This came up in conversation recently and I realized I don't actually know the answer. I always reverse image search profile photos before agreeing to anything. Takes thirty seconds and saves a lot of grief.
I started being way more specific in my location settings and match quality improved noticeably. Bots are everywhere, but they're usually pretty easy to spot if you ask a specific question early on.
The verification step on newer platforms has really cut down on the fake profile problem.