Catfishing

Catfishing (or catphishing) is a fraudulent activity where an attacker creates a false identity on the internet (usually on social networks) to compromise the victim and establish relationships for cyberbullying or financial gain.

Signs of catfishing?

•The person's profile picture looks suspiciously good, artificial or otherwise generic.

•The person avoids video calls or face-to-face meetings.

•The person demands money or intimate materials from us.

How to avoid catfishing?

•Photo verification—If you suspect the photos on the profile are fake, check that they do not appear elsewhere on the internet.

•Avoid sharing personal information—Avoid sharing sensitive personal or financial information with people you've met online, especially if trust is built too quickly.

•Video calls and authentication—Participate in video calls to verify the trustworthiness of the person you are communicating with.

•Trust your instincts—If something seems too good to be true or makes you suspicious, trust your instincts and proceed with caution.

What do you do if you become a victim of catfishing?

Report the fake profile to the platform administrators. If you have suffered financial loss or personal injury, seek help from law enforcement or a lawyer.

Related terms

•Catfishing—On the internet, you may find that catfishing is often called catfishing.

•Romance scam—The attacker usually pretends to have feelings for their victim under a fake online identity to gain affection and then extort some financial sum. Scammers usually pretend to be working on a project abroad or a military mission. The pretext for asking for money is thus to cover the costs of a personal meeting or even preparations for a joint wedding; however, the meeting will not occur after sending money.