Catfishing is when someone creates a fake social media profile in order to reel in an unsuspecting victim.  Often victims think they are talking to a friend or a cute love interest, when in reality the person at the other end of the screen is an imposter.  Catfishing is sometimes used along with cyberbullying in order to embarrass a target victim, or to gain information from them that can be used to blackmail them later. 

 

One of the worst combinations of Internet dangers is catfishing mixed with sexting, because you are not even sending messages to the person you think you are! 

 

Catfishers often use recently created profiles and avoid meeting in person.  They give vague details about their lives and often come up with excuses, especially family emergencies, in order to avoid a face-to-face meeting.  Don’t be the victim of catfishing schemes! 

 

If you think you’ve made a friend online, don’t give out personal or potentially embarrassing information or photographs.  Remember, if they persistently keep putting off a meeting, you are probably being catfished.  And in the event that the person wants to meet you, they could be an Internet predator.  If you wish to meet your friend safely, perhaps you can talk to your parents and meet this person in a public setting where you are safe and can’t get into trouble.