So, you’re dating a new guy and really smitten. He’s the complete package: well-spoken, attractive, and confident. The only problem is that you have a nagging hunch that Mr. Perfect is concealing something… or worse, someone. Which may prompt you to wonder: Is he a player? So, what are the signals that he’s a player? To get feedback, Elite Daily interviewed dating expert and relationship writer Demetrius Figueroa, as well as Damona Hoffman, certified dating coach and presenter of The Dates & Mates Podcast.

According to Figueroa, what distinguishes a true player from a single person investigating their alternatives is manipulation. “If you’re a player, you’re playing someone, whether that’s telling the people you date that each of them is the only person you’re seeing, or convincing someone you’re single when you’re not,” Figueroa shares.

Figueroa goes on to say that flirting does not always imply that they are a player, so don’t panic if they are paying friendly attention to other individuals. “If a guy is flirty, but is honest about his relationship status, and doesn’t pursue anything beyond flirty banter, he’s probably just a big flirt,” Figueroa shares. However, if you feel the person you’re seeing or chatting to is more than just flirting, look for evidence that he’s a player.

1. They’re dishonest. There’s nothing quite as sobering as discovering that someone you trust isn’t being truthful — so sobering, in fact, that many of us try our hardest to find a way to rationalize dishonest behavior in order to maintain the pristine image of someone we’ve created in our minds. According to Figueroa, the more the lie, the greater the warning indication. “This lack of candor should also include patterns of expedient omissions. Does he spend a lot of time with ‘friends,’ none of whom he mentions by name?”

It is important to highlight that being guarded does not imply dishonesty. Remember, if you haven’t discussed exclusivity, they could be seeing other people. Until you have this talk, this omission does not necessarily indicate that they are a player, but rather that they are expressing their right to explore their choices. There’s a difference.

2. They avoid commitment. I probably don’t need to remind you that if someone expressly says they aren’t searching for a relationship, you should believe them. Of course, we’ve all heard the Sasquatch-esque stories of how a friend of a friend persuaded someone who was just booty-calling them to begin dating exclusively. However, these dating stories rarely end happily.

Unfortunately, due to unethical dating techniques such as breadcrumbing and ghosting, people are becoming less direct about what they want in order to put several relationships on the back burner. This means you should learn to read between the lines. Hoffman claims that irregular behavioral patterns will reveal how the person you’re dating truly feels about you. “If they’re going days in between dates and you haven’t heard from them at all, that’s not a good sign,” she warns.

“If you had made a planned date, and it’s a little ways out and they don’t confirm it like the day before, that’s not a good sign.” If the person you’ve been dating is resisting taking your relationship to the next level without providing a valid justification, it’s possible that they’re seeing other people and using manipulation to mask their genuine intentions.

3. They use vague language. If the person you’re seeing avoids being detailed about specifics like what they do in their spare time (e.g., what they did last weekend and with whom), this should also be considered, according to Figueroa. You should also be wary if the person you’re after employs ambiguous language when asked about the status of your relationship. Do they avoid mentioning that you’re their partner while introducing you to others?

4. They exhibit suspicious behavior. If they act as if they have something to hide, they probably do. Again, just because they leave to talk to their elderly grandmother doesn’t indicate they’re planning a booty call. However, if they are constantly behaving suspicious when it comes to their phone, there could be something they are not telling you.

“[If he regularly] seems to avoid talking or texting on his phone near you, especially if he goes as far as entering a different room to check his phone,” Figueroa says, this could also be seen as a sign he’s a player. Any behavior that appears to be too private or secretive may warrant additional investigation. Even if you don’t have proof that they’re doing something wrong, you should always believe your instincts. In this scenario, it never hurts to probe a little deeper. Follow-up questions that are not accusatory will not deter an honest person who has nothing to conceal.

5. They Have Wandering Eyes. I’m sorry to break it to you, but all genders notice someone they find attractive – taking a quick glance is very natural. That being said, if the person you’re seeing is continuously staring at other individuals in your presence, it’s impolite. “If you are on a date with them, and they are looking all around the room at what everybody else is doing, that’s not a good sign,” Hoffman says.