The internet is an amazing place that offers an effective communication platform that allows people worldwide to connect. While the digital world offers an amazing opportunity for individuals to meet new friends and partners, it opens the opportunity for shady activities. The internet facilitates anonymity. Until you meet up in person, you never really know the face behind those uploaded photos and online posts.

It’s not uncommon for someone to embellish their photos with a filter, but what happens when users take their deceit to another level? This incidence is where you enter into the realm of catfishing.

What Is Catfishing?

channel catfish

Catfishing describes the activity where someone, the “catfish” or “catfisher,” fabricates an online identity and uses it to take advantage of another person. The term comes from the film “Catfish,” a popular American documentary released back in 2010. It follows the executive producer, Nev Shulman, and his online relationship with a 19-year-old from the Midwest.

As the name suggests, things were not as they seemed. The woman he had a relationship with was actually Angela Wesselman, a 40-year-old housewife hiding behind stolen photos and several fake accounts for fake friends and family she maintained to keep up the charade.

Her husband coined the term “catfish,” drawing a comparison between the manipulative relationship and an old fishery myth. Needless to say, this encounter ended their romantic relationship. Luckily, this story has a happy enough ending.

The two formed a friendship and Shulman went on to direct his own series following the lives of other catfish victims. Not everyone is lucky enough to leave the situation unscathed.

Why Do People Catfish?

When people think of catfishing, they often refer to romantic relationships. While not everyone takes it to the extreme as Wesselman did, plenty of people lie online.

We’ve all heard the horror story of someone showing up to the first date looking nothing like their picture or someone starting a serious online relationship with someone who keeps ghosting them.

woman in mask

Even if they use their real photos, people may catfish others by lying about their age, profession, or wealth to be more attractive. It can be a real emotional blow for someone to invest years into a relationship only to find out that the person they love isn’t who they say they are. Psychological damages are, unfortunately, not the only risk of a catfish exchange.

Some people have more sinister intentions when they act behind a fake profile. Catfishers sometimes exploit vulnerable people for money or gifts. They abuse their influence to convince people to send them things.

Sometimes it’s small favors where they convince their online partners to send them a couple of bucks here and there. There are also countless cases where catfishers convince their victims to send them large sums of money, sometimes even faking tragedies to pull at the heartstrings.

Does This Mean I Shouldn’t Trust Anyone Online?

man in mask

Although we spent this article highlighting the worst-case-scenarios of meeting people online, it’s important to emphasize that not every stranger is out to get you. There are plenty of friendly individuals with great intentions surfing the web. Many people meet their best friends, or even future spouses, in chatrooms, forums, and online communities.

How Can I Prevent Being Catfished Online?

In order to minimize your chances of being taken advantage of, there are some key signs that your online relationship is suspicious. Consider keeping these common red flags in mind.

They Have Many (or Very Few) Connections

iPhone notifications

You can recognize a profile is fake before you even accept the friend request. You can often tell an account is fake by looking at the number of followers, friends, or connections they have. Think about it this way; why would someone creating a new account add strangers before any of their actual friends and family? For accounts with huge followings they couldn’t possibly know, they probably add and message strangers a lot.

They Can Never See You in Real Life

online dating

Have you been dating someone online for a while, but they have millions of excuses for not meeting face-to-face? A classic catfishing technique is to lie about broken webcams, car troubles, and general unavailability.

They Disappear for Long Periods of Time

ghosting

Ghosting is also a key feature of catfishing. Does your online partner seem to “punish” you with silence when you question their authenticity? There are even sad stories where catfishers disappear for a while after failing to show up to arranged meetings.

Their Stories Don’t Add Up

celebrity star

A lot of the time, they have explanations for everything. Every missed meeting or favor seems to be explained away by intense circumstances. While you don’t want to question sensitive events, you shouldn’t let people take advantage of your sympathy.

If it seems like your partner has a death in the family or extreme illness every time you try to meet up, maybe there is more to the story than meets the eye. Also, be aware of stories that seem too good to be true. Many catfishers pose as celebrities or models online, trying to entice fans.

They Steal Their Photos

Woman on laptop

Even if they don’t use celebrity photos, there are a few easy ways to detect stolen photos. Although it’s not foolproof, you can easily use one of the many reverse image search apps to see if the photos are on other accounts.

They Ask You for Favors

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Never send money or sensitive information to strangers online. Do not fall for sob stories or promises to pay the favor back. You don’t want them stealing your information or robbing you.

Even if it is just a small amount, you should always consider the possibility they are conning countless people at the same time.

Are Catfishing Scams Dangerous?

In the age of the internet, it’s more difficult than ever to separate fact from fiction. When it comes to catfishers, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to prevent being a victim of fraud. The internet can be a wonderful place to meet people and socialize when you practice internet safety.