What Is Catfishing? How to Spot and Avoid It

Catfishing means creating a fake online identity to trick someone into a relationship, usually for money or attention, sometimes to gather personal information.

Catfishing itself isn’t always a crime, but the acts that often go with it (fraud, extortion, identity theft, using stolen photos) can be illegal. Laws vary by state, and this isn’t legal advice.

The top red flags are refusing video or in-person meetings and asking for money. Watch for stories that don’t add up.

Yes. Social media and dating apps are the most common places catfishing starts because fake profiles are easy to create.