A modern day catfish / AI generated by Grok
National Catfish Day is celebrated on the 25 th of June after it was established in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, who issued a proclamation recognising the contributions of catfish farming to the American diet and economy.
38 years later, we are putting the spotlight on a different kind of catfish. The catfish that becomes the prey and can harm victims to an alarming extent as a digital threat. Catfishing has evolved into a sophisticated web of deception, exploiting emotional, financial and psychological vulnerabilities. When someone creates a fake online persona, we call it catfishing.
The Many Faces of Catfishing
Catfishing isn’t a one-size-fits-all scam. It comes in several forms, each tailored to manipulate trust and extract something valuable from unsuspected victims, who easily step into the trap:
- Romance Scams: Perhaps the most well-known, these involve fake romantic relationships built over time to gain emotional control and eventually request money or favours.
- Financial Investment Scams: Scammers pose as wealthy entrepreneurs or crypto investors, luring victims into fraudulent schemes with promises of high returns.
- Military or Celebrity Impersonation: Using stolen photos and fabricated stories, scammers pretend to be deployed soldiers or public figures to gain sympathy and trust.
- Revenge or Trolling Catfishing: Some create fake profiles to humiliate, manipulate, or emotionally harm others, often for personal amusement or retaliation.
- Job or Scholarship Scams: Fake recruiters or institutions offer too-good-to-be-true opportunities, only to request sensitive information or upfront fees.
It is important to remember that scammer take their time to get someone hooked in, to establish trust, build the relationship and collect information (most often sensitive or intimate information).
How Scammers Choose Their Victims
Scammers are strategic. They often target individuals who display certain traits or behaviours online. This could be someone who is lonely or emotionally vulnerable, especially someone who is going through a breakup, grief or isolation. Another way they target potential victims is by looking for information on social platforms and using the personal details (birthdays, interests, recent life events) they find on someone’s social profiles, to craft believable stories. Whether it’s love, wealth, or career advancement, scammers exploit what people long for most, and that is the need for connection and/ or success.
Platforms Most Commonly Exploited
While catfishing can happen anywhere, some platforms are more easier to use because of their structure and user base:
- Dating apps (e.g., Tinder, Bumble): These are prime hunting grounds for romance scammers.
- Social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram): Scammers use fake profiles to build trust or impersonate real people.
- Gaming platforms (e.g., Roblox, Discord): Younger users are especially vulnerable here, as scammers may pose as peers or influencers.
- Messaging apps (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram): Once contact is made, scammers often move conversations to private channels to avoid detection.
Who’s Most at Risk?
Catfishing doesn’t discriminate, but certain groups are more frequently targeted:
- Teens and young adults: Especially those active on social media or gaming platforms. Young people are not mature enough to realise that they are stepping into the trap and they are often more open to accepting friend requests from strangers.
- Older adults: Often targeted in romance or tech support scams due to perceived lack of digital literacy.
- People in emotional distress: Those experiencing grief, divorce or financial hardship are more likely to trust a seemingly kind stranger who shows up at the right time and active platform. By using the social clues on social media platforms, they can be specific in their approach when targeting a chosen victim.
Taking Control: Cyber Wellness and Prevention
Protecting yourself starts with awareness and a few practical habits:
- Verify identities: Use reverse image searches or background check tools to confirm someone’s authenticity. With deep fakes and AI technology, it has become even more challenging to determine whether the information is true of fake, so it’s important to go the extra mile to verify that the person you are communicating with is, in fact, who they say they are.
- Be cautious with personal information: Avoid oversharing on public profiles and never send money or sensitive data to someone you haven’t met in person.
- Insist on video calls: Scammers often avoid real-time interaction. A refusal to video chat is a major red flag. However, be careful about your background when you do the video call, because photos of children, pets and your environment could give even more clues for the perpetrator to use.
- Talk to someone you trust: If something feels off, get a second opinion. Outsiders often spot red flags we miss. If you suspect that you are dealing with a catfish and feel in danger, then go to the Police and ensure you break all contact with the scammer.
- Report and block: Don’t hesitate to report suspicious profiles to the platform and cease all contact.
Advanced Preventive Strategies that go beyond the basics:
1. AI-Powered Identity Verification Use platforms that integrate AI tools to detect inconsistencies in user behaviour, language patterns, or profile data. Some dating and social apps now flag suspicious accounts using machine learning.
2. Reverse Image and Metadata Analysis Go beyond a simple reverse image search and use tools that extract metadata from photos (like upload date or GPS location) to verify authenticity.
3. Multi-Channel Verification Cross-check someone’s identity across multiple platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and even professional directories. A real person typically leaves a consistent digital footprint.
4. Behavioural Red Flag Detection Be alert to subtle cues like overly polished stories, reluctance to meet or video chat, or emotional manipulation. These are often signs of a scripted scam.
5. Privacy-First Browsing and Social Settings Use browser extensions that block tracking and fingerprinting. On social media, limit who can see your posts, friend list and personal details.
6. Digital Literacy Education Stay updated on emerging scams and deepfake technology. The more you know, the harder it is for scammers to outsmart you. Listen to Cyber Wellness with Rianette on 919 FM, Mondays from 18:00 to 19:00.
7. Use of Secure Communication Channels Avoid moving conversations to untraceable apps like WhatsApp, too quickly. Stick to platforms with strong moderation and reporting tools until trust is established.
8. Community Reporting and Pattern Recognition If you suspect a scam, report it. Platforms use aggregated reports to identify patterns and shut down networks of fake accounts.
These strategies, when combined with your cyber wellness principles, create a powerful shield, because catfishing thrives in silence and secrecy. By staying informed and vigilant, we can turn the tide on these digital deceptions.