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19 5

Give me your best example of catfishing please

I hear that term a lot and really don't understand what it means.
Perhaps an example or two will help.
Is this something that happens to men only?
I am not really someone who gets terminology in the online world. I still have to Google all those terms once in a while.
But for now I am asking our community.

Akfishlady 8 Apr 30
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19 comments

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2

Tune into MTV on a Tuesday or Wednesday (I think). There is a whole reality series dedicated this phenomenon. If you can stomach the online lovelives of twenty-somethings, it's pretty entertaining. That's "Catfish", the TV series.

"Catfish: the movie" is the film that started it all, documenting the catfish experience of one hunky young filmmaker, Nev Schulman. Nev was catfished by a married, late-30s midwest homemaker type posing as a 19-year old model.

I have an eensy weensy crush on Nev. His partner Max is a total babe silver fox. drools. Uh, check it out.

This is what I learned from "Catfish: the series":

  • If they won't video chat, they're not the person in the pictures
  • If they won't talk on the phone, they're not the gender they say they are
  • Reverse image search is your friend
  • If a profile doesn't have pictures with other people in them (e.g. family, friends), it's probably a fake
  • People make fake profiles for all kinds of weird reasons
4

There was a famous case of a Notre Dame football player who was catfished brutally.

Search for Manti Te'o.

JimG Level 8 Apr 30, 2018

catfished so bad he fell in the draft several pics -- dang fine player, but ... man was he played! Really had stones to go public and suffer the humiliation -- Gotta give him credit.

@pops410 Yeah, this is the worst example I know about.

2

Talked to a man from an online dating site who sent me the good looking brother pictures. I talked to him for 3wks then agreed to meet him. He ended up being the ugly brother. Haven't spoken to him since.

@pepperjones I'm guessing he thought I wouldn't say anything and He might get some action. But after I drank some vodka and cranberry juice and he still didn't look any better...I took off and blocked his number on my phone...lol

4

Basically when a person tries to pass themselves off as someone they're not. It could be gender, race, health status and so on. After some time they capture the attention of a victim but usually meeting them or even talking on the phone never seems to be a possibility. Sometimes this can go on for years. I'm not sure why people do it considering the emotional bond that's been developed will almost always be shattered as a result.

2

I think I am out of touch--I was about to go into a whole story about how we used to go trout fishing and throw the catfish up on the bank to kill them--geez I feel old

don't feel bad, when the Manti teo thing showed up -- was discussing it at the local grocery store -- both of us had to look up the definition !! -- yeah, things change w/ time don't they?

Its all fair game. If we know or don't know whatever then who cares??? Don't let that stop you. We all are just having fun here. Its all good !!!

Now we're talkin'.....batter & bread, fry them pups up.
?

2

Here you go, dear! The skinny on catfishing from the Urban Dictionary [urbandictionary.com]

2

bummer I thought I would see something like this...

@Akfishlady I wish to point out that the title of your post was catphising. The video is catfish noodling. (Tehe)

3

Don't think theres many noodlers here hon 🙂

Haha my brother-in-law and I noodled at a family gathering. Let's just say that the event has become a family ledgend lol

2

I've read all comments available at the time of this posting. It really got me thinking..... My identity here is clearly bogus, in other words, I am NOT trying to pretend to be someone else, I genuinely want to be NOBODY, that's very much intended that way and that's not like the best kept secret ever. So, am I still classified as catfish material????????.... Dang it, that was unexpected !!!! The ironic side of the story is that if I have had a real photo with a real name then it would have looked even more as a fake ID than this clearly bogus one !!! It seems as if Descartes run the internet !!!!!.... Very very interesting indeed. I still believe its a good deal, I rather have people talking to me for what I think, not because of what I look like.

@Akfishlady neither one of them, I am Nobody ?

@IamNobody -- That's a lofty goal. So far the only one I know who made it work and got paid handsomely for it was Terrence Hill.

