Video Call Avoidance
A behavioural pattern in which a fraudster consistently refuses or finds excuses to avoid live video contact, protecting the false identity they have constructed.
Also known as: camera avoidance scam, fake relationship video dodge
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Avoiding live video calls is a structural necessity for most romance fraudsters. The photographs they use belong to someone else; the persona they have built cannot survive real-time visual scrutiny. Consequently, video call requests are met with a persistent stream of credible-seeming excuses: bad internet connection, broken camera, security concerns at their workplace, personal shyness, or a claimed platform preference.
Sophisticated operators may offer pre-recorded video clips or still photographs as a substitute, or use deepfake technology in brief, low-quality calls to simulate visual verification. These substitutes are not equivalent to a spontaneous live video call requested without advance notice.
A person who has never agreed to a live, unscheduled video call after weeks or months of contact should be treated as very likely not who they claim to be, regardless of how elaborate and consistent their alternative explanations appear.
Examples
- An online contact of three months always cites poor connectivity on their work rig when asked for a video call, but sends multiple high-quality photos daily.
- A brief grainy video clip is offered as proof of identity; a request for an impromptu call is met with a new technical excuse.