What is Catfishing?
Catfishing refers to the act of creating a false online identity, typically with malicious intent or for financial gain. The term originated from the 2010 documentary film Catfish, which followed a man who discovered the woman he fell in love with online was not who she claimed to be.
The motivations behind catfishing include loneliness, revenge, boredom, and financial fraud. Catfishers often use stolen or fake photos and biographical details to create elaborate fictional personas on social media and dating sites. According to a 2018 study by Social Catfish, around 15% of online daters are likely to encounter a catfish.
While some catfishing cases involve harmless white lies and exaggerated details, others can have serious consequences. Victims may be manipulated into sending money or personal information that is then used for identity theft or extortion. The emotional toll of discovering an online relationship was fake can also be devastating.
Catfishing Scams for Money
Catfishers make money from their victims in a variety of ways. Some common financial scams include:
Romance scams: The catfisher builds an online relationship with the victim, then fabricates emergencies and hardships to trick the victim into sending money. This accounted for over $140 million in losses in 2019 according to U.S. Catfishing Scam Statistics.
Investment scams: The catfisher poses as a wealthy investor and promises unrealistic returns to get the victim to invest money that is inevitably lost. Catch The Catfish cites an example of a catfisher posing as a crypto investor Financial scam Catfish.
Fake charities: The catfisher requests donations for a fake cause or claims the money is needed for a medical emergency or other fabrication.
Warning signs you may be getting catfished include:
- They avoid video chats or meeting in person.
- They frequently have emergencies that require you to send money.
- Their social media presence seems suspicious or non-existent.
- They make lavish displays of wealth that don’t match other details.
- They promise unrealistic returns on investments.
California Laws on Catfishing
In California, there are several laws that make certain types of catfishing illegal and punishable as crimes:
California Penal Code 5291 makes it a crime to falsely personate someone online or by phone in order to deceive, defraud, or cause harm to that person or others. This includes using someone’s name, likeness, personal identifying information, or other means to impersonate them without consent.
Catfishing for financial gain falls under California Penal Code 528.52, which prohibits obtaining money, labor, property, or data by false pretenses through fraudulent impersonation online. This can be charged as a felony.
Other charges may apply for related criminal acts conducted while catfishing, such as fraud, theft, stalking, extortion, making criminal threats, or exploiting a minor.
Penalties vary based on the charges but may include fines up to $10,000 and jail time ranging from 6 months to 3 years per offense3. Victims can also pursue civil damages.
Avoiding Catfishing Scams
One of the best ways to avoid getting caught in a catfishing scam is to be careful about sharing personal information online. Do not reveal details like your full name, address, phone number, or financial information to strangers you meet on the internet (Malwarebytes). Protect yourself by using nicknames and keeping conversations in the messaging app instead of moving to text or email.
You can also do a reverse image search on any photos a potential romantic interest sends you. This allows you to see if the photos are stolen from somewhere else online, which is a red flag for catfishing. Simply drag the image into the Google Images search bar and scan the results to see if the photo appears elsewhere (PCMag).
Finally, do not get emotionally invested in an online relationship until you have seen the person on live video chat. Insist on verifying their identity by talking face-to-face over Skype, FaceTime or another video call platform. Catfishers will make excuses to avoid video chats because it makes their scam harder to pull off.
Reporting Catfishing in California
If you believe you are the victim of a catfishing scam in California, there are several ways to report the incident and get help:
Contact the dating site or social media platform where the catfish is active. Most major sites like Facebook, Instagram and Match.com have ways to report fake accounts or suspicious activity. Provide any evidence you have like screenshots of messages or profile details.
File a police report with your local law enforcement or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov). Catfishing scams often involve elements of fraud or identity theft which are crimes. The police or FBI can investigate if laws have been broken.
Reach out to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov) to submit a complaint about any financial losses or emotional distress. The IC3 documents internet crimes and shares data with law enforcement.
Consider contacting an attorney about legal options, especially if the catfishing resulted in significant monetary losses. They can advise if you have grounds for a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator.
Seeking counseling or support groups can also help address the emotional trauma caused by catfishing relationships. Organizations like the American Psychological Association have resources.
Catfishing Case Examples
Catfishing scams have victimized many high-profile individuals and everyday people alike, often resulting in financial losses or emotional trauma. Here are some notable real-life cases:
In 2012, college football star Manti Te’o was catfished by a man pretending to be a woman named Lennay Kekua over social media. Te’o believed he was in a relationship with Kekua for years before discovering she never actually existed. This widely publicized hoax was an early high-profile catfishing incident (source).
