reverse image lookups, and here are our top picks:

1. PimEyes is an advanced facial recognition search engine designed specifically for people searching. You can use it to identify instances where someone’s photo has been posted online. You can review the results for free, but if you want to view the complete links, you’ll need to pay a fee.
   
2. FaceCheck is another face search engine that uses facial recognition algorithms. When you upload someone’s picture, it will identify the person’s facial features to provide potential matches across the web. During my test, it surprisingly brought up many social site results.
   
3. Google Images is one of the most powerful reverse image lookups to find out where images are published. In my experience, it works well for finding the same image on the web, but it may not work for locating a specific face.
   
4. TinEye is also a powerful reverse image search that can be used to track where images appear online.

2. Search on Social Networks

Another way to find out if someone’s genuine with you is to check their social media accounts and posts to see if there are any inconsistencies. If the person doesn’t have followers, they don’t interact much with them on any posts, or their social media accounts are relatively new, it could be a red flag.

You can ask to connect with the person on social networks. If this isn’t an option somehow and you’d like to do a little investigation yourself, you can use a social media account search tool like WhatsMyName. It’s a free service that allows you to search for a name or a username to find social media accounts using the same username. If the person you’re looking for has created profiles using your search query on the web, this tool should be able to find them.

To use this tool, enter the person’s name into the search box and click the search icon on the left. You’ll be able to view a list of links to social media profiles. Click each link to view details about the profile owner and see if you can locate the person you’re looking for.

If this doesn’t find any profiles, the person is probably not using their real name on social media platforms. Read on and try the next method.

3. Run a Background Check

There are many third-party services that can help you run a background check on the person. These services typically charge a fee and can provide you with a detailed background report of the person you’re looking for, which not only includes the person’s photo, but also their birthday, phone number, address, email address, possible relatives, and associates, social media links, employment info, and more when available.

Some websites that offer background checks include:

1. TruthFinder is our favorite people search engine. It allows you to search for individuals by name, email address, and phone number. What we like about this tool is its comprehensive and updated reports. It provides details like someone’s contact information, social media profiles, criminal records, and more.
2. PeopleFinders – PeopleFinders is a people search tool that offers public records searches, background checks, and reverse phone lookups. It provides information about individuals’ contact details, criminal history, and other personal information.
3. Social Catfish is an online people search tool that provides information about people. Similar to TruthFinder, it allows you to find comprehensive details about someone including their online accounts.

4. Look for Inconsistencies

Sometimes, the truth lies in the details. Take your time to look for the person’s pictures for inconsistencies. For example, if the person in the picture is wearing clothes that are inappropriate for the weather in the location they said they live in, it may be a sign that the picture is fake.

Similarly, if the person’s facial features or body proportions seem off, it may be a sign that the picture has been edited.

Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to online interactions, so if you suspect something is off, take the time to do your investigation before trusting them.