You know what's catfishing? This:

"A catfish is someone who pretends to be someone they're not using Facebook or other social media to create false identities, particularly to pursue deceptive online romances."

- Urban Dictioonary

So if you meet somebody in person after getting to know them online and they turn out not to be who you thought they were, you've been catfished.

I have not encountered catfishing on such a deep level to the point someone turned out to be another person or another entity altogether, but I've had my fair share of meeting girls who don't look like their pictures at all.

When I met these girls:

• Their eyes were droopy and nothing like their wide-eyed pictorials.
• Their faces had blemishes and scars that were not visible in their pictures.
• They looked a lot heavier in person.

Yes, I think it's not cool at all. 

It's rather manipulative and downright deceptive. A friend once joked to me that it should be considered a crime in the realm of online dating.

How do they achieve this?

They simply use filters for their pictures, some of whom only use the black-and-white ones. And yes, all pictures are filtered, no exceptions.

Their selfies are strategically angled to capture a more winsome profile.

According to a female friend of mine, they use the app called Meitu Xiu Xiu to edit everything, even one's body weight.

I know I am coming across as critical, but it makes me wonder why anyone would think that they can get away with this deception.

Don't worry, I am not here to talk about how how you can actually look good or why you should focus on character growth  for real beauty and all that stuff.

Don't even bother bother calling me a shallow fuck. I'd be the first to admit that looks are very important to me when it comes to dating and heck, life itself.

I am saying instead that this deception isn't exactly new anymore and people are getting smarter. 

Simple filters and strategic angles are too obvious as it is.

It's easy to spot a catfish in the waters if you take note of these subtle, hidden clues:

• If they're self-conscious about their weight or height, you'll not be able to find a full-body picture at all.
• Their face is obviously distorted to capture the 'perfect' smile. No, this is not to say that it's wrong to smile for pictures. I am talking the exact same look for every picture. 
• More often than not, they only have a few pictures of themselves in their social media profiles. I know of a girl who has the exact same three, profile pictures spanning over a year, all of which are filtered and strategically angled.
• There are no group pictures or pictures of them taken naturally in 'action.' As said, only strategic selfies.
• According to a friend of mine, he said it's suspicious when they refuse to ever do a video call before meeting up.

There you go. Some hints for you all.

Ultimately, if you do think that deep down your pictures are bordering on deceiving, then honestly, stop.

The 'shock' factor will be too great for any kind of saving grace when you guys meet up for expectations were already set.

Just my two, unfiltered cents.

Your thoughts?