What does catfish mean?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, catfishing is the practice of pretending to be someone different on social media to trick or attract another person. In other words, it involves impersonating or creating a fake identity with the intent to mislead others.
While the term catfish is not new, it rapidly gained popularity after the release of a documentary film of the same name, starring Nev Schulman. The film follows Nev as he falls in love with a stranger online — only to find out that she is not the person she said she was. After the success of the film, Ned went on to make a reality show based on helping people find out if they’re being catfished online and the motivations behind the con artists.
Why do people catfish?
Whether it’s a Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat catfish, there are many reasons why people choose this method to scam people. It’s important to note that most of these socially engineered attacks do not have good intentions or objectives. Below are some examples of catfishing:
Financial gain using romance scams
Online fraudsters target individuals online for financial gain. Over time, they will build trust and/or form a romantic connection with their victim. Once the relationship is at a point where the fraudster feels the bond is strong, they will begin to ask for money.
A 2022 documentary titled The Tinder Swindler uncovered the catfishing modus operandi of the conman Shimon Hayut. Using the dating app Tinder, the subject conned multiple women — often at the same time — out of millions of dollars overall. He would operate in a cycle of meeting women on Tinder and using extorted money for gifts or private jets to solidify the relationship. Eventually, Hayut asks his girlfriend for large sums of money under the guise of paying them back. This money is used to start the cycle again.
Revenge
Some fraudsters will have a personal vendetta against an individual and will use the likeness or credentials to pose as them and damage their reputation. In some cases, the conman or woman implicates the individual in illegal matters, fraudulent purchasing, or using it as a tool to have power over the victim, such as sextortion or revenge porn. This is when a victim has sent explicit images to another, which is then used against them to extort money or to humiliate the victim.
Manipulation
Catfishing for malicious intent can purely be for the mental and emotional gratification of the fraudster. Knowing they are causing their victim’s emotional distress or false feelings of infatuation can drive a catfish to manipulate a victim — just for the sake of doing it.
In 2021, a Tortoise Media podcast titled Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare tells the story of a true catfishing case, as told by the victim. British radio host Kirat Assi goes into detail about the almost decade-long online relationship she had with a man, Bobby — whom she’d never met. As the story unfolds, you eventually learn that it was her cousin impersonating Bobby the whole time — with no reason for doing so.
AI catfishing
A 2023 Kaspersky survey found that 75% of dating app users utilize AI-generated or ChatGPT text in their online communication, especially in creating chat-up lines.
As technology and AI grow rapidly, so does the convincing nature of deepfakes for catfishing. Deepfake is when someone digitally alters a video of a person to look like someone else. This is to further convince the victim of the lie they’re telling to ensure they get what they want.
Anne, a 53-year-old French interior designer, was scammed out of €830K because she believed she was in a relationship with actor Brad Pitt. As a new user of social media, Anne was ‘introduced’ to the fake profile via the scammer and began chatting with them, and continued for over a year. After a while, the scammer utilized AI to create videos and images portraying Brad Pitt in a hospital and asking for money to pay for kidney treatment. It was only when paparazzi images showed the actor on holiday that she realized she was being scammed.
How to tell if you are being catfished
Catfishing online relies on the vulnerability of the victim and how the catfish can convince them of the lie. It may not always be obvious that you’re being swindled, but there are some signs that you can look for to help you be more vigilant:
Catfishing signs
The catfish protocol is largely the same. However, these scammers are professional con artists, so it’s important to look out for some of these warning signs of a potential catfish profile:
First contact
In most cases, especially for romance catfishing scenarios, the scammer makes contact first via social media or similar platforms. Another modus operandi (MO) that scammers take is to flood online dating sites and apps with fake profiles to lure victims in.
Too good to be true
There are several instances that qualify for too good to be true rule. The scammer claims to be famous, very wealthy or they use images of someone you admire are all examples.
Minimal social media activity
Generally, scammers won’t have very active social media accounts or be present on other platforms. In a lot of cases, the accounts they do have will have minimal friends and very little or no visible posts.
Claiming love and affection
The scammer starts professing sentiments of love or endearment after a short amount of time. This is to build trust with the victim, making it easier to con them out of money or information.
