Suspicious Profiles with NO PROFILE PIC

Sgt Arthur Went — Sat, 17 May 2014 10:22:08 -0400

I see these profiles with NO PROFILE PICS and I'm suspicious of connecting with them. Why don't you post a pic. of yourself?

I will only connect with those that have ample info that suggest they are actual veterans. I see profiles that have very generic info and no photo are the ones I would not connect with.

Veterans, Whats your opinion on this?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 10:23 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 10:23:32 -0400

I need to get a recent pic of myself in a suit, and will update the profile pic.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 10:24 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 10:24:12 -0400

Not sure if I fall into any of your choices. It's not that I don't trust them but I also don't connect with them unless I know them personally.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made May 17 at 2014 11:27 AM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Sat, 17 May 2014 11:27:33 -0400

I am a suspicious person by nature, but at the same time I am curious. I will not connect to them first without finding out more about them. One can usually tell a lot about a person just by following their posts and comments. I am sure there are many that have a legitimate reason for not having a picture of themselves. I tend to be more trusting of profiles that have been verified regardless of a picture.

Response by Sgt Arthur Went made May 17 at 2014 11:38 AM

Sgt Arthur Went — Sat, 17 May 2014 11:38:12 -0400

I will only connect with those that have ample info that suggest they are actually veterans. I see profiles that have very generic info and no photo are the ones I would not connect with.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 11:59 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 11:59:52 -0400

Having no photo doesn't bother me at all, obviously, as I don't have one myself. I for the most part use RP as a way to read discussions and respond as a way to learn and for the entertainment. I don't or haven't used it to this point as a way to connect. If someone doesn't want to connect with me because I don't have a photo, that is their choice and I respect it. However, I will use your photo as an example since you were the original poster. Your photo is a picture of a picture of a couple on a cell phone. Nothing about that picture confirms to me that you are a service member or a veteran anymore than if your profile picture was blank. I say that with the simple meaning that if I were trying to produce a fake profile I could just as easily post a fake picture.

However, I'll stick with my original opinion that if people choose not to connect, for whatever reason, that is their choice and their right.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 18 at 2014 11:57 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Sun, 18 May 2014 23:57:24 -0400

If I cannot see your face, or I don't know your name, forget it.

Response by SGT Nathan Huff made May 19 at 2014 12:04 AM

SGT Nathan Huff — Mon, 19 May 2014 00:04:36 -0400

Rally point is set up were the member can verify there service. (as I have done) If they have not verified there service then I would be suspicious. The profile annotates if it is Verified or not. I only Connect with people I know or have respect for on this site, and eventually once I have finished my MA I will use it for networking as I will LinkedIN.

Response by SPC Jessica Stewart made May 19 at 2014 12:05 AM

SPC Jessica Stewart — Mon, 19 May 2014 00:05:09 -0400

Not having a picture is a tiny red flag but I will usually delve further and go to their profile. If their profile is sparse with barely any info I will ignore the contact request.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2014 4:04 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 May 2014 04:04:57 -0400

Not sure it bothers me to much because it took me months to fill my profile out.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made May 19 at 2014 7:20 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Mon, 19 May 2014 07:20:34 -0400

None of the answers really reflect my feeling on this topic. While I do connect with most (pic or not), I have normally had some interaction with them previously thorough discussion boards or private messages. As a rule I always check profiles as well before accepting a connection request... not out of distrust; but more out of curiosity! LOL!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2014 9:49 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 May 2014 09:49:28 -0400

doesnt bother me because i dont connect with members idk unless they have a pic but if i know you and you dont have a pic its fine because i know you lol

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2014 2:19 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 May 2014 14:19:07 -0400

Some people are better guardians of OPSEC than others. .

Response by MSG Martinis Butler made May 30 at 2014 9:12 AM

MSG Martinis Butler — Fri, 30 May 2014 09:12:31 -0400

No I really don't have that time to see who's motives are pure and right if they don't have a pic up. Im sure they have means of uploading pics so I don't waste time with it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2014 9:17 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 May 2014 09:17:04 -0400

Curious

Nic's Manifesto - Views - Section 1 - On Religion

My views are even more convoluted: On Religion – Atheists for years have attacked religion using the First Amendment as their weapon of choice. I’ve sworn an oath to …uphold and defend the Const...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2014 11:52 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 May 2014 11:52:21 -0400

I do not trust most, especially those who are new and present some kind of political statement and then they leave.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made May 31 at 2014 11:24 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Sat, 31 May 2014 23:24:06 -0400

And to be clear, with an internet profile, anyone can be anyone, so I would always be cynical when looking at a profile with no photo, or information that is remotely suspect. It is what it is. Also, given the recent proclivity for people to pose as military members, the cynicism is warranted.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 2:49 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 02:49:19 -0400

I usually won't connect with a " NO PROFILE PIC" unless I know the SM personally or have met or spoke with them.

