Why won't the person I'm chatting to do a video call?
Often the person avoids video calls because they aren't who they say they are: the photos belong to someone else. Shyness is real, but if they always refuse and the excuses keep repeating, you have reason to be suspicious.
The usual excuses are a broken camera, bad signal, no data, load-shedding, working on an oil rig or a ship, being deployed with the army, or "not being ready yet". Some people do a very short call, in the dark or with the camera covered.
What to do
- Suggest a short call, just one minute, at a time that suits them.
- If they always say no, stop accepting excuses: ask for a new photo with a gesture you choose.
- Never send money or airtime "to fix the phone" or "to buy data".
- Check the person's photos and number before you carry on chatting.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a video call prove the person is real?
- It helps a lot, but fake videos exist nowadays. Be wary of very short calls, odd-looking video or calls without sound.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for R99.
Check a person