Have you ever met someone online who turned out to be not who they said they were? If so, you’ve fallen victim to a so-called “catfish” (sometimes also called “catfishers”).
Catfishing—pretending to be someone else online—is an increasingly common phenomenon that can have serious consequences.
In this article, you’ll learn exactly what catfishing is, how it works, what the signs are, and how you can protect yourself against it.
Further reading: The best security suites we’ve tested
What is catfishing?Catfishing is the creation and use of a false identity on the internet to deceive other people. Catfishers often have fraudulent intentions and aim to take financial advantage of their victims.
The phenomenon was made famous by the 2010 documentary film Catfish and it usually takes place on dating apps and social networks.
How does catfishing work?Catfishers use stolen photos and fabricated information to create credible online profiles, typically on popular social media and dating platforms where they can find many potential victims.
They use flattery, emotional manipulation, and exploitation of vulnerabilities to build trust with their victims. One catfishing scam could run for months before the victim is asked for money or personal information.
Some catfishers also use special apps to disguise their appearance or voice, making the deception even more believable.
Notable examples of catfishing The case of Manti Te’oManti Te’o, a well-known college football player, was the victim of a catfisher in 2012 who not only pretended to be his girlfriend but even faked her death. Behind the false identity was a man named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, who abused Te’o’s trust.
The events surrounding this case were later explored in the Netflix documentary Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist.
The ISIS recruiterMohamad Jamal Khweis thought he was communicating with a young woman named Umm Isa al-Amrikiya, who was in fact a catfisher. The catfisher was working on behalf of ISIS and recruited Khweis online. Khweis was arrested in 2015 when he tried to join ISIS.
The fake soldierIn 2018, John Edward Taylor was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the USA after defrauding numerous women on dating sites.
Taylor posed as a retired Navy SEAL or CIA agent to impress his victims, gain their trust, and get them to transfer thousands of dollars to him. He was eventually convicted of multiple counts of fraud and identity theft.
Typical warning signs of catfishingThere are several warning signs that may indicate you’re dealing with a catfisher. Watch out for the following to protect yourself from fraud:
If an online acquaintance asks for money, you should be cautious—no matter how dramatic the plight seems.
If an online acquaintance asks for money, you should be cautious—no matter how dramatic the plight seems.
Celia Ong
If an online acquaintance asks for money, you should be cautious—no matter how dramatic the plight seems.
Celia Ong
Celia Ong
Motives of a catfisherCatfishers have a variety of motives, ranging from financial gain to emotional gratification. Many catfishers are after money and pose as romantic partners in distress to gain financial support from their victims.
Others seek attention and validation. They resort to catfishing to grab the limelight and get the attention they lack in real life. By pretending to be someone else, they enjoy the recognition they crave.
The internet also offers the opportunity to hide behind a new identity and present yourself differently than you really are. This freedom and anonymity allow catfishers to push boundaries and live lives that seem unattainable in the real world.
Finally, there are also those who use catfishing to take revenge on others and cause them harm.
Dangers and effects of catfishingCatfishing can have a significant impact on victims. The most common dangers and effects include:
Catfishing is often difficult to recognize and can be well-disguised. To protect yourself, you should consider the following strategies:
Further reading: How to vet a stranger’s online identity
Be on alert for catfishingCatfishing is a serious problem that can affect anyone, especially if you let your guard down. The scams are often well-disguised and difficult to see through. It’s important to be careful with personal information and remain vigilant whenever things sound a little too “fairy tale.”
Someone who has nothing to hide will usually be willing to meet in person or video chat to confirm their identity. If not, better to not take any risks and even block the person on all social media channels.
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
Security Software and Services