Catfishing — Catfishing means creating or using a deceptive online identity to mislead another person about who is communicating with them. The deception includes false photographs, background information, or relationships. Catfishing supports many scams, but the term alone does not establish that financial theft occurred. – Identity Deception

Added October 7, 2026

Catfishing — Catfishing is the use of a fabricated or misleading online identity to deceive another person. The deception can involve stolen photographs, invented personal histories, and false claims about relationships or circumstances. Criminals and other deceptive individuals use these identities to obtain money, information, emotional involvement, or influence.

Added November 6, 2026