Catfishing: how to recognize and avoid fake profile scams
There are loads of ways for cybercriminals to scam people. One of them is catfishing, a term used to describe when someone pretends to be someone else. Catfishing is common on dating sites and social networks and there are several ways victims are targeted, either emotionally or financially.
According to a survey by online security firm PSafe, people all over the world have fallen victim to catfishing, including over 20 million Brazilians.
How Catfishing works
In catfishing scams, criminals create fake profiles using false names, photos and personal information or “stolen” from someone else. Next, they attempt to form a relationship with the victim to trick and extort them. These profiles can be found everywhere online, from social networks to dating apps.
Scammer Strategies
Most often, catfishers first create an emotional bond with their victims so they can scam them. They attract attention to themselves and win over the affections of the person on the other side of the screen, promising to meet up soon, with gifts and a marvelous future on the horizon. Once a victim lets down their guard, the criminal strikes. Some of the most common threats include:
Fake reasons to ask for money
Scammers create fake situations that generate empathy, such as an illness or some emergency. They can then manipulate the recently snared victim into transferring or depositing money.
Extortion
Fraudsters can gather personal information and documents belonging to their victims and then demand money in exchange for not exposing the data, which can range from home addresses and bank accounts to intimate photographs and videos.
A shower of malware
Catfishers can install certain types of viruses on their victims’ devices, like spyware and ransomware. With spyware, they can monitor a victim’s online activities and are able to access the device’s camera and microphone. In some cases, they are even able to access a target’s bank account. Using ransomware, criminals encrypt files and block access to the device, demanding payment as a ransom.
The financial and psychological risks of catfishing
Catfishing scams can cause major financial and psychological harm to their victims.
Material damages can range from small payments, settled almost as one would a loan, to the theft of vast sums of money by gaining access to bank information.
Psychological harm results from the emotional bond created between the swindler and the victim, who feels betrayed by someone whom they trusted.
How to recognize catfishing scams
There is a series of signs that can help you spot a catfishing scam:
Refusal to join video calls and in-person meetings
If you’re chatting with someone who constantly makes up an excuse for not showing their face and, sometimes, even their voice, take extra care. Someone using a fake account won’t usually accept video calls or in-person meetings to avoid revealing their real identity.
The main subject is... money
Many catfishers will eventually bring up the subject of money. Regardless of the story, never provide bank information or transfer sums of money to these people. If you receive an aggressive reply, that only makes it clearer that it really is a scam.
Avoidance of questions
Very often, catfishers contradict themselves in their ploys. When confronted with their inconsistencies, they stop responding or try to change the subject.
Insistence to use a specific program
Many catfishers install malware to spy on their victims and any suspicious software may serve the purpose. This is why they insist on video calls via software that allows this.
How to avoid catfishing scams
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When you meet someone online, check if they have profiles on social networks. This already provides grounds to check whether you’re speaking with someone using their real identity or not.
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Use image searches to check if these photos are on other platforms and whether they belong to the person you’re chatting with.
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Always ask to chat via a call, preferably through video calls. If the person refuses continuously, be careful. Catfishers will do their best to avoid these types of situations, since they want to hide their lies.
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Never make transfers or provide bank details, regardless of how moving the story is.
