Updated: 2 days ago 
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Picture this: you’re on Plenty of Fish (POF) when you accidentally swipe past someone intriguing, and now you can’t find them again. Or perhaps you’ve been messaging a promising match, only to have them suddenly disappear without a trace. In some cases, you might even have a nagging suspicion that your partner is checking out POF behind your back.
When you’re in situations like these, it’s natural to want answers. In this article, we’ll be sharing two methods that we’ve tested and found effective in searching for people on POF. And also some approaches to avoid. Read on…
Key Takeaways
- POF users with Premium or Prestige accounts: Use the in-app username search feature for direct results.
- Regular POF users: Explore less direct methods like Meet Me, Recently Online, and My City features.
- Non-POF users or those seeking detailed information: Utilize people search tools. We recommend TruthFinder, Spokeo, and Social Catfish.
- Stay safe: Be aware of potential scams. If you encounter suspicious activity, report it to POF and consider contacting authorities if necessary.
Method 1: Use POF in-app search
Tip: If you’re searching for someone who may not want to be found, such as a potentially cheating partner or a suspected catfish, it’s important to be discreet. To minimize the risk of alerting them to your search efforts, consider creating a temporary profile with minimal personal information:
- Use a generic username
- Avoid identifiable photos
- Skip optional personal details
- Provide a general location only
- Don’t link social media accounts
- Limit personal anecdotes in your bio
If you’re trying to locate someone on POF without registering on the POF website, jump to Method 2.
1. POF username search
Plenty of Fish has a slew of features that can help you find someone specific. Among them, the most effective is the username search, which is exclusively available to the higher-tier members (Premium and Prestige). So if you’re serious about tracking down that one particular profile and don’t mind splurging a bit for the extra functionality, this could be a great option[1].
Here’s how you can do it:
- Log in to your POF account and ensure you have an active Premium or Prestige subscription.
- Navigate to the search bar, then depending on your device:
- For iOS or Android users: go to the “Username” tab in the POF app.
- For desktop users: locate the “Search” -> “Username” tabs.
- For iOS or Android users: go to the “Username” tab in the POF app.
- Enter the username of the person you’re trying to find in the search bar. As you type, POF will display a list of matching usernames below the search bar.
- If the person you’re looking for has a POF account and you’ve entered their username correctly, their profile should appear in the search results. Click on their username to view their profile.
2. Other helpful features
If you don’t have a premium subscription or the exact username you’re looking for, don’t worry. While less direct, here are several other features you can explore and potentially find the person on POF:
- Meet Me/Interested in Me/Recommended: As a tip, you may want to adjust your preferences to match the characteristics of the person you’re looking for.
- Search: This allows you to use a range of filters to refine your search results, such as gender, location, background, and much more. The more information you have about the person you’re searching for, the more effectively you can hone in on the most relevant profiles.
- Recently Online: View profiles of users who have recently used the app. This is particularly useful if you’re trying to reconnect with someone you’ve chatted with before, as it shows active users.
- Live!: Interact with users who are currently streaming. If the person you’re looking for is active on POF, they might participate in live streams[2].
- New Members: Browse newly created profiles. If you think the person you’re looking for has recently joined POF, this is the place to look.
- My City: Browse active users in your local area. If you believe the person you’re seeking is nearby, this feature can help you narrow down your search geographically.
Method 2. Use a people search engine (without signing up for POF)
If the platform-based features on POF haven’t yielded results, or if you’re looking to gather additional information about someone without registering on POF, consider using a people search engine.
A people search engine scans available online public record sources to compile public information, with social media being important sources. These people search engines are powerful in that they can link available information from multiple social media accounts, dating profiles, and other online activities. By connecting usernames, email addresses, and other identifiers across platforms, they can build a surprisingly detailed profile of a person – often including photos, interests, possible relatives, and social media profiles.
However, not all people search engines are equal in their capabilities. Some have more extensive sources, better search algorithms, and others may have access to specific platforms. After testing dozens of options, we found that TruthFinder, Spokeo, and Social Catfish stand out when searching for POF users. Each has its unique strengths:
1. TruthFinder
TruthFinder is a powerful people search engine that allows you to enter just a name to gather comprehensive reports about someone and their life, including, when available, contact info, social media accounts, dating profiles (POF included), criminal and traffic records, etc.
To use TruthFinder to search for someone’s POF presence:
- Go to the TruthFinder website, then enter the person’s name in the search bar and click SEARCH NOW.
- TruthFinder will scan billions of public records and compile the available information into a background report. If the person has a POF account associated with their information, it could appear within the background report. To access the report, you will need to purchase a membership plan.
The above image is from a sample TruthFinder Background Report. Actual TruthFinder Background Reports may contain more or less information.
Tip: If you know the individual’s username on POF (or other social networks), you can search for it directly within the “Social” section of the background report. This feature is integrated into the report when you have paid for a TruthFinder subscription.
When entering the username, be sure to omit any whitespace, as TruthFinder’s search function may not recognize usernames with spaces. For example, if the person’s username is “john doe123,” you should enter it as “johndoe123” for the best search results.
2. Spokeo
Spokeo stands out for its flexibility in search options. So besides name and username, if you have additional info about the potential POF user, such as phone number and email address, you can pop it into the search engine to check the person’s presence on Plenty of Fish.