Response by SSgt Robert Clark made Jun 1 at 2014 3:48 PM

SSgt Robert Clark — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 15:48:34 -0400

I don't have a profile pic, and don't feel it's that big a deal. There is more then enough information in my profile to prove I am what/who I say I am. I don't need to see what someone looks like, if there profile info provides enough detail to tell me they are someone who I would share a common interest then I send a request to connect. If I get declined because I don't have a picture on my profile, oh well.

Response by PFC Nathaniel Culbertson made Jun 1 at 2014 4:49 PM

PFC Nathaniel Culbertson — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 16:49:59 -0400

I won't trust them all the contacts i have had a picture of them. i have the same policy on facebook

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 5:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 17:26:43 -0400

For me it depends on reasoning to connect and if the profile has a lot of information. The less information about the servicemen/women the more suspicious I am.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2014 11:20 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 11:20:37 -0400

On LinkedIn, I am a bit more critical when it comes to those type of requests. I have been with RallyPoint from the beginning and I think they do a great job screening the folks on here. Not to say it is 100% fool proof....

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Jul 23 at 2014 12:20 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 12:20:55 -0400

Frankly, I have no profile pic because the people I wish to connect with will recognize my name and position. Otherwise, it's just personal OPSEC carrying over into my civilian life after service.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2014 12:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 12:29:53 -0400

I usually try to verify the person through other means first; not everyone has a good profile pic laying around. It took me almost a week to get my picture up, simply because I had trouble finding a picture that was a good enough straight on photo of me without anyone else... still not happy with the one I have, but it will have to do until I can get a good picture of myself in my ASU's taken.

Response by CDR Kenneth Kaiser made Sep 22 at 2014 10:10 PM

CDR Kenneth Kaiser — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 22:10:21 -0400

Sgt,
I retired so long ago, I don't even have a uniform and a picture of me in uniform would be so old that it would be pointless. In addition after I retired I completed a second career. So given that there is no picture. For me if I can give someone advice or help I will. I enjoy this site because the discourse does not degrade to name calling or worse and it keeps me abreast of what issues are facing service members now. Now I must admit I have worked some purple tours but I am do not always understand the all of the nuances of the other services so I try to keep out of those. Anyhow Semper Fi to you and good luck on your career.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 23 at 2014 11:20 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 23:20:06 -0400

I found one with 6,700 contacts and ZERO activity, Scared the crap out of me.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2014 12:46 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 00:46:01 -0400

This is what those profiles remind me of:

Response by SGT Monica Tattrie made Sep 24 at 2014 9:16 AM

SGT Monica Tattrie — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 09:16:48 -0400

I recently joined Rally Point and it was hard for me to verify that I was infact a Veteran because I no longer had access to my AKO, So it took me a little while to reactivate my AKO account. However, I did initilly post a Pic.

Response by SSgt Jacquemon Wildy made Sep 24 at 2014 9:55 AM

SSgt Jacquemon Wildy — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 09:55:09 -0400

only if I know who the veteran is, will I accept and connect

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Oct 8 at 2014 10:30 PM

SPC James Mcneil — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 22:30:51 -0400

I am very careful when it comes to connecting with others. I'm fairly new here, and I've seen the care taken to verify service, but I still am very careful. If someone doesn't have a profile picture, or if the profile picture is obviously not the person in question, I won't make the connection.

Response by SPC Daniel Edwards made Oct 8 at 2014 10:57 PM

SPC Daniel Edwards — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 22:57:52 -0400

computer issues and just lazy. I actually tried but my computer didn't want to cooperate so I decided screw it. I'll figure out another way. Besides, I don't take many pics and I don't have a DA photo yet

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2014 7:54 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 07:54:55 -0400

I agree, Sgt Arthur Went, but if the profile is otherwise complete and looks legit, there could be a simple explanation for no photo. Maybe the individual has a hard time posting a photo. Even as I write that, I find it hard to believe, but it's possible, especially with older, less computer savvy folks (and I'm older, so I feel qualified to say that).

Another possibility is that the individual is being super cautious about what is posted on social media.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 18 at 2017 11:52 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 23:52:10 -0500

It's an issue that has been ongoing since before I arrived on RP, Sgt Arthur Went. I prefer a complete profile, but will connect with a "no pic" profile that is verified. Some RP members have good and legitimate reasons to not post a pic. If there's no pic, no name and the profile is unverified, I stay away.