Key Points
-A catfish is someone who pretends to be someone else online to find friends, romantic partners or victims on the internet.
-The term “catfishing” comes from a 2010 documentary in which a man presented his own experience of being tricked online.
-The FBI recommends being careful about what you post online as scammers can use details to target you.
Last week, a Virginia police officer who resorted to catfishing to contact a 15-year-old girl killed the teen’s grandparents and mother.
Now, both the family of the victims and the authorities seek to warn the community about the danger of ‘catfishing’ and urgently need to monitor minors in the use of social networks.
Despite the best efforts of social media sites attempting to make apps safer, catfishing continues.
Why do people catfish? How do you spot a with? How should people protect their children from catfishing?
Here’s what to know about the deceptive activity:
What is catfishing?
Catfishing is a term for a person who pretends to be someone else online. A catfish uses fake photos, and sometimes a false person, to find friends, romantic partners, or victims on the internet.
Catfish can sometimes steal another person’s full identity, including date of birth, photos, and geographical location, and pretend it’s their own, according to the Cyber Management Alliance. They then use the fake identity to trick others into doing business online or further communicating with them.
According to the FBI, criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable. With artists are present on most dating and social media sites.
How did the term start?
The term “catfishing” comes from a 2010 documentary film in which a man named Nev Schulman presented his own experience of being tricked online.
Schulman then created an MTV show, which he and Max Joseph host. The show investigates catfishing cases. It often reveals a catfish’s true identity at the end of an episode.
What are signs of catfishing?
Rob Burghardt, assistant special agent in charge of The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit, said signs of catfishing include when people avoid showing their facse on a video or in pictures, their online accounts don’t have many friends or interactions, or their stories seem to good to be true.
“They usually start with a profile picture, someone who is usually really attractive,” Burghardt told USA TODAY. “That way the victim is like, ‘Oh my God, this attractive person is talking to me.'”
Catfish often make up stories to fit into your life, he said.
“Some people act like another child who is the same age (as the potential victim),” Burghardt said. “With children, it’s part of a grooming process, sometimes by child predators. They figure out where they go to school, where their favorite sports are and make their stories similar. Once they gain trust, he said, that’s when questions like, ‘ En donde Vives?
Why do people catfish?
When it comes to the psychology of a catfisher, Burghardt said, it’s not always known why they participate in the scam.
According to information from Burghardt, someone may choose to catfish for reasons including:
-To explore their sexuality
-To sexually exploit children
-poor self esteem
-To hide their identity
-Depression or anxiety
-Mental health issues
-For financial gain
-Targeted revenge or harassment
How to avoid being catfished
The FBI recommends being careful about what you post and make public online as scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
It also recommends searching the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
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