Quiz: Don't Get Hooked by Catfishers

Catfishing involves using fraudulent information and images to create false identities, usually to deceive people on dating apps, social media or messaging platforms. This often includes stealing real photos, using AI-generated images or pretending to be someone you once knew.

Catfishers may copy and alter photos from publicly available sources like social media and Google Images to create believable fake profiles. They use these images to fabricate attractive or emotionally compelling personas.

Catfishers often claim their money is tied up in investments and request a loan from the victim. They may even pretend to be celebrities needing short-term financial help — a classic red flag.

In Norton’s February 2025 survey, 40 percent of people using dating apps reported being targeted by dating scams — a 10 percent increase from 2024. This highlights the growing prevalence of these scams.