How can you spot a fake online dater?

Nobody wants to fall for someone online only to find they are a fake, so weeding out the phoney singletons is a must.

The Huffington Post has published a guide to identifying such individuals, starting with being suspicious of anyone who will not get involved in a video chat or telephone conversation.

This could be an early sign that they are trying to hide their true identity and should have you running for the hills.

Another good idea is to look for a number of digital profiles that suggest they are a true person, so piece together social media portals and any presence on other sites to be confident the individual you are talking to is who they say they are.

It is also wise to consider whether someone is sending real-time photographs of themselves, as this will suggest they have nothing to hide.

Finally, be wary of anyone who does not answer specific questions or tries to avoid a certain subject.