Is something fishy going on here?

What is catfishing?

Catfishing is when someone creates a fake online identity to trick and control others. They often pretend to be in a real online friendship or romance with you. Their goal might be to scam, blackmail, or harm you in some way. Catfishing can happen on social media, dating apps, and other online platforms.

Warning signs of catfishing

It can be hard to tell if the person you’re chatting with online is real or fake. Here are some things to watch out for:

Question their account

• Do they have many posts?
• Are they tagged by others on social media?
• Do all their photos look amazing, like they’re a professional model traveling the world every week?
• Do they have other social media accounts like Facebook, Discord, or LinkedIn?
• Are they followed by the same people across those accounts?

A good way to check is by doing a reverse image search on Google Images to see if their pictures are linked to another person or name.

Question your conversations

• Do they know a lot about you already?
• Is it too good to be true? Like your favourite celebrity or someone super interested in everything you are?
• Are they “love bombing” you, showering you with compliments, and saying they love everything about you right away?
• Do they want to get sexual very fast or send nudes and pressure you to send nudes back?
• Do they ask for personal information or secrets?
• Have they asked you for money?
• Do they want to move your chat to another app like WhatsApp, Snapchat, or Facebook Messenger to find out more about you, like your location or phone number?
• Do they make excuses not to show their face on a live chat?

Trust yourself

If you feel uneasy or nervous about the situation, always trust your gut.

How to avoid being catfished

• Limit what you share about yourself online.
• Adjust your privacy settings according to the eSafety Guide.
• Learn the warning signs and be cautious of who you talk to online.
• If someone gives you a phone number, Google it. Note: It might be a paid landline, which is a technique used by serial catfishers to avoid detection.

Think you’re being catfished? Here’s what you can do

• Stop the conversation immediately and do not reveal any more information about yourself.
• Check all your social media accounts for suspicious activity or signs that someone else might have access to them.
• Take screenshots, report, and block the fake account.

What to do if you are being blackmailed

• Do not give them any money or sensitive information.
• If you are under 18, report the blackmail to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) at accce.gov.au.
• If you are 18 or older, report the blackmailer to the services or platforms they are contacting you from.
• If they have access to intimate images or videos and the platform is unresponsive, you can report it to eSafety at eSafety.gov.au/report/forms.
• You can also talk to someone at Kids Helpline.