12 Red Flags That Scream "This Person Is Plotting Against You"

Don’t ignore these huge red flags.

Two people standing against a gray background hold photos of faces over their own. The person on the left has a skeptical female face, while the person on the right holds a suspicious male face. Both wear formal white tops.

We’re often taught to ignore our intuition when something feels a bit too weird to be real, like being paranoid that someone might be plotting against you. The thing is, just because something seems weird doesn’t mean it’s not real or true. Watch out for the 12 red flags that follow, as they can indicate that someone is indeed planning something nasty toward you.

1. They accuse and interrogate you.

A man with a beard and short hair, wearing a green T-shirt, points towards the camera with an intense expression, as if surprised or accusing. He stands against a plain white background.

Be wary of people who accuse you of things and interrogate you about them to get you to admit guilt—even if you haven’t done anything wrong. Be especially wary if they do this in front of other people, as they may be trying to defame your character in front of witnesses.

2. They repeatedly break promises.

A person with straight blonde hair, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a blue knit vest, stands against a peach-colored background. They have one hand raised and the other placed over their chest, appearing to take an oath or pledge.

A person who consistently makes promises to you and then breaks them at the last minute is stringing you along and trying to keep you close for some reason yet to be divulged. Someone who sincerely cares about you (and your friendship) won’t keep dropping the ball like that.

3. They ask you questions out of nowhere, and then drop off the map again.

A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a yellow shirt, sits on a grey couch. She holds a smartphone in one hand and looks at the screen with a confused and frustrated expression, her other hand raised in a questioning gesture. A painting is blurred in the background.

Few things are as suspicious as when someone asks you something after a period of silence, and then drops silent again after they’ve gotten their answer (or if you’ve asked why they want to know). If they’re unwilling to have an exchange with you, they don’t have your best interests at heart.

4. They ignore or intentionally overstep your boundaries.

Two young women are in a living room. The woman in the foreground has long dark hair, is wearing a pink tank top, and is gesturing with a confused expression. The woman in the background, wearing a blue top and shorts, is sitting on a couch, partially blurred.

Never trust a person who is fully aware of your personal boundaries and either intentionally oversteps them, or ignores them completely. This shows a complete lack of respect, as well as their intention to either use or dominate you in some capacity—usually for their own benefit.

5. They withhold information from you, despite something affecting you personally.

Two men in suits are engaged in conversation in a white room. One man, facing forward, has his arms crossed, while the other has his back to the camera.

They’ll often refrain from sharing information with you because it’s on a “need-to-know” basis, and you don’t need to know, even though this issue involves or affects you. It’s as though they’re enjoying the power they have over you by keeping details to themselves that might be advantageous to you.

6. They’ve infiltrated your social circles.

Three women stand outdoors in front of a forest, smiling and enjoying drinks in plastic cups. They are wearing summer dresses and wide-brimmed hats. Sunlight filters through the trees, creating a warm and bright atmosphere.

Have you been shocked to discover that a new acquaintance had infiltrated all your social circles? Maybe they’ve befriended your parents, made your favorite pub their new hangout, and so on. Watch out, as they may be recruiting “flying monkeys” by getting close to your friends and poisoning them against you.

7. They remain highly secretive about their affairs, whereabouts, and business.

Two women stand side by side against a yellow background, both with skeptical expressions. The woman on the left has long, wavy hair and wears a plaid shirt, while the woman on the right has short, wavy hair and wears a denim shirt.

When you manage to engage them in conversation, they duck and weave any time you ask them personal details. They’ll redirect questions about where they work or what they do, derailing the conversation or suddenly needing to be somewhere else in order to avoid answering you directly.

8. They’re always seeking to upstage you.

A woman with short blonde hair and red lipstick poses with her arms raised above her head. She is illuminated by a focused, blue-tinted spotlight, creating dramatic shadows against a dark background. Her eyes are closed, and she conveys a feeling of poise and elegance.

Especially if you’ve gained an advantage over them at some point. If the two of you are competitors somehow, such as sports or business rivals, and they’re suddenly super nice and helpful toward you, be careful—they may either try to upstage you, or remove you from the competition somehow.

9. They’re critical of you at every given opportunity.

A woman and a man sit side by side at a table, each using a laptop. The woman looks at the man with suspicion, while the man stares intently at his screen. Both appear focused in an office setting.

Always keep your guard up around those who perpetually cut you down, especially under the guise of “just making a joke”. If someone has it in for you, they’ll take every opportunity to put you down, criticize your work, or otherwise undermine your standing in other people’s eyes.

10. They suddenly do a 180 on the way they behave toward you.

Two women are sitting at a table, smiling and holding takeaway coffee cups. One woman has curly red hair and is wearing a light blue shirt, the other has long blonde hair and is wearing a red blouse. They appear to be engaged in a friendly conversation.

If someone who’s been your sworn enemy for years suddenly wants to be your best friend, set your shields to maximum, as this person is undoubtedly plotting something. They’re just being nice to you in the hope that you’ll let your guard down enough for them to land a blow.

11. They try to get onto (or into) your property when you aren’t around.

A man with short curly hair and a beard is sitting at a desk, wearing a white shirt and dark tie. He is holding a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture. Behind him, there are two computer monitors, one displaying a graph with a rising trend.

Your neighbor may have confronted them on your property when you were out only for them to offer the excuse that you’d asked them to feed the cat or water the plants. Alternatively, you may discover a colleague going through your computer files when you come back early from lunch.

12. They’re always trying to get close to your partner.

A woman with long hair and a worried expression stands holding her head in the foreground. In the background, a couple is seen arguing or having an intense discussion in a blurred park setting. The mood is tense and evocative.

They might not even want your partner at all: they just want to split you up or otherwise ruin your life. While this endeavor may be temporarily appealing to them if your partner is particularly attractive, their end goal is to cause you misery and suffering.