Online Safety
What Is Catfishing?
Catfishing is when someone uses a fake online identity to deceive you. Here is what the term means, how to spot it, and how to check whether the person you are talking to is real.
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Catfishing Meaning
Catfishing is the act of creating a fake online identity to trick someone into a relationship or a scam. A catfish typically uses photos stolen from a stranger, invents a believable name and backstory, and builds trust over weeks or months while hiding who they really are. It happens most often on dating apps and social media, but it can appear anywhere people connect online.
The motive varies. Some catfish are after money through a romance scam. Others are hiding their real appearance out of insecurity, exploring an identity, seeking attention, or deliberately harassing a specific person. Whatever the reason, the common thread is deception: the person on the other side is not who their profile says they are.
The term comes from the 2010 documentary Catfish and the MTV series it inspired, which followed people discovering that their online partners were not real. It has nothing to do with the fish, and today it is the everyday word for online identity deception.
Signs You Are Being Catfished
No single sign is proof, but several together is a clear warning.
They refuse to video call
A catfish cannot appear on camera as the person in their photos, so they invent endless reasons to avoid a live video call.
Their photos look too perfect
Stolen pictures are usually model-quality and limited in number. Genuine profiles have casual, varied, everyday photos.
They fall for you very fast
Intense affection and talk of a future within days, before you have ever met, is love-bombing designed to lower your guard.
The story keeps shifting
Names, jobs, locations, or details that change between conversations are a strong sign you are talking to a fabricated identity.
They will not meet in person
Plans to meet are always cancelled at the last minute by a sudden crisis, a work trip abroad, or a family emergency.
They ask for money
Almost every catfish eventually asks for money, gift cards, or crypto, often tied to an emergency. This is the clearest warning sign of all.
A reverse image search finds other names
If their photos appear online under a different name, or on stock and model websites, you are almost certainly being catfished.
Is Catfishing Illegal?
Catfishing by itself is usually not a crime in most countries. Pretending to be someone else online is not automatically against the law. What makes catfishing illegal is what the person does with the fake identity.
Many catfishing cases cross into clearly illegal territory: fraud and financial scams, identity theft, extortion or blackmail, impersonating a real person, defamation, or any sexual contact involving a minor. Using a real individual's photos without consent can also breach platform rules and, in some places, civil law. Several regions have introduced or proposed laws aimed specifically at online impersonation.
This is general information and not legal advice. If you have lost money or feel unsafe, contact your local authorities. In the US, you can report fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
How to Check if Someone Is Catfishing You
Three quick checks that confirm whether a person is who they claim to be.
Reverse image search their photos
Check whether their pictures were taken from someone else. Our guide to reverse image search a dating profile walks through it step by step.
Search by face to find the real person
When the exact photo is not reused, the Facial Recognition app can find someone by their face across public profiles, exposing the identity behind the photos.
Insist on a live video call
Ask for a spontaneous video call. A real person can hop on for a minute. A catfish will always have a reason they cannot, which tells you what you need to know.
Think you are being catfished?
Use the Facial Recognition app to search their photo and find out who is really behind the profile.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is catfishing?
Catfishing is when someone creates a fake online identity, usually using stolen photos and invented personal details, to deceive another person into a relationship or to commit a scam. The fake persona is the catfish, and the act of maintaining it is catfishing.
What does catfish mean in dating?
In dating, a catfish is a person who pretends to be someone they are not, typically with photos that belong to a stranger. They build a relationship online while hiding their real identity, often to avoid being recognised, to manipulate, or to ask for money.
Where does the term catfishing come from?
The term was popularised by the 2010 documentary Catfish and the MTV series that followed it, which documented people who discovered that their online partners were not who they claimed to be. The word has since become the common term for online identity deception.
Is catfishing illegal?
Catfishing on its own is usually not a crime in most places. However, it often involves acts that are illegal, such as fraud, financial scams, identity theft, impersonation, extortion, or any contact with a minor. Using a real person's photos can also breach a platform's rules and, in some cases, civil law. This is general information, not legal advice.
How do I know if I am being catfished?
Common signs are a refusal to video call, photos that look too perfect, a relationship that moves very fast, a story that keeps changing, repeated cancellations of in-person meetings, and a request for money. The most reliable check is a reverse image and face search of their photos.
What should I do if I am being catfished?
Stop sending any money immediately, save the evidence, and verify their photos with a reverse image and face search. Block and report the account to the platform. If money was involved, report it to your local authorities and, in the US, to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Related guides: online dating safety, how to tell if a dating profile is fake, and catfish reverse image search.