How can I tell if someone online is who they say they are?

Online, a person is whoever they say they are - a name, a photo, an age, a friendly manner. Most people are genuine, but some are not, and you often cannot tell the difference from the profile alone. The safe habit is to judge people online by what they ask you to do, not by how nice they seem.

Common disguises

Impersonators. A cloned profile of a friend, a celebrity, or a company's "support" account, using a real name and photo.
New "friends" who move fast. Someone warm and attentive very quickly, especially if a friendship or romance escalates faster than feels normal.
Anyone whose story you cannot check. "We're the same age", "I work for the bank", "I'm overseas" - words on a screen, not proof.

The tells that matter more than the profile

They ask for money, gifts, or crypto - however sympathetic the reason.
They ask for your login, password, or a one-time code. Nobody legitimate ever needs these.
They want to move you off the platform quickly, or keep the relationship secret.
They avoid a live video call, or it never quite works.
A profile photo that reverse-searches to someone else, or an account created very recently with few real connections.

What to do

Judge by actions, not charm. The moment someone online asks for money, logins, or secrecy, treat it as a scam.
Verify a "friend" or "company" another way - contact them on a number or account you already have.
Never send money or personal details to someone you have only met online.
Report and block impersonator or scam accounts; it protects other people too.

If you only do one thing

Decide in advance that no one you have only met online gets your money, your logins, or your secrecy - however genuine they seem.