What do People Lie About on Internet Dating Profiles

All of us want to impress. And you want to impress just as much when you're Internet dating as you do when you're going on a traditional date. But for those dating on the Internet, that desire to impress all-too-often turns into an outright lie. Without the face-to-face element you get with a traditional date, a little fib or two or seven is oh so tempting. So what exactly do people lie about on their internet dating profiles?

Money. This is one of the common things that men like about on their online profiles. Thinking that the main focus of many women is money (something that, in my experience, generally isn't true), they look to impress by implying or outright lying that they have more than they do.

False Photo. More people than you might think post photos in their internet dating profiles that are not of them at all. But a lot of others post photos that are 5 or 10 (or even 15!) years old, and don't depict them as they really are.

General Appearance. For those that don't have pictures posted on their profile, one of the biggest lies will be about their general appearance. These people will describe themselves as more attractive than they are, or that their breasts are bigger or bodies are buffer than in reality. It happens all the time.

Marital/Relationship Status. This is the most dangerous lie in Internet dating... and, unfortunately, one of the more common. People who are looking to cheat on their spouse or partner, or even just testing out whether or not they can, may lie about having a spouse at all. Which makes it doubly important to watch for warning signs that the person you're speaking to is actually married.

Possessions. Again, some people are really looking to impress, and think that other singles out there are more materialistic than they actually are. If you're chatting with somebody who goes on and on about the things he or she (but it's usually a he) owns, there's a good chance they're just putting you on.

Hobbies. This is a fairly innocent one, but a common one. Some people may lie and tell you that they enjoy some of the same hobbies you do, like indoor rock climbing or snorkeling. Others may give themselves cool-sounding hobbies just to cover up the sad fact that, in reality, they prefer to stay home and watch movies.

Occupation. This is often wrapped up with the money lie; and one that usually comes from men. Some jobs just sound more impressive than others, and more lucrative.

Age. When they get older, plenty of people like to shave a few years off of their age. But while it's okay to avoid giving your actual birth date on your internet dating profile, it's not okay to say you're 5 years younger than you are.

Height. This is another one that you'll generally get from men, though women lie about it, too. Men generally describe themselves as taller than they are-- especially when talking to a tall woman. If you're 5'6" or a taller, a general rule might be to take his stated height and subtract 2" for his actual height. I have a girlfriend who does this and it's remarkably accurate!

Weight. This is the one thing that more people lie about than anything. In fact, averaging the percentage of men and the percentage of women who lie about their weight, a full 62.3% of people lie about how much they weigh. This is one, I'm sure, that lots of us are guilty of.

But... How Many People Lie?

The truth is, most people fib a bit on their online profiles... and you probably do, too. According to a university study, 80% of people lie about something (even if it's just a little thing!) on their online profile. So while it's a good idea to be vigilant about liars when you're internet dating, it's also a good idea to leave your judgment at home when you meet somebody in person. Sure, there were a couple of small exaggerations on his or her profile, but remember, there were probably a few on yours, too!

This article was written by Shawn Wilson, a member of the customer support team at Datepad, where internet dating is always free. Datepad has a massive directory of informative dating articles along with a great list of dating site reviews on their dating blog.