What is catfishing online: Meaning, Signs & How to avoid it

In the current digital age, getting to know people online through dating apps, gaming communities, and on social media is commonplace. However, this interconnected world also opens the door for a deceptive business, known as catfishing, that can leave victims emotionally devastated, with financial loss, and long-lasting trust issues. Have you questioned someone’s online identity or searched for the meaning of catfishing? Catfishing scammers usually trick people into romantic or trusting relationships. Thus, this guide builds on what typical catfishing is, warning signs, and how to keep yourself and your family safe from such scams.

What is the meaning of catfishing?

Catfishing refers to the creation of a fictitious online persona to deceive someone into an online relationship or connection to commit financial scams, emotional manipulation, sextortion, or identity theft.

Rather than revealing their genuine selves, catfishers present fabricated personal narratives and fake stories to portray a more attractive version of themselves. The process often involves building emotional trust over time through messaging, video calls, or even meeting in person, and then isolating victims from friends.

The fraud used by catfishers is vicious and deliberate. They may pretend to be successful in their profession, attractive, or caring to appeal to their target. This fabricated identity is like a mask that protects the catfisher from accountability.

Why is it called catfishing?

The negative definition of catfishing has spread widely due to the well-recognized 2010 American documentary film Catfish. This film featured executive producer Nev Schulman, who himself was a victim of being catfished. And the term gained further mainstream attention in 2013 after college football star Manti Te’o was publicly revealed as a catfishing victim.

In the documentary, Schulman had struck up an online friendship with a woman who posed as someone in her 20s. This woman was living in the middle of America, but then turned out to be a 40-year-old housewife. Her behavior is explained by invoking the catfish analogy.

According to an old practice, catfish are put into tanks with cod fish during shipping to keep them stimulated and active. Also, it keeps them from becoming pale and lethargic.

This metaphor resonated with audiences because it accurately captures the deceptive meaning of catfishing. The catfisher, like the fish in the story, keeps the victim stimulated and engaged through false promises and deception.

Why do people catfish someone?

Now you already get the meaning, let’s explore why people do catfishing for different psychological and practical reasons:

• Insecurity and low self-esteem: Many catfishers feel inadequate about their appearance or circumstances. Thus, they propose a virtual ideal version of themselves to feel admired. According to research, creators who have low self-esteem are more likely to rely on fake profiles. This is usually in search of validation and acceptance.
• Romantic deception: Some catfishers act out of loneliness or a desire for connection, while others seek emotional control and manipulation.
• Financial gain: Scammers create believable personas with the specific purpose of building trust. And then asking for money for falsified emergencies. In this way, romance scams have become more sophisticated and expensive.
• Psychological manipulation: Studies reveal that some catfishers have traits of psychopathy, sadism, narcissism and machiavellianism, getting pleasure from hurting others.
• Cyberbullying: Some of the catfishers set up false profiles with the intent to harass, embarrass, or ruin someone’s profile through online deception.

Is catfishing illegal?

Catfishing itself is not always illegal, but it can become illegal depending on the actions involved. It is a serious crime when it is practiced through identity theft, fraud, cyberstalking and harassment, online impersonation, and sexual exploitation of minors.

Dangers of being catfished

The consequences of being catfished extend far beyond disappointment or embarrassment. Victims often experience profound and lasting psychological, emotional, and financial trauma. They often experience:

• Emotional and psychological impact: Teenagers and young adults face higher risks due to limited life experience in recognizing emotional manipulation. Being catfished can cause betrayal trauma, often leading to anxiety, depression, and PTSD-like symptoms. Victims also struggle to form future relationships.
• Financial exploitation: Victims might lose hundreds of thousands of dollars to scammers. In some cases, victims over the age of seventy have lost over $30,000 in a single scam.
• Sexual exploitation and sextortion: Victims of catfishing are frequently coerced into sharing intimate photos or videos consistently. Catfishers use this material to blackmail victims, threatening to release the images publicly. Victims who have been subjected to long-term coercion and exploitation may still suffer from the pressure and fear of reputational damage even after they escape.

Signs: How to spot online catfishing scams?

Recognizing the meaning and warning signs of catfishing is your first defense against being deceived. While catfishers are getting more sophisticated, there are some patterns and behaviors that invariably indicate their true intentions. Here are some signs to watch out for.

Profile and photo red flags:

• Unrealistic or overly perfect photos: Overly perfect images, such as professional-looking model photos or highly sexualized content, can be a warning sign. Catfishers often steal images from modeling websites, influencers, or public figures.
• Limited or a weak digital footprint: Profiles with only one photo, consistently blurry images, or a refusal to share additional pictures may indicate someone hiding their true identity. Similarly, newly created social media accounts with few posts, followers, or interactions often lack a digital history, making it hard to know the authenticity.

