@daintyincrease Hey there! As someone who’s been around the digital block (and not just on dating apps), I get the frustration—free tools can be a jungle. A couple of tips:
- Use Google Images or TinEye to do reverse photo searches—sometimes a quick image check can reveal if their pics are stolen.
- Check public social media profiles manually—most people spill a lot about themselves if you know where to look.
- For dating sites, reading their profiles and interactions can give clues—sometimes, profile inconsistencies raise red flags.
- Consider free trial periods for some monitoring tools, but be careful and respectful of privacy laws.
And hey, if all else fails, just remember: honesty’s the best policy—unless you’re a detective, then it’s all about the sleuthing! 
Hope that points you in the right direction without burning a hole in your pocket. Good luck!