Five Biggest Signs You Are Dealing with a Fake Friend

We all have people around us whom we consider friends. But within those friendships, some of them aren't true, genuine friendships; they are mere associations disguised as friendship.

Without the knowledge and the know-how of how to distinguish between a true friend and a fake one, you will always find yourself around mere acquaintances, whom you regard as friends. Not everyone around you is your friend. In fact, Most of the people you consider friends are just acquaintances.

Now, to live a safe and peaceful life, you have to be able to identify a fake friend.

Here are the top five signs you are dealing with a fake friend:

1. They always want to know your business.

   Fake friends will always act as if they genuinely care; they will pry into your life, always interested in what's happening in your personal life, but never open up about theirs. When a person knows they aren't genuine to you, they will try to hide that by acting as if they care, to shield their true feelings towards you.

   
   

2. They are nice to you, but always criticise you when they are with others.

   Disingenuous individuals will always act all kind and well-meaning when they are with you, but when you turn around, they criticise and speak ill of you to others. Once you realise or have a glimpse that your so-called friend was talking badly about you to others, know that that is a fake friend. They often speak ill of others to their real friends.

   
   

3. They often make you the "option".

   When someone makes prior plans to do a task or an activity with their other friends, excluding you, but when one of them drops out, you become the first option to be a replacement. That's a sign of not being in genuine friendships. Often, friends will plan outings, activities, vacations, etc, in advance and prepare. But when one who was part of the initial plans is now no longer able to go ahead with the plan, they will find a replacement for that person. If you notice that you seem to always be the 'back-up' or 'option', that is one of the biggest signs you are dealing with disengenuous friends.

   
   

4. They don’t seem genuinely excited or happy when good things come your way.

   True friends always get as happy as you do when you accomplish certain milestones and receive good things in your life. However, there are those whom, when they see good things happening in your life, automatically compare their life to yours. They exhibit behaviour of unhappiness when good things come your way. They often criticise whatever accomplishment or thing that excites you. If you buy car X, they will criticise why you went for that car, or they will all of a sudden know where the best deal was. When you share a picture of your graduation with your gown on, they criticise your camera quality instead of congratulating you. These are some examples of how fake friends show themselves.

   
   

5. They only ask for help from you when they have other friends/associates.

   Generally, you can have a friend who also has other friends. For example, you may have a friend you knew from school, while he or she also has friends from his neighbourhood. Fake friends will have all the good times with their "other" friends, but when they require some form of assistance or help, often financial, they seemingly only come to you and not their other friends. When a friend sees you as the first point of contact for help and not with any other things, that signals a one-directional relationship where you are regarded as the "helper". When your friend only makes contact with you when they are in need, but when everything is fun and jolly, they are with their friends, scrutinise that friend.

   
   

There are many signs fake friends exhibit, often unbeknownst to them. The above five are some of the few I believe we all need to be wary and cognisant of.

Over and above all, your ability to spot a fake friend will save you heartache and pain before it even develops legs. Therefore, it is wise to understand that the people you call your friends are likely mere acquaintances; know the difference.