{"id":14748,"date":"2017-08-11T15:23:54","date_gmt":"2017-08-11T23:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=14748"},"modified":"2022-09-05T11:32:30","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T19:32:30","slug":"why-do-people-catfish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/why-do-people-catfish\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do People Catfish? Catfishers’ Motives and How to Protect Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve been a part of the internet dating scene at all in recent years you\u2019ve probably come across a \u201ccatfish\u201d at some point, whether you were aware of it at the time or not. <\/span><\/p>\n

Those who are new to the digital dating game may be wondering what catfishing means. A catfish is someone who uses stolen pictures and info to create an attractive online persona that does not represent their true identity. They use this fictitious profile to engage in one-on-one interactions with others online in hopes of gaining their trust.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the popularity of online dating continues to grow, so too has the number of sophisticated catfish scammers. Celebrities like Iggy Azalea and Kate Gosselin have fallen for their deception, which just goes to show that anyone <\/span>can <\/span>be a victim.<\/span><\/p>\n

Creating a convincing fake new <\/span>online <\/span>identity and nurture online \u201crelationships\u201d takes a great deal of time and effort \u2014 so <\/span>why do people catfish<\/span>, <\/span>how <\/span>do they do it, and how do we <\/span>stop <\/span>it?<\/span><\/p>\n

Why People Catfish:<\/span> Not Just for Financial Gain<\/span><\/h2>\n

Wh<\/span>y would anybody want to catfish a person they meet online<\/span>? The reality is that not all of them engage in deception for the same reason. While the majority of catfish are in it for pure financial gain, others do it for more personal reasons – usually as a coping mechanism to deal with unhappiness in their own lives. Here are some of the more common reasons <\/span>why people catfish<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Catfishing as Revenge<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are many reasons <\/span>why <\/span>people decide to catfish <\/span>others<\/span>. One particularly upsetting reason appears to be revenge. Spurned lovers, those suffering unrequited love, ex-friends or frenemies, and even neighbors with too much time on their hands have been reported as catfish. Faking an online identity is practiced all over the <\/span>Internet <\/span>including social media, any <\/span>dating site<\/span>, and online marketplaces like Craigslist and LetGo. <\/span><\/p>\n

When <\/span>exacting revenge, a cruel <\/span>catfisher <\/span>can use the <\/span>information <\/span>they already <\/span>know <\/span>about their victim and parlay this into playing on their affections. The victim may be surprised that an online stranger can have the same taste in music, quote all their favorite movies, and deftly carry on fascinating conversations. This can bolster a sense that the relationship (whatever form it may take) is important or \u201cmeant to be,\u201d making it all the more painful for them to realize it was all a carefully-constructed facade. <\/span><\/p>\n

Catfishing as an Alternate Reality<\/span><\/h3>\n

The act of catfishing allows <\/span>someone <\/span>to digitally live the life of their dreams, and garner the attention that comes with it. It\u2019s as if they become the protagonist in their own beautiful narrative where they can then play any role they choose. As such, catfish often paint themselves into compelling <\/span>stories <\/span>ranging from quiet success to enviable glamour, to heart-wrenching tragedy. All options engender the catfish to their audience. The romanticized stories of their lives can attract victims longing to be a part of a fascinating, if the mysterious, <\/span>story <\/span>of their own. <\/span><\/p>\n

Catfishing as Passive Aggressive Desire<\/span><\/h3>\n

A catfish may go about courtship in a rather cowardly way and decide to pursue it online behind the guise of another identity first. This can either happen because the catfish is too shy to directly pursue their object of interest in the first place, or because they\u2019ve found themselves in an unrequited love affair. Catfish can believe that if someone has expressed a lack of interest in dating, that if that person <\/span>really knew them, <\/span><\/i>that opinion would change. So they embark on the involved process of becoming the person they feel would win their victim\u2019s affections behind the safety of a smoke screen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs of Catfishing<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now that you know why people catfish and what catfishing is, how do you detect it? Here are some of the red flags to be aware of when it comes to catfishing<\/span>. Never be afraid to protect yourself! Here is how to <\/span>tell <\/span>that someone might be catfishing you: <\/span><\/p>\n