catfishing
Fake profile deception
Catfishing is creating a fake online identity to deceive someone, typically in a romantic context.
The catfish uses fabricated photos, backstories, and personas to lure victims into emotional or financial relationships: She discovered the man she'd been messaging for months was catfishing her.
The term comes from a 2010 documentary.
A person who does this is a catfish.
Fabricated online identity
- dating appRomance-seeking mobile software
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
- scammerOne who defrauds others
sockpuppet · impersonation · spoofing · cybercrime · grooming · romance scam · ghosting · reverse image search
Dishonest money-making scheme
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
trickery · bamboozle · dupery · mislead · deceive · manipulation · guile · subterfuge
Gear or takedown
- baitLure for prey
- hookCurved catching device
- trotlineHorizontal fishing line with hooks
- noodlingCasual musical improvisation
flathead · channel cat · mudcat · whiskers · bottom feeder · chicken liver · nightcrawler · sinker
One feigning another's identity
- fakerOne who pretends
- pretenderIllegitimate claimant to power
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- fake photosManipulated or invented imagery
stolen identity · alias · alter ego · decoy · poseur · phony · trickster · confidence man
Disorderly group fight
- scuffleBrief disorderly struggle
- scratchingRaking with nails
- hair-pullingExtremely frustrating experience
- slappingStriking with open palm
wrestling · tussle · altercation · fight · shoving · clawing · grappling · physical
fake profile
Fabricated online identity
- dating appRomance-seeking mobile software
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
scammer · sockpuppet · impersonation · spoofing · cybercrime · grooming · romance scam · ghosting · reverse image search · screenshot
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
swindle · trickery · bamboozle · dupery · mislead · deceive · manipulation · guile · subterfuge · ruse
tackle
Gear or takedown
noodling · flathead · channel cat · mudcat · whiskers · bottom feeder · chicken liver · nightcrawler · sinker
impostor
One feigning another's identity
- fakerOne who pretends
- pretenderIllegitimate claimant to power
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
fake photos · stolen identity · alias · alter ego · decoy · poseur · phony · trickster · confidence man · wolf in sheep's clothing
brawl
Disorderly group fight
- scuffleBrief disorderly struggle
- scratchingRaking with nails
- hair-pullingExtremely frustrating experience
slapping · wrestling · tussle · altercation · fight · shoving · clawing · grappling · physical · confrontation
- cyber threatsmalware, hacking, virus, ransomware, data breach
- outdoor recreationhiking, camping, swimming, skiing, biking
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- Digital Ageapp, blog, emoji, hashtag, meme
- digital culturesocial media, memes, hashtags, viral content, influencers
- digital societysocial networks, internet, digital age, internet culture, digital natives
catfishingauthenticity
Quality of being genuine
transparency · truthfulness · realness · sincerity · self-disclosure
fishing, catfish, angler, catfishes, phishing, catfished, catfisher, catfishers