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Catfishing

Catfishing is a deceptive and abusive activity where an individual pretends to be someone they're not online. They create a fake identity to target individuals with promises of sex, friendship, a relationship, and money, for example. These identities are sometimes referred to as sock puppets, referring to the manipulation of a simple hand puppet made from a sock.

Catfishing has little to do with fishing, but rather it was Nev Schulman’s 2010 documentary 'Catfish' that brought the practice to light. In the film, a man discovers that the woman he was dating online was actually a married middle-aged woman using a fake profile. At the end of the film, her husband recounts a story: In the old days, when shipping live cod across long distances, fishermen would put catfish in the tank with them to keep the cod active. Without the catfish, the cod would become sluggish and die. He uses this as a metaphor: "There are people in everyone’s lives who keep you on your toes... who keep you guessing, active—like catfish."

There are many reasons people catfish, such as a lack of confidence, loneliness, wanting a relationship with someone they perceive is 'out of their league'. For others, the goal is simply to scam money, troll or harass their victims. The Internet provides an environment in which catfishing can flourish, providing perpetrators anonymity and shielding them from obligation or responsibility.

There are also instances where the person catfishing is confused or curious about their sexuality. They create false profiles so they can explore their curiosity without having to reveal their true identity.

Warning signs

You search online for their name but they don't seem to exist
Photos you find don't match the photos on their profile, or are of somebody else
Their photos seem too professional or AI generated
They ask for money, eg: to visit you
They declare their feelings or love even though you've only known them for a short time
They're reluctant or refuse to meet, video chat, or call
They make plausible excuses not to meet or cancel at the last minute
They come across as a little too 'Mr Perfect'
Information or stories the give conflict or don't quite add up
They don’t have any or many social media followers or friends
Something is off or just doesn't feel right

Embarrassment, regret and betrayal

It can be especially difficult when a victim has invested emotionally in a friendship, or a relationship, believing in and falling for a non-existent person. There are feelings of embarrassment, regret, and betrayal, which can feel worse if money or explicit images are involved.

Victims can become paranoid they might be exposed through revenge porn, for example. There are also additional considerations if the victim is still in the closet, fearful of being outed.

Being a victim can affect your mental health, resulting in anxiety and depression. After the experience, victims can find it difficult to trust other people which can affect friendships and relationships, both personal and professional.

Catfish Guide | The Cyber Helpline
7 Signs of a Catfish | The Cyber Helpline
How to spot a catfish | Age Concern
The Cyber Chatbot Helpline

0300 123 2040 | Action Fraud Helpline

Mental health helplines | MEN R US
Mental health matters | MEN R US

Catfishing | Wikipedia
Sockpuppet | Wikipedia

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