Have you ever talked to someone online and then discovered that they were lying to you about who they were? Then you may have been a victim of catfishing. This term is used to describe “deceptive” romantic relationships, but it doesn’t mean it’s exclusive to these types of relationships. Catfishing is a type of scam that is widely seen on social media.
What is Catfishing?
Catfishing is the act of deceiving a person online by providing a fake account, identity, photos, and other information about their life. This phenomenon is most commonly seen on social media and dating sites. The person who commits the fraud is called a “catfisher.” Due to the widespread popularity of the term, catfishing has become synonymous with simple acts of “misrepresentation” or deception.
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Why do people practice catfishing?
There are many reasons why someone chooses catfishing. The most common are the following:
- Insecurities: Someone may choose to catfish because they have insecurities. For example, they may consider themselves “ugly” or “not good enough” and feel more comfortable using the photos or identity of another person they consider “attractive enough” or “good enough.”
- Mental illness: Someone suffering from a mental illness may be hesitant to reveal their true self. Additionally, someone suffering from depression may have very low self-esteem and feel like they are not “good enough.” There are many different conditions that can make people feel like the only way to communicate with someone is to pretend to be someone else.
- Identity theft: Someone who wants to hide their identity when using social media may use someone else's photos and/or information. Their goal in this case is usually to extort money from their victim.
- Revenge: Some people use catfishing as a tool to get revenge on former partners or other people. Those who are seeking revenge often create social media accounts, using the victim's photos and information to humiliate or damage their reputation. They may also use fake identities to lure the person into a fake relationship and hurt them emotionally.
- Harassment: Some people create multiple catfishing accounts to maximize the emotional impact when harassing someone online.
- Exploring sexual identity: When someone is confused about their sexuality, they may create fake profiles. This way, they can set their preference on the Internet, using an identity different from their own.
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Signs that you have been a victim of catfishing
- Your online relationship is moving quickly: Most of the time, a catfisher will try to move the relationship forward as quickly as possible. This should be the first “red flag” for you. Real relationships, both online and in person, take time to develop. If someone confesses their love to you without you even meeting in person, you should be concerned.
- You only communicate through texting: This is one of the most obvious “red flags” you can spot. If your only way of communicating is through texting, there’s a problem.
- What they tell you just doesn't add up: Pay attention to what someone tells you about their life and experiences. If their stories are exaggerated or just don't seem logical, they're probably making fun of you.
- Seems too good to be true: All people have flaws. So if someone seems flawless to you, maybe the reality is different than what you imagine.
- Asks for money: If the catfisher asks for money, it's a sign of a scam that you shouldn't ignore. Even if you've already established an emotional or business connection with the person, it's best to decline their request. In general, you should never send money to someone whose identity you can't be sure of.
- "Travels" all the time: When someone tells you that they travel all the time for work, it may be true, but it can also be another suspicious sign. For example, when they tell you that they never have time to talk (let alone video call), it should concern you.
- Has few friends (or has many friends of the opposite sex) and photos on their profile: A catfisher does not upload photos or uploads photos of others. They may also have very few friends and interact with them little or not at all online.
- Avoids meeting in person: A face-to-face meeting is a catfisher’s nightmare, as it will expose their fake identity. A catfisher who lives near you will be easier to spot if they refuse to meet. However, if they live further away, they can easily use this as an excuse over and over again. In this case, if you have any suspicions, you can always suggest a video call. If they avoid it, then you will be sure.
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What to do to avoid becoming a victim of catfishing?
- Be careful: When talking online with someone you don't know, be a little suspicious, especially if you've just started talking to them or don't have proof that they are who they say they are.
- Never give money: Some catfishers target people to extort money from them. You should never give money to anyone who asks you for it online.
- Be careful what you send: Always be careful when sending sexual photos or messages to another person online.
- Talk to someone: If you have doubts about someone you are talking to online, talk to someone you trust. Tell them about your concerns as they can help you spot any “red flags” that you may not have noticed.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions: Don't hesitate to ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable talking to someone. If you're dealing with a catfisher, they may not be able to answer all of your questions. This will make it easier for you to realize that something is wrong.
It should be noted, however, that there are times when catfishing is used for good purposes. For example, law enforcement agencies use catfish accounts to catch criminals or sexual predators red-handed. This is further proof that every coin has two sides.
In addition to catfishing, there are other similar threats lurking on social media and dating sites. Many of you may have heard the terms “dogfishing,” “ghosting,” “zombieing,” and “wokefishing.”
- Dogfishing refers to a person posing in a photo with a dog that is not their own, with the aim of attracting animal lovers to go out with them.
- Ghosting refers to people who are chatting on the Internet normally and then suddenly disappear like… ghosts. They usually block whoever they are talking to and become “smoke.” There is also soft-ghosting, in which someone disappears without being blocked.
- Another phenomenon is zombieing , which is a step beyond ghosting. It involves people who suddenly disappear and then decide to contact them again. The term is inspired by zombies.
- As for the term wokefishing, it was first used by Serena Smith of the American Vice and describes a person who pretends to have more progressive ideas than they actually do. That is, they may lie about their political ideas, their views on climate change, but also about social justice issues that are constantly moving in the public debate and the social media ecosystem.
Many claim that wokefishing can be much more dangerous than catfishing. This is due to the fact that someone is deliberately doing wokefishing with the aim of convincing others that they share the same essential values.
These are just some of the phenomena observed on social media and dating sites. Therefore, you need to be very careful about who you talk to and who you trust.