Behavioral and communication red flags:

• Rapid emotional escalation and love bombing: If someone shows intense affection, declares love, or moves the relationship forward rapidly after only a brief period of contact, this is a huge warning sign. Genuine connections are not complete in the first few hours of conversation.
• Avoidance of sudden chats, verification paired with elaborate excuses: Catfishers frequently avoid sudden video calls or in-person meetings and provide detailed explanations for why they cannot meet. Common excuses include broken cameras, work conflicts, or sudden personal emergencies. Repeated avoidance of real-time interaction is a major red flag.
• Requesting money: Once someone starts seeking financial assistance from you for various reasons, it is one of the clearest indicators of catfishing. These requests are often justified by stories involving medical emergencies, travel costs, business opportunities, or debt.
• Poor grammar and language skills: If someone says they are from an English-speaking country but keeps making grammatical mistakes, spelling errors, and awkward wordings, they may be from another country or have low English proficiency.
• Elaborate backstories and emotional manipulation: Catfishers frequently tell intensely personal trauma stories at the early stages of interactions in order to bond with people emotionally as quickly as possible. They may have elaborate reasons for not meeting or for needing money. These detailed stories are carefully crafted to manipulate the victim emotionally.

Who is most vulnerable to being catfished?

Understanding which populations are at highest risk for catfishing can help individuals recognize their own vulnerabilities. From there, they can take extra precautions online. Statistics about catfishing show approximately 66% of online users have reported encountering or suspecting someone was catfishing them.

Teens and young adults:

This age group has a strong online presence and a strong need for social connection. And this intensive use is often tied to feelings of loneliness or being bullied, creating complex scenarios for manipulation and misinformation. Only 18 percent of children know when they’re speaking to an adult on the Internet, reminding parents to pay special attention to the safety of their teenagers’ online interactions.

People seeking online dating:

Catfishing, meaning in dating, is the same as what I’ve listed above. It involves adults seeking relationships via dating apps as common targets. Catfishers take advantage of the vulnerability that comes with the need to meet someone.

People experiencing loneliness or isolation:

Socially isolated people are especially vulnerable. As a result, they may overlook clear red flags in exchange for an emotional connection.

Older adults:

Women over 50 are among the biggest targets, who have a greater capacity to trust online strangers without experience, and are thus easier targets for manipulation. And, statistically, they suffer larger financial losses from romance scams.

Parents’ safeguards: Keeping children safe online

Protecting children from catfishing requires a comprehensive, ongoing approach that combines education, open communication, monitoring, and clear boundaries. The earlier these conversations begin, the better.

• Start early, open conversations and education: Begin conversations about their online interactions and safety, and continue having evolving conversations as kids get older. Let them know they can come to you if something feels strange or uncomfortable, without fear of punishment. Regular conversations about online experiences help normalize reporting concerns early.
• Establish clear boundaries: Set rules for online interactions, such as what information they cannot share with online strangers, whom they can communicate with, and which platforms or apps are allowed. And regularly monitor screen time, app downloads, and viewing histories to establish healthy norms. For younger children, these boundaries should be stricter. For teens, involve them in setting guidelines to encourage responsibility rather than rebellion.
• Teach critical thinking: Teach children to question online personas and what they see online. Explain catfishing in age-appropriate language. Help children understand why certain behaviors are dangerous, helping them make informed choices.
• Using privacy settings and parental controls: Adjust privacy settings on social media, gaming platforms, and devices to limit who can contact your child. For enhanced protection, FlashGet Kids parental control app can help monitor your child’s activity, limit screen time, restrict their access to certain apps/sites, and alert suspicious signs in time, but it should not replace trust and education.
• Watch for behavioral changes: Be alert to signs that a child may be involved in a risky online interaction, such as sudden secrecy about online activities, emotional distress, or requests for money. If you notice changes, approach the conversation calmly and supportively. It’s a matter of informed awareness and not surveillance that creates distrust.

Takeaways

Catfishing represents a serious digital threat; however, awareness and proactiveness go a long way to reducing vulnerability. By understanding the catfishing meaning, recognizing the warning signs, and staying informed, you can significantly reduce the risk of being manipulated or scammed. Trust in online relationships should be gradual and come into being through real-world interaction whenever possible.

For parents, it is important to establish open communication, set clear boundaries, and be digitally literate. Being catfished is not an individual failure. Instead, catfishers take advantage of human vulnerability and internet anonymity. If catfished, block the person, report to platforms, collect evidence, etc. Also, Contact authorities in case of fraud. With enough help and time, victims can heal and rebuild trust.