What is Catfishing?
Catfishing is when a person sets up a false personal profile on a social networking site for fraudulent or deceptive purposes (Merriam-Webster, 2014). Whether for online dating or some other purpose, it’s easy to make yourself seem better than you are online with false statements or information.
Are you or someone you know being Catfished? Have you or someone you know started a new online relationship that seems “too good to be true”?
If you are noticing some red flags or feel that something isn’t “quite right” you may be a victim of a catfishing scam. There are many reasons why people catfish, but you do not have be a victim. At Inner Peace Behavioral Health we can help you figure this relationship out or help prepare you to safely end it.
Through education and coaching with us you will learn to be better informed and self-empowered to take the necessary steps to get the answers you need and the results you desire. Catfishing is not only more common than most people imagine it comes at a huge emotional and often financial cost to those targeted. Its victims and their loved ones suffer tremendously in all aspects of their lives. Catfishing is a serious problem. We can help you in the healing and recovery process. Let’s get started soon so you can get your life back on track.
Some Statistics on Catfishing:
64% of catfishes are women.
24% pretend to be the opposite gender when creating their fake identity.
73% use photos of someone else, rather than real pictures of themselves.
25% claim a phony occupation when presenting themselves online to a business.
54% of people who engage in online dating feel that the information in potential mate’s profiles is false.
28% of people have been harassed or made to feel uncomfortable by catfishes.
53% of Americans admit to falsifying their online profiles.
At least 10% of all online dating profiles are scammers.
51% of people who engage in online dating are already in a relationship.
Women lie more about age than men.
Men lie about finances more often than women.
40% of men lie about position and salary.
83 million Facebook accounts are assumed fake.
