TECH – A new online fraud scheme called catphishing is emerging, combining deception through false identities with classic phishing techniques and it can potentially wipe out victims’ bank accounts. The term blends catfishing (using fabricated personas, often to manipulate emotions or trust) and phishing (tricking people into giving up personal information or clicking malicious links). The scam is increasingly found not just in romantic scenarios, but also in social and professional settings.
Unlike romance scams that target emotions, catphishing uses both faux identities and data-stealing methods. Scammers may pose as new friends, business contacts, clients, or even recruiters. They often use profile pictures harvested from the internet or generated with AI, making them look realistic. These profiles attempt to establish trust before injecting phishing links or requests for sensitive details. Once enough trust is built, they may ask for banking credentials, one-time passwords (OTPs), or direct money transfers.
Several warning signs help spot catphishing attempts. One is avoidance of live verification: perpetrators often decline invitations for video calls or delay such meetings. A profile photo might appear in multiple places online when doing reverse image searches.
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The language used may have inconsistencies, or the story could be overly dramatic, urgent, or emotionally manipulatory. Scammers sometimes even claim they represent real institutions but use generic email domains like Gmail or Yahoo, instead of official organizational ones.
Preventing catphishing requires vigilance. Requesting video chats helps verify identity. Using tools such as reverse image search to check if profile photos are used elsewhere is useful. Be cautious with emotionally charged narratives, and avoid sharing sensitive wrong information like OTPs. Always double check URLs before clicking, and never supply login credentials through unknown links. Also, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on important accounts adds an extra layer of protection.
This kind of scam does not only threaten personal finances, but also professional reputations and institutional security. When fraudsters pose as business contacts or recruiters, companies can be targeted, potentially losing money and confidential data. Being aware of the signs, cross-verifying identity, and maintaining cybersecurity best practices can help individuals avoid falling victim. The rise of catphishing underlines how digital trust is becoming one of the most critical lines of defense in the modern online environment.
