Scammers are implementing advanced techniques to layer their black money that’s why AI is providing advanced techniques to combat their scams. The technique that is used to hinder fraud is catfishing. As the name indicates, catfishing is used for dating apps, websites, social media platforms, and romance scams. The term catfishing was used to keep cod active during their shifting, so this term arrived after the 2010 film Catfish, which is mainly responsible for today’s digital term catfish. In the digital world, catfishing is the fabrication of wrong identities through a cybercriminal to reduce fraud, deception, and exploitation.
What is Catfishing?
Catfishing is when a person uses information and images to make a new ID online, or sometimes, they use the complete identity of another person. This is mostly done on social media platforms and is used to damage the reputation of the real owner. The purpose of this is to exploit other persons through fake identities. However, catfishing is more common in adults as they use online dating platforms to exploit teenagers and fulfill their desires. Sometimes, catfishers ask for money, satisfy themselves through wrong communication, and then harass another person to extreme depth.
Catfishing History
In the digital world, catfishing is a modern type of scam that was not a serious problem until the 2010s. The famous term catfish originated from a 2010 documentary that was first aired on MTV in 2012. This term became even more famous due to its decade of airing and two hundred episodes. Federal Trade Commission and FBI highlight the overwhelming trends of scams. However, the average number of catfishing reports grows by 174% from 2019 to 2022.
A Quick Glimpse of Catfishing Working
The process of catfishing is an act of implementing a fake online identity to scam someone into a fake relationship to fulfill illicit means. Scammers defraud the victims by pretending to be someone else to acquire money and for a temporary relationship. They usually target advanced platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and match-making apps to exploit users.
Catfishers attack these platforms because people want to be socialized. They make a fake identity by using other people’s images, locations, occupations, and fake names. Sometimes, they use advanced apps and tools to alter their voice and appearance, making it complicated for individuals to recognize.
Imposters use different strategies to deceive their victims through direct messages and emails on social media platforms. These strategies include emotional manipulation, flattery, or playing with user emotions. Scammers usually gain trust and establish fake intimacy, gradually requiring money, and personal favors. Sometimes scammers threaten and blackmail person to harras victims or usually report them to authorities.
Famous Examples of Catfishing
scammers manipulate or deceive individuals for multiple goals, such as terrorism and financial gain. Catfishing can massively destroy businesses by gaining all the finances that they need to exit the market. Not only this, but also destroys individuals to the extent that sometimes they commit suicide. For example:
- In 2018, John Edward was imprisoned for 14 years for catfishing different women on dating apps. He pretends to be a CIA agent or a Navy Seal person to impress women, earn their trust, and scam thousands of money.
- A famous football player named Manti Te’o in 2012, was catfished by a man. The man pretends to be a Lennay Kekua and scammed Te’o. their story was filmed on Netflix with the name “The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist”.
- Mohamed Jamal Khweis was sentenced to prison as he was an ISIS agent but pretended to be a lady who was interested in Islam.
These examples show the range of methods and motivations scammers use to deceive victims.
Effects of Catfishing
Scammers don’t just exploit victims but also their families and friends around them. Common effects of catfishing are:
- Reputational Damage
The catfisher blackmails victims through embarrassing or sensitive data that damages individual reputation. Athletes, high-profile persons, and celebrities experience massive reputational damage from being scammed.
- Financial Loss
Imposters usually exploit their victims by asking for money, which makes them lose all their money. Specifically, in businesses, catfishers deceive the CEO or higher management individual to gain their financial earnings. More than 24000 victims in the US lose their money through romance scams.
- Emotional Distress
Catfishing is usually a vulnerable and older method that is prevailing. Scammers cause emotional distress to people, so they feel hurt and betrayed and face depression.
Final Thoughts
Advanced solutions in the digital world help firms combat scams and avoid scammers. For example, identity theft, email scams, and catfishing are restricted due to the arrival of cloud-based technologies. These advancements educate users and train them to avoid unknown links and people in the internet world.