A Michigan woman named Emma was catfished out of $10,000 in a romance scam in 2021. A man she met on Facebook posed as a soldier stationed overseas and convinced her to send him money repeatedly for various made-up reasons before ghosting her (source).
Yvonne, from Las Vegas, lost $100,000 over 2 years in an intensive catfishing scam. A man claiming to be a Scottish doctor convinced her to send money for various invented emergencies and even pretended to book flights to visit Yvonne, leaving her waiting for him at the airport (source).
These emotionally manipulative scams show how cunning catfishers can convincingly weave fake personas to exploit victims out of large sums of money.
Psychological Impact of Catfishing
Being catfished can have serious psychological consequences for the victim. When someone is tricked into believing a fake identity, it can lead to feelings of betrayal, embarrassment and mistrust that are difficult to overcome (https://bulliesout.com/need-support/catfishing/). Victims often feel foolish for falling for the scam and blame themselves. This can lead to low self-esteem and problems with confidence.
One of the biggest psychological impacts is the difficulty forming relationships after being catfished. A study found that over half of catfishing victims had trouble trusting people again (https://theprivatetherapyclinic.co.uk/blog/the-emotional-impact-of-catfishing/). The deception involved with catfishing causes extreme skepticism and suspicion when trying to start new relationships. Victims have a hard time opening up out of fear they will be tricked again.
Being catfished can also lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression and paranoia according to experts (https://mind.help/news/impact-of-catfishing-online-on-mental-health/). The trauma of being manipulated can cause people to isolate themselves and question reality. Mental health counseling is often required to recover from the emotional scars of being catfished.
Resources for Catfishing Victims
Being a victim of catfishing can be very traumatic and leave lasting emotional scars. Professional counseling and therapy can help provide guidance on processing the experience, dealing with feelings of violation and mistrust, and ultimately moving forward in a healthy way. Psychologists and counselors specializing in relationship issues or trauma counseling can assist in recovering from catfishing.
Some organization like the Dignity Health hospital system offer counseling specifically aimed at emotional abuse victims. Their therapists help restore self-esteem and make sense of manipulative behaviors. Support groups, either in-person or online, allow catfishing victims to share stories and advice. Talking with others who have gone through similar ordeals can provide reassurance and coping strategies.
While the deception can feel crushing, there are ways to move forward stronger than before. Self-care, positive relationships, and even embracing activism and advocacy against catfishing can ultimately transform the experience into personal growth. It takes time, but victims can regain trust with professional help. Being proactive against future manipulation and listening to instincts can also restore a sense of control.
How to Help a Catfishing Victim
If you discover that a loved one or friend is the victim of a catfishing scam, there are steps you can take to provide support:
First, provide emotional support. Catfishing can take an emotional and psychological toll on victims. Listen compassionately and refrain from judgment. Validate their feelings and remind them you are there for them.
Gently encourage them to report the catfisher to authorities. Sites like Facebook, Instagram and dating apps have mechanisms to report fake accounts used for catfishing. You can also report the activities to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Recommend seeking professional help from a counselor or therapist. The trauma of being manipulated can cause anxiety, depression and trust issues. Mental health professionals can provide tools to process the experience in a healthy way.
Provide resources so they can educate themselves about catfishing scams. Learning more about these scams can help the victim feel empowered.
Remind them that they are not alone and this happens to many good people. Overcoming catfishing takes time but support from loved ones can help victims heal.
Preventing Catfishing
With catfishing scams on the rise, it’s important to learn how to protect yourself from potential deception. There are steps you can take to avoid falling victim to catfishers:
First, educate yourself on common catfishing tactics so you know what to watch out for. Catfishers often use fake profiles with photos of attractive people, profess their love very quickly, make excuses for why they can’t meet in person, and ask for money or gifts. Being aware of these red flags can help you spot a potential catfish.
It’s also crucial to verify the identity of anyone you meet online before growing attached or giving out personal information. Do reverse image searches on their photos, look up their name, ask questions about details in their life, and try to video chat before meeting face-to-face. Take the time to carefully authenticate an online persona.
Finally, build trust gradually with new online contacts. Share basic details at first and only open up more over time once they have demonstrated credibility. Listen to your instincts if something feels off. Limit financial transactions. And discuss new online relationships with a friend to get an outside perspective.
Staying vigilant, following these tips, and keeping your guard up can go a long way in helping you steer clear of catfishing scams and protect your security.