PUAmoreCatfishing
Definition
Pretending to be someone else online, with fake photos or a made-up identity, to start a relationship.
Contents · 4 sections
Catfishing means building an online relationship under a false identity. The “catfish” uses someone else’s photos, a made-up name or invented details, then keeps the conversation going for days, weeks or years. The word was popularised by the 2010 documentary Catfish, which later inspired a TV series.
Motives differ. Some people are lonely or insecure, others want money or attention, and some are running a scam. A catfish is not the same as someone who posts a flattering photo, which is common and fairly harmless. The line is crossed when the person you are talking to simply is not who they say they are. A milder version is sometimes called kittenfishing: photos or details that are exaggerated, not invented.
Signs
- Few photos, or photos that look like a model’s portfolio.
- Always an excuse not to video call or meet: broken camera, bad signal, travel.
- A story that is inconsistent or changes between conversations.
- Very fast declarations of love, followed by a request for money or a gift card.
- Social media accounts that are new, with few friends or posts.
How to check
- Run a reverse image search on the profile photos.
- Ask for a short video call early. A real person usually agrees.
- Compare details: job, city and friends should match what you see elsewhere.
- Never send money, bank details or intimate photos to someone you haven’t met.
Example
You: Want to do a quick video call tonight?
Him: My camera is broken. Can you send me some money so I can fix it?
That combination is a major red flag. Stop the conversation and report the account in the app.
How to react
Stay calm, stop sending anything and block the account. Being catfished is not your fault, and it happens to careful people too. If you lost money, contact your bank and local authorities.
A healthy mindset also helps: if an unusually perfect person comes to you out of nowhere, slow down. For safe meetups see what to talk about on a first date and our Tinder profile tips.
Keep reading
Keep exploring
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