When my daughter worked at a local pharmacy, older ladies often came in to purchase gift cards for their online friends. Management taught her to ask questions and, when the information was suspicious, try to convince the customer not to buy the card. Inevitably, though, the buyer adamantly defended their purchase, explaining why their online friend needed the gift card. My daughter knew most of these ladies were being swindled, but she rarely talked them out of spending money on someone they’d never met in person.
These precious ladies were catfished. A catfisher is someone who pretends to be someone they are not. They typically create a fake online profile specifically to deceive others. Their goal is to manipulate or blackmail the victim for a particular purpose.
When we hear the term catfishing, we often think of a lonely older woman targeted by someone for her money. Several of my friends’ grandmothers were scammed out of their life savings by this type of con artist.
Catfishing Teens
Unfortunately, preteens and teens are catfished, too. A Verizon article explains, “Being tech-savvy digital natives doesn’t make Gen Z teens and tweens any less susceptible to being catfished. For kids growing up in the digital age, the online world can feel like a safer and more nurturing space to make friends.”
I often ask students if they’ve been catfished or ever catfished someone. In a classroom of fifteen to twenty students, one or two usually raise their hands. With mischievous smiles, students say they’ve catfished friends as a joke. I ask, “Did they figure it out on their own or did you finally come clean?” I’m surprised how many had to reveal their secret because their friends didn’t catch on.
Which proves this point: It’s not easy to spot a catfisher.
Tactics
While some perpetrators manipulate teens into sending money, many persuade them to send nudes. They pretend to be a friend or to be romantically interested. They prey on vulnerabilities and use emotions to draw the victim into their snare. Then, after establishing a relationship, sweet talk them into what they want.
Fight the New Drug says a new trend is “targeting and recruiting so-called ‘vulnerable girls’ to work for popular webcamming sites. . . .
“Men/women are using fake Instagram accounts to get in contact with young girls. These accounts can be real life-hacked model’s accounts that have a huge following or it can be fake copies that try to manipulate and offer job opportunities.
“The perpetrators can easily scan their targets by assessing someone’s emotional status through their Instagram posts while picking out ‘most-likely’ victims in an easier way than most platforms.”
The “opportunities” are home-based using a webcam and lucrative. The perpetrators use flattery and intrigue to convince their victim to accept a vague but appealing job.
Here are other examples of catfishing tactics from the Verizon article:
- “It can start with a simple friend request in social media, or a private message in a group chat or multiplayer video game.
- “In many cases, the catfisher may gush over your child’s profile, gaming tactics or photos posted on social media.
- “They may share personal information about themselves first to create a false sense of safety.
- “Catfishers may push the conversation to text or more direct, one-to-one messaging platforms.
- “They may pretend to buy lavish gifts and ask for a home address or other personal information to send money or presents.
- “Sometimes, there could be an exchange of inappropriate or personal information between your child and the catfisher that could make it embarrassing for your child to ask for help if the exchange goes too far.”
As noted in previous PATH blog posts, catfishing can lead to exploitation, sextortion, and human trafficking.
Prevention
How do we combat this prevalent scheme? Talk with your teens about catfishing. Ask what they know or if they’ve ever been catfished. Help them look for signs that someone may not be who they say they are. Here are some examples:
- Their profile has few friends, few photos, or other suspicious information.
- They ask to move the conversation to a different platform.
- They ask for personal information.
- They seem too good to be true.
- They say things like, “I care about you,” or “I know what you need.”
- They request a compromising photo.
Additionally, practice safe screen time. Use parental controls and screen time apps. Keep accounts on private settings. Add filters to all devices and your Wi-Fi router. Monitor your child’s activity and what they’re doing on their social media platforms. This is not an invasion of privacy. It’s a way to care, protect, and our children practice safety and boundaries. It’s also an accountability measure.
Above all, keep talking with your teens. Tell them to trust their gut if something seems off, report fake profiles and suspicious activity, and block accounts they don’t trust. Remind them they can come to you if they make a mistake or feel threatened online. If they fall into a catfishing trap, you will be there to help them. And if they are lured into a catfishing scheme, respond with love.
For more information about catfishing, visit these sites:
10 Startling Catfishing Statistics: What You Need to Know
How “Recruiters” Use Social Media to Trick Teens into Cam Model Scams
What is catfishing, and how to protect your kids from fake online identities
If you suspect a catfishing situation, get help at socialcatfish.com.Barb Winters is a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist, author of Sexpectations: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Healthy Relationships, and founder of Hopeful Mom. In March 2025, Barb was named in the list of 20 Inspiring Women Dedicated to Making Life Safer for Kids.