To search for someone on POF using Spokeo, you have two options:
- Official Spokeo Page: Navigate to the Spokeo official website and select the appropriate search type from the dropdown menu (name, phone, or email). Enter the available information you have about the person and click “SEARCH NOW”.
- Reverse Username Search: If you specifically want to search for a POF username, head to the Spokeo Reverse Username Search page (separate from the main search page). Enter the username in the search bar and click “SEARCH NOW”.
Then wait a short while as Spokeo checks the info against its database and finds matching records for you.
3. Social Catfish
Social Catfish is a people search engine specifically designed for dating investigations and identifying potential catfishing situations. One of its unique features is the ability to perform a reverse image search, allowing you to upload a photo and see if it appears elsewhere online under different names or profiles.
If you suspect that someone you’ve met on POF might not be who they claim to be, Social Catfish can help you verify their identity (images, email addresses, phone numbers and online profiles).
Methods we don’t recommend
While researching ways to find someone on POF, we have come across various methods and tools that claim to make the process easier. However, not all of these approaches are effective. In this section, we’ll lay out a few methods that we tested and found to be either unreliable or misleading.
1. SearchPOF.com and scrapersnbots.com
Third-party POF search tools like SearchPOF.com and scrapersnbots.com are unreliable in our opinion. Our tests showed they only lead to sponsored ads, unrelated content, and generic dating pages – not actual POF profile results.
2. Search on Google or Google Image
Searching for POF profiles on Google or Google Image is largely ineffective. POF doesn’t allow search engines to index user profiles, so searching for usernames or email addresses rarely yields relevant results.
In some cases, you might get lucky and come across a post where someone casually drops their POF username or a link to their profile. But more often than not, you’ll probably end up sifting through pages and pages of irrelevant chatter, wasting precious time that could be better spent on more targeted search methods.
FAQs
Can I check if my partner has a POF account by trying to register with their email?
While this method could sound tempting, we would advise against it as it’s not foolproof and raises trust and legal concerns. Technically, this may work because:
- If the email is registered, POF will show “This address is already registered.”
- If not, you can stop before completing registration to avoid alerting your partner that you’re using their email to create an account.
However, this approach has limitations:
- An existing account doesn’t necessarily mean active use (during your relationship).
- Your partner might use a different email for POF or other dating sites.
- This method may imply trust issues.
- Completing registration and creating an account using an email address for another person may have legal consequences and could be considered identity fraud.
If you’re considering this, it might be time to reflect on why you feel the need to check up on your partner. Having an honest conversation about your concerns could be a healthier approach.
Can I check if someone (my partner) has a POF account by using the ‘Forgot password’ feature?
The “Forgot password” method is unproductive and potentially problematic. POF displays the same message whether an account exists or not, so you won’t actually gain any reliable information. And just like the ‘registering a new account with someone’s email’ method, this could indicate underlying trust issues in your relationship. Instead of resorting to these tactics, it’s better to address your concerns directly with your partner.
What should I do if I suspect I’ve encountered a catfish or scammer on POF?
A catfish or scammer tends to have inconsistent stories, refuse video chats, or ask for money for sudden emergencies. If something feels off, it probably is. So before you invest too much trust, avoid sharing any personal or financial info, no matter how convincing their story sounds.
If you’re confident you’re dealing with a catfish, report the profile to POF right away using their reporting feature. If you’ve already shared sensitive information or fallen victim, contact your bank immediately and consider reaching out to local authorities for help.
Why can’t I find someone on POF even after trying all the methods in the article?
There are several reasons you may not be able to locate a specific person on Plenty of Fish, even after exhausting the search methods and tools in this guide:
- Doesn’t have a POF account (or has deleted it)
- Has set their profile to private
- Has blocked you
- Has changed their username
- Has information on their profile that doesn’t match your search criteria
- Has a POF account that isn’t included in people search engines sources
Conclusion
In this article, we explored various methods to find someone on Plenty of Fish (POF), including the platform’s built-in search features for premium members and other helpful tools like “Meet Me,” “Search,” and “My City.” We also recommended using people search engines like TruthFinder, Spokeo, and Social Catfish for those who prefer not to use POF’s native tools or want to gather more information without registering.
Additionally, we cautioned against using methods that we don’t recommend, such as some dodgy third-party POF search websites, attempting to access someone’s account without permission, or spending too much time searching for POF profiles on Google, as the platform doesn’t allow search engines to index user profiles.
Last but not least, if you suspect you’ve encountered a catfish or scammer on POF, report them immediately using the platform’s reporting feature. If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam or manipulation, you’d better seek professional help or contact law enforcement.
The information available on these people search websites may not be 100% accurate, complete, or up to date, so do not use it as a substitute for your own due diligence, especially if you have concerns about a person’s criminal history. The services we mention do not make any representation or warranty about the accuracy of the information available through their services or about the character or integrity of the person about whom you inquire. For more information, please review each service’s Terms of Use.
All product names, logos, brands, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
- Update: The username search feature was introduced in 2015, removed in September 2020, and as of this writing, has been reinstated on POF, which could be a reflection of the platform’s adaptation to user needs. ↩
- Update: POF has announced the decommissioning of their Live Streaming service, effective August 31, 2024.↩
There’s no guarantee you’ll find the information you’re looking for with the tools discussed in this article. They all source their information from publicly available data sources, such as county, state and federal courts, government departments, and police records, and those sources may contain incorrect or incomplete data. It’s illegal to use these tools to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. Read the Fair Credit Reporting Act to learn more....