Poor language in messages
In many cases, scammers are conning more than one person. To ensure they maintain the ruse, they will use nicknames or messages that are AI-generated to keep up the facade. In other instances, the language used does not match their profile or the image they have been portraying.
Avoiding real contact
If the scammer is not utilizing deepfake technology, they will avoid having video calls or meeting in person. Sometimes, scammers will make plans to meet in person but cancel the arrangements at the last minute. Scammers will also avoid answering personal questions.
Asking for help
One of the biggest giveaways is when the scammer asks for something. This can be money, photos, private information, or helping them set up bank accounts or similar entities.
Protect Against Catfishing
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Try Premium for FreeHow to avoid being catfished
It’s always easy to see a scam after the fact. Knowing what to look for as a precaution is the best way to protect yourself. It’s important to always remember that scammers are good at what they do, but there are some actions you can take to avoid becoming a victim.
Install internet security software
While apps can’t prevent you from being catfished online, they can protect your personal information. Software like Kaspersky Premium protects your devices from hackers, viruses, and data breaches. If your kids are also online, Kaspersky Safe Kids helps parents monitor children’s online activities and whereabouts.
Practice due diligence
Hiding behind the guise of the online world doesn’t mean that you’re less susceptible to being taken advantage of. Being vigilant online can help protect you and your information:
- Don’t accept requests from people you don’t know.
- Do not send compromising images of yourself.
- Don’t click on any links from strangers.
- Do not provide personal information to anyone.
- If using dating apps to meet new people, only use reputable platforms with legislation or moderators that protect users.
Google search their images
If you suspect that you’re being catfished, here’s how to use their profile photos to uncover the truth:
- Download their profile photos
- Open Google
- Select the camera icon to open Google Lens
- Upload the photo and hit search
Google Lens searches the internet to find other profiles using the same picture.
What to do if you’re a victim of catfishing
It’s important to remember that you are a victim and that it’s natural to feel hurt — especially when your emotions are involved. If you feel you are becoming a victim of catfishing online, here’s what you can do.
Stop all communication and secure accounts
Immediately stop conversing with the person. If you haven’t already, enable two-factor authentication on all your online accounts and change your passwords. Check websites like haveibeenpwned to see if your personal email address has been hacked. Depending on the information you have already given over, check your financial statements to ensure that your banking hasn’t been compromised.
Screenshot communication
Once a scammer thinks they’ve been found out, they will erase the profile and any proof of contact. Keep a record of all your communication. Screenshots, audio recordings, transcripts, and whatever you can document can be beneficial in the long run.
Report and block
If you’re communicating on a social media platform, ensure to report the profile to administrators. Block the profile that contacted you. If you have shared your personal email or number, ensure to block their details on those platforms as well.
How to recover from being catfished online
The aftermath of being duped by a catfish profile can have serious repercussions on your mental and emotional well-being. While the circumstances differ between victims, there are some suggestions you can take into consideration:
- Take a break from social media.
- Avoid trying to find another romantic relationship until you’re healed and ready.
- Surround yourself with real connections. Friends, family, or a therapist can help you recover.
- Take up a hobby or something you enjoy to help regain your self-esteem.
Stay vigilant online with Kaspersky
Protect yourself, your data, and your mental wellbeing online. Kaspersky Premium helps to keep your data locked and secure behind a vault. Even in the event of being hacked, your data remains completely safe.
FAQs on Catfishing
Is catfishing illegal?
Catfishing is not a criminal offense, but it can result in crimes such as fraud, identity theft, or harassment. Legal consequences vary by country, as each has its own laws about online deception and the harm it causes. If you believe you are a victim of catfishing, please reach out to local authorities or support services.
What if a scammer is using my images to catfish
If someone is using your image or likeness to catfish another, there are some actions you can take:
- Report catfishing profiles to the platform administrators.
- Inform your personal connections about the breach. Ask them to also report the profile should they come across it online.
- Add a watermark or personal brand to your images to deter future scammers from using your likeness.
- Check privacy settings on your personal accounts to protect yourself. If you need to have a public account, restrict the amount of personal data you post.
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