SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Psychology Of Scams: Scam Fetishists or Willing Victims?
Men or Women Who Get Scammed On Purpose?
Are There Men Or Women Who Want To Get Scammed Online??
“CATFISHISM” Appears To Be A Thing Now! Who Knew?
There appears to be a growing number of men involved in “catfishism,” a fetish centered around getting scammed on the internet.
These men or women willingly hand over their money (as much as hundreds of dollars at a time) to fake impersonator scammers who present themselves as beautiful women or men on social media but either say upfront their pictures are fake or the “victims” know it in advance. In reality, they could be anyone—and that’s part of the appeal, so advocates of this say.
Relationship Scam fetishism is a more recent development.
According to Gizmodo Magazine:
I spoke with eight catfish and catfish admirers for this story, almost all of whom declined to provide their real names. (They will be referred to using pseudonyms, and screenshots of catfish accounts have had women’s faces and identifying information removed.) Of them, none recalled hearing of “catfishism” before December of last year. Most only learned of it in recent weeks, but the community, which primarily operates on Twitter, is growing fast.
We are seeing similar behavior in both men and women also. Women to pay scammers for the attention – a kind of denial but one that comes with an awareness that it is a scam.
We are not totally sure about this new phenomenon, but as this story is spread it will have a significantly negative impact on real victims. As awareness of this grows it cannot help but paint all romance scam victims with a negative light and reduce what empathy there is with law enforcement.
One of the problems of this behavior is that it may also be an aspect of denial. In other words, victims who cannot let go of their scams due to their more extreme emotional attachment. So much so, that they will choose to continue the fake relationship. Therefore it is important to try to separate the truth from fiction in these stories to understand what the underlying motivation is. What can appear to be willful continuation may in fact be denial or another form of loss-avoidance. If that is the case these are every bit as many victims as any other and deserving of support.
One last aspect of this that can be a serious problem though is if there are willing participants, then they may place themselves at risk for willfully funding terrorism. A significant percentage of scamming directly supports terrorism in West African, Iran, North Korea, and elsewhere. The jury is out on this.
To learn more about this behavior visit the article here: https://gizmodo.com/catfish-fetishists-the-men-who-get-off-on-getting-scam-1835001978
SCARS NOTE: The use of the term Catfish in this post is as a reference to the source material. We are fully aware of the derogatory nature of the term and would not use it otherwise.
[Updated May 4, 2021]
PLEASE SHARE OUR ARTICLES WITH YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY
HELP OTHERS STAY SAFE ONLINE – YOUR KNOWLEDGE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!
THE NEXT VICTIM MIGHT BE YOUR OWN FAMILY MEMBER OR BEST FRIEND!
By the SCARS™ Editorial Team
Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
A Worldwide Crime Victims Assistance & Crime Prevention Nonprofit Organization Headquartered In Miami Florida USA & Monterrey NL Mexico, with Partners In More Than 60 Countries
To Learn More, Volunteer, or Donate Visit: www.AgainstScams.org
Contact Us: Contact@AgainstScams.org
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Article Rating
Table of Contents
MOST POPULAR COMMENTED ARTICLES
POPULAR ARTICLES
Rapid Report Scammers
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
RATE THIS ARTICLE?
LEAVE A COMMENT?
Recent Comments
On Other Articles
on Common Tactics & Types Of Relationship Scams: “Having this information now is critical for preventing being scammed again and again. Understanding that the landscape is constantly changing,…” Apr 25, 18:39
on Recognizing Fake U.S. Military Identification Cards – Infographic: “It is a crime to copy or photograph a Military ID. Just by them sending it to you means it…” Apr 25, 00:51
on Recognizing Fake U.S. Military Identification Cards – Infographic: “How can u tell if it’s a real military id” Apr 24, 23:54
on Retrospective Framing – A Cognitive Bias That Changes The Past – 2023: “Thank you for this great article. I have experienced a small portion of retrospective framing in the last days of…” Apr 23, 16:18
Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.