Trusted or trickster? How to spot catfishing when making connections online.

If you’re on social media, play video games, use dating apps or participate in online communities, you probably have friendships or relationships that are entirely virtual. It’s fairly common and an amazing way to broaden your horizons. But it also comes with risks.

Not everyone is who they say they are on online platforms. Catfishing – creating a fake online persona to connect with other people – is a growing phenomenon. What is catfishing, and why do people do it? What are the telltale signs? What do you do if you suspect you’re being catfished? We’ll answer all these questions to help you keep your online connections and friendships fun, safe and rewarding.

What is catfishing?

Catfishing made its way into the mainstream in 2010 with the release of the documentary of the same name. In 2012, the MTV reality series Catfish cemented the online trend as part of pop culture.

According to The Government of Canada Get Cyber Safe initiative, catfishing refers to someone who assumes a fake identity online to build trust with another person. They either use fake photos and make up an elaborate back story or they may imitate a real person.

Cyber criminals often use this tactic (particularly on dating apps, but it’s common across all types of online platforms) to gain trust, so they can try to steal personal information or money. Catfishing is also extremely common in many instances of cyberbullying, where people hide behind a fake persona to insult, intimidate and threaten another person.

Very real impacts

In 2025, Fraud Prevention Month focused on impersonation fraud, one of the fastest growing forms of fraud in Canada. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, in 2024, there were 108,878 fraud reports totalling more than $638 million in losses (up from $578 million in 2023). While this number may seem high, only five to 10 per cent of fraud gets reported. So that number is likely much higher.

It seems like every week, there is a new story or documentary out about catfishing and fraud. In August 2025, City News reported about a Toronto man who lost his entire life’s savings after a months-long relationship with someone he met on a dating app.

David Aning swiped right on “Pierre.” Pierre lived in California, and they spoke daily for several months. Even though Aning took the time to verify that Pierre was a real person, his “relationship” was a set up for a crypto scam. Aning’s losses totalled close to $200,000, and he will likely not be able to recover any of that money.

There are also higher profile cases that have become must-watch TV on Netflix and other platforms. Unknown Number: The High School Catfish chronicles the cyberbullying experience of Lauren Licari and her boyfriend Owen McKenny. They dealt with a 20-month ordeal of an “anonymous” person sending daily messages attacking their relationship, looks, intelligence, clothing and behaviour.

Closer to home, Fanatical details the experiences of Canadian indie musicians Tegan and Sara. For the past 16 years (!), they have been dealing with “Fake Tegan” who has been contacting fans through email and DM pretending to be Tegan. It’s been an endless battle that has shaken the sisters’ sense of safety and trust.

Telltale signs

If you’re connecting with people virtually and forming friendships or relationships, it’s important to make sure the person is who they say they are. They are some simple signs to look for including:

• The person refuses to video chat
• Photos are too polished and perfect
• Their story seems fishy (job, where they live, friends)
• The person is very quick to advance your relationship to besties or boyfriend/girlfriend and insists on keeping things secret
• They ask for money!
• They pressure you for intimate photos and threaten to share them
• There are multiple accounts with similar photos or small differences in details

Staying safe

It’s great to make friends online when gaming or meet someone you like on a dating app. But it’s also important to be aware and know how to protect yourself. These tips can help.

• Never send intimate or private photos to anyone online, especially someone you meet virtually
• Use reverse image search to verify photos (Google Images and Tin Eye are great options)
• Encourage video chats early (if applicable) to see if the person is willing or makes excuses as to why they can’t
• Never share any personal information
• If someone asks for money or encourages you to participate in an investment, stop contact immediately and report to The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local authorities
• If you’ve experienced financial loss, threats or exploitation, keep evidence (screen shots, profile links) and report to your local authorities

Catfishing is definitely one of the drawbacks of opening yourself up to online connections. But it doesn’t have to stop you from building new friendships or finding your special someone. Most people online are genuine and want the same experience you do – connection, learning, fun, creativity and shared interests. You just need to be aware of the signs, trust your gut and practice the digital safety basics, so your virtual connections remain safe and enrich your digital life.