You can tell you are being catfished if you notice a lack of pictures or social media presence for the person, elaborate stories, hesitation to meet in person or show their face, or asking for money. Sometimes, it may even come down to your gut and feeling that something is “off.”
In an era where the internet is king, all is not what it seems. At some point, you may have been catfished online without ever knowing it.
Catfishing occurs when someone creates a fake online persona and uses it to interact with other people. Social media has made catfishing easier than ever.
These signs I mentioned are just some of the things that can expose a catfish, but catching one often comes down to just being alert to the situation at hand.
Read on for more details on some of the ways to tell you are being catfished, ways to confront a catfish, and whether or not the police can get involved in your case.
What Is Catfishing On The Internet?
Before breaking down some of the ways to catch a catfish, it is important to first make sure you understand what it means to be catfished on the internet.
A catfish is a person who creates a fake persona and uses it to interact with other people online.
A catfish can use things such as other people’s photos, names, occupations, and generally any fake piece of information they feel will make their online persona more interesting.
Catfishing is done for many reasons, among them to get money from people, to network, and for dating purposes. The most common form of catfishing happens within the dating world.
Dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and many others are a haven for catfishers.
Some of these apps are taking measures to prevent catfishing, but they have not been able to fully rid themselves of the problem.
How Do You Catch A Catfish Online?
Now that you know what a catfish is, it is time to get into some of the ways to catch one online.
A few of the major tells when dealing with a catfish are:
- Suspicious Social Media Presence: Although many people choose to stay off social media, a lack of a presence online can be alarming on the internet. A lack of followers, photos, posts, and suspicious details like location, occupation, and biography can help you catch a catfish before they catch you.
- Elaborate Stories: Many catfishers use their fake persona to make themselves sound as interesting as possible to unsuspecting victims. If something seems too good to be true, chances are it is not true. Some catfishers try to make their stories as normal as possible, but others will tell you all about their unique lifestyle.
- Hesitant to Meet in Person or Show Face: One of the biggest red flags is someone who refuses to meet in person or avoids the opportunity at all costs. Despite the long and intimate conversations you may be having, a catfish never wants to reveal their true identity.
While these things may mean nothing, they are good signs of a potential problem.
It is even more suspicious if multiple of the above scenarios are occurring. If they are, you might want to reevaluate the situation and act accordingly.
They Want Money
Another important thing to keep your eye on if you think you might be getting catfished is whether or not the person is trying to get you to do certain things.
A catfish can say anything they want to make their story as convincing and persuasive as possible.
If you find yourself beginning to trust and care for this person, that’s when they might take advantage of you.
If the person starts asking you for money or personal information, proceed with caution.
For example, a catfish may ask for money to come see you and then make excuses as to why they can’t visit after you’ve given them the money.
Or they just may never speak to you again after they get the money.
Your Gut Feeling
The dangerous part of a catfish is that a person can seemingly pass all of the signs previously discussed and yet still not be who they claim to be.
If you feel like something is off, never hesitate to be cautious and act accordingly. Trust your intuition and make sure you are 100 percent sure of what you are getting yourself into.
These are only a few of the signs that can help you spot a catfish online because every situation is unique, and it may come down to your own gut feeling.
Never doubt your intuition – if you feel suspicious and spot even one of these irregularities with your new online pal, you are better off catching them before they catch you.
How Do You Confront A Catfish Online?
After you have collected your evidence and concluded that you are being catfished, you may decide to confront the person.
Personally, I don’t think this is necessary – I would simply block them and stop communicating with them altogether.
If they have your personal information, such as a credit card number, be sure to close that account immediately – and do it before you confront them.
If you don’t and you are right about them, they’ll drain the account the second you alert them that you know what they’re up to.
If you do decide to confront them, you’ll want to emotionally prepare yourself first.
Then, share your evidence and concerns with the presumed catfish, but do it without getting emotionally invested or you may fall for their denials and claims.
If you believe in your evidence, ask the person to prove you wrong so they can put your mind at ease.
I would advise you to never meet a suspicious person face to face. If you absolutely have to do so for some reason, though, bring someone with you so you aren’t alone and vulnerable.
Listen to your gut and make the right decision for your personal safety.
If You Are Right…
If your suspicions turn out to be true, you should consider following these suggestions:
- Do not hesitate to end ties with this person
- Block them on your phone and social media accounts
- If you have shared personal information with them, alert the authorities of your situation
Always contact the authorities in a situation where you have been scammed out of money so they can help not only you, but other possible victims.
A catfish may be working multiple angles with various aliases at the same time.
Turning them in can help prevent the person from hurting more people.
Can The Police Do Anything About Catfishing?
Although the act of catfishing by using someone else’s pictures and information on social media is not illegal, it can lead down a path towards an actual crime.
Typically, the authorities can’t act on a casual catfishing situation, but there are a few instances in which a catfish can step over legal boundaries:
- Fraud such as asking for goods or money
- Solicitation of minors
- Using someone else’s financial or personal data
- Pictures or recordings without consent
- Personal threats
These are only some of the instances in which the police can do something about a catfishing case.
If your case is a more casual catfish, you should still proceed with caution as it may eventually lead to one of the examples above.
Stay on your toes so you don’t become the next victim!
Conclusion
Catfishing is easier now than it has ever been. Despite dating and social media apps implementing measures to reduce catfishing, you can still never be too sure.
Be cautious when meeting new people online and make sure to look out for red flags during your interactions.
Whether it is the elaborate stories, the suspicious social media presence, the resistance to meeting in person, the requests for money, or just your own intuition telling you that something feels off, you should never hesitate to voice your concerns with friends or family.
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