Catfishing is the term used to describe a scam in which a person pretends to be another person on the internet, usually pretending to be interested in establishing a romantic relationship; more than 20 million Brazilians have already been victims.
There are many ways that cybercriminals can carry out scams. One of them is through catfishing, a term used to describe a person who pretends to be someone else. This practice is common on dating sites and social networks, and can affect its victims in many ways, both emotionally and financially.
According to a survey carried out by the digital security company PSafe, more than 20 million Brazilians have already been victims of some “love” catfishing scam on the internet.
How does catfishing work?
In catfishing, criminals create fake profiles using the names, photos and bitcoin data personal information invented or “stolen” from other individuals. With this, they try to approach victims to deceive them and, in general, extort them. These profiles can be found anywhere in the virtual world, from social networks to dating apps.
The scammers' strategies
Most of the time, catfishers create an emotional bond with their victims in order to carry out their scams. They attract attention and win over the person on the other side of the screen by promising dates, gifts and a wonderful future. When the victim lets their guard down, the criminals strike. Some of the most common threats include:
False reasons for asking for money
Scammers create fictitious situations that cause empathy, such as an illness or an urgent need. With this, they induce the already won over victim to make transfers and deposits.
Bribery
Scammers can gather personal information and documents from victims and then ask for money in exchange for not making them public. This information can range from addresses and bank accounts to intimate photos and videos.
Malware rain
Catfishers can install certain types of viruses on victims’ devices, such as spyware and ransomware. With spyware, they can monitor the victim’s online activities, including accessing the device’s camera and microphone. In some cases, they can even access the victim’s bank accounts. With ransomware, they can encrypt files and block access to the device, demanding a ransom payment.