Table of contents
- What is catfishing: meaning and origin of the term
- The dynamics of catfishing: how deceivers act
- Catfishing victims: who they are and what they risk
- Where catfishing happens: social networks and online platforms
- Techniques and signals to recognize a catfisher
- Catfishing and romantic relationships: the emotional scam
- Famous catfishing cases and true stories
- Psychological aspects: why some people become catfish
- How to defend yourself from catfishing: tools and best practices
Catfishing is one of the most insidious and underrated digital scams of our time . Its strength lies in the false identity artfully created by those who, behind a screen, manage to deceive the trust and feelings of another person.
This article aims to explain what catfishing is, what its dynamics are, who the victims of catfishing are, and how to recognize and defend yourself from these online scams, often related to romantic relationships. We will also delve into the origin of the term catfishing , made popular by a successful documentary, and analyze several cases of catfishing that actually happened.
What is catfishing: meaning and origin of the term
Catfishing is an online scam in which an individual creates a false identity on the Internet – usually through social media – with the intent of deceiving another person.
The term comes from the 2010 documentary Catfish, directed by Nev Schulman, who later spawned a popular television show about the subject. In the documentary, Nev discovers that the woman he had developed a romantic relationship with online was actually someone much older and completely different from what she had claimed.
The metaphor behind the name “catfish” refers to the way some fishermen put catfish in containers with other fish to keep them active: just as the catfish creates movement, the false person “stirs up” the life of those who believe in his identity.
The dynamics of catfishing: how deceivers act
The catfisher (i.e. the person who practices catfishing ) creates a false online identity often complete with stolen photos from other profiles, fake accounts, well-constructed stories and a charming or empathetic attitude. The goal is to establish a relationship of trust with the victim, which can become a romantic relationship, a deep friendship or a professional connection.
Among the most common dynamics:
- declare that you live far away, making it difficult to meet you in person;
- avoid video or phone calls with plausible excuses;
- emotionally involve the victim by talking about trauma, bereavement or financial difficulties;
- get, over time, to ask for money or personal information.
Some people do it for emotional reasons or low self-esteem, wanting to live a parallel life where they feel loved, desired, listened to. Others instead have deliberately fraudulent purposes, aiming at romantic scams.
Catfishing victims: who they are and what they risk
Victims of catfishing can be anyone: men and women of all ages, often looking for human connection, affection or love. Many cases involve lonely, vulnerable or low self-esteem people, but also educated and technologically prepared individuals. Emotionality plays a decisive role: the need for affection can lower defenses and cause obvious signals to be ignored.
The risks are not only emotional, but also economic and legal:
- you can send money to non-existent people;
- compromising personal information may be shared;
- you may be exposed to blackmail or identity theft;
- In some cases, involvement can cause depression, social isolation, and anxiety.
Where catfishing happens: social networks and online platforms
The phenomenon spreads mainly through social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, but also on dating apps such as Tinder, Badoo, Meetic. But catfishing can also occur on forums, online games, Telegram groups and any other platform that allows communication between strangers.
Online platforms facilitate the creation of fake accounts and image manipulation. There is software to generate realistic human faces, tools to spoof geographic locations, deepfake videos, and automated chatbots that can simulate a real conversation.
Techniques and signals to recognize a catfisher
There are several warning signs that can help identify a case of catfishing:
- The person avoids video calls, always finds excuses not to show himself.
- The photos look too perfect or are visibly taken from models or influencers.
- It is not possible to verify your identity with other people or friends.
- Can’t find her on Google, LinkedIn or other social media.
- He asks for money or invokes economic emergencies without real evidence.
- Speak generally, avoiding verifiable personal details.
- He has only a few photos or posts on his social profiles, often without comments from friends.
If in doubt, you can do a reverse image search on Google to check if the photos belong to someone else.
Catfishing and romantic relationships: the emotional scam
The most common form of catfishing is the one that develops in a romantic relationship . It begins with an exchange of affectionate messages, then moves on to intimate stories, promises, projects. The victim falls in love with a person who does not exist, and from there can accept any request, even that of sending money to help in a supposed emergency.
Romance scams are among the most profitable in the world: according to the FBI, in 2024 alone, love scams brought in over $1.3 billion globally. An alarming figure that demonstrates how catfishing is a social problem and not just a digital one.
Famous catfishing cases and true stories
Numerous cases of catfishing have caused a stir around the world:
- In 2013, football player Manti Te’o discovered that his online girlfriend, who died of leukemia, had never existed.
- In Italy, in 2021, a man was scammed out of over 200,000 euros by a “Ukrainian woman” he met on Facebook, who was actually a Nigerian criminal organization.
- Also in Italy, the case of a teacher from Turin who had created a fake profile to seduce and control her ex.
These episodes demonstrate that catfishing can be devastating not only on an emotional level, but also socially and financially.
Psychological aspects: why some people become catfish
Behind a catfisher there can be very different motivations. Some act out of boredom or to escape from a frustrating life. Others do it for revenge or for economic reasons. In many cases, however, behind this practice lies a deep need for affection and acceptance.
Many catfish claim that they do not want to harm, but simply want to live an alternative life, where they can be loved and listened to. However, even if the intentions are not malicious, the consequences for the victims can be serious.
How to defend yourself from catfishing: tools and best practices
To avoid being a victim of catfishing , it is important to take some precautions:
- Don’t blindly trust people you only meet online.
- Verify your identity through multiple channels.
- Avoid sending money or personal information to anyone you don’t know personally.
- Report fake accounts to social networks.
- Use image verification software.
- Talk to friends or experts if you have any doubts.
The postal police in Italy are very active against these online scams and can offer support to victims of catfishing, even if it is not always easy to trace the author of the scam.
In conclusion…
Catfishing is an ever-expanding reality that exploits human vulnerability and the potential of new technologies . Being informed and aware is the first step to defending yourself.
Protecting yourself and others from these romantic scams also means promoting a culture of respect, verification and responsibility online. Social networks must become tools for connection, not weapons of manipulation.
Questions and answers
- What is catfishing?
Catfishing is an online scam in which a person creates a false identity to deceive another, often in a romantic context. - What is the meaning of the term catfishing?
It comes from the documentary “Catfish” with Nev Schulman and indicates the deception of a person through a false identity online. - How can I tell if I’m talking to a catfisher?
Common signs include evasiveness, no video calls, suspicious profile, requests for money or personal details. - Who are the victims of catfishing?
Anyone can be a victim, but they are often lonely, vulnerable, or have low self-esteem . - Is catfishing a crime?
It is not always criminally relevant, but it can be if it involves fraud , extortion , or the distribution of child pornography. - What to do if you are a victim of catfishing?
Block the person, keep the evidence, report to the postal police and ask for legal or psychological support. - Does catfishing only happen on dating sites?
No, it can happen on social networks, messaging apps, online games, and forums. - Why do some people catfish?
Scam, boredom, a desire to escape, or identity problems. Some are just looking for attention, others have criminal motives. - How to protect yourself from catfishing?
Verify your identity, avoid sharing personal information , do not send money, and report fake accounts. - Are there any tools to check if a photo is fake?
Yes, through Google reverse image search or tools like Tineye and Pimeyes.