@Akfishlady anyhow, I guess never thought about it and now got trapped in this loop where I can't stop dwelling on it. If someone falls for a fake identity then who's fault is that? Is it the scammer or the one who wants to be scammed? There are plenty of examples on Facebook where the super hot girl will talk to any one and its the peasant at the time the one who chose to believe in the fantasy and both play along. I don't see any harm up to that point. Now if the hot girl ask for money because she is going through a horrible and unspeakable situation and I wire the money then that's on me !!!!... Anyhow, can't believe people may fall for that...... By the way, while we are at it, if another nobody ask for money then do not (I repeat) do not give it, because it won't be me !!!.... Ok, I may have dragged this argument too long, is probably getting old...sorry, as someone else said recently very clover gotta admit... I'll show my way out. Peace & cheers

@evidentialist Terence Hill, cool dude indeed. Not sure I can say that I know what's the relationship with catfish, unless we are talking about different person. To me Terence Hill is the Italian dude (Trinity) that was funny as hell along with Bud Spencer

If you really expect to date women from here, you'll have to post a photo, and enough details that they can google your information for verification. No woman who wants to survive for long would agree to meet some faceless man who could be a serial killer for all they know, seriously handicapped, or a different gender than stated.

@hankster I don't think I can say that I do....

@IamNobody -- The reference was to you wanting to be nobody. Perhaps this will show you the connection to Terrence Hill, you, and my comment.

@birdingnut no need for any of that... I do get my time's worth by talking to anyone who's kind and willing to talk back. I am sure no one can say that I have tried to kill him, other than maybe killing him of laughter. That I may be guilty of. Cheers and thanks for your comment, all are welcome.

@evidentialist ahhhhh cool, that's Terence. He was the real deal when I was a kid growing up somewhere else where foreign films were not as common so I didn't get to be exposed to all. Remember, no internet back in the day. Well, I learned something new today !!!! Thanks, that's very nice of you !!!!!

@IamNobody Wow. I would never even consider a man who hid his identity. Anyone who hides could be up to no good, and that possibility must be assumed by the wise.

And to think that all this time I thought you were one of the Faceless Men from Davos on GoT,

@birdingnut ..... With all do respect, you don't have to talk to me. I am not good at holding grudges, so no hard feelings. Even if you feel like you need to block me then please by all means. Cheers

@Surfpirate ... Gee dude, sorry about the confusion ????

@hankster -- I know of it but haven't seen it. I like Depp in general. You recommending Dead Man?

@hankster -- I'll keep an eye out for an opportunity. Thanks.

@hankster -- There were several. A couple as the same character. A few others as a different character. All were hilarious.

Got me a copy of Dead Man. I'll be watching it tomorrow.

3

Just think, Nigerian princes who need your help. 😉

4

This is the very first time I've heard of this! I was about to offer advice like, "Be sure the catch isn't too large, it ruins the flavor. Dredge lightly in flour, saute in butter with a dash of lemon....."

6

Someone who uses fake photos or portrays a fake self to make themselves more attractive. A liar basically.

I think they're quite pathetic, because ultimately they're not just wasting everyone else's time, they're wasting their own time too.

5

I’m bisexual, but the scammers/catfish I’ve dealt with we’re all men, or said they were. It’s easy to spot them, because their stories and behavior is startlingly alike. Use Google reverse image scan to check photos. Most—all—use fake photos. Some are obviously not even all the same person!

7

Catfishing is a highly specialized sport. It requires considerable research because you first need to know where and when cats go swimming before you can go fishing.

8

The best example I have is this. Someone contacted me out of the blue on Facebook messenger one day. Below is the photo. I thought it was odd that a very attractive woman would be contacting me out of the blue looking to date a man. I was skeptical and did a Google Image Reverse search and found out that the photos this person were using was of a porn star named, Aria Giovanni. I quickly used the block feature and this person was gone. People use these fake accounts to scam people out of money. They are scum!

Thanks for actually answering the question!

4

So am I -is scamming the same as catfishing?

I use the terms interchangeably, though catfish supposedly are not out for money/goods.

Then I've never been catfished. Warning if someone wants to text only they're scamming-mine sent pics even.

@sassygirl3869 I talked to a few by phone before I had more experience to recognize the red flags. All had foreign accents, though their profiles all said they were born in the US. All explained by claiming a foreign parent. The boldfaced lying, about everything, is incredible.

9

I was approached by a young woman with a small child, who was supposedly a friend of a friend. We talked for weeks - until she started wanting me to get her iTunes gift cards so she could 'trade' them with her uncle to pay for cell phone service.

Turns out that is a pretty wide spread scam. Hurt my heart, that's for sure.

3

I only have had one experience on a different site. She posted a picture of herself, but said she was having an affair with a police chief. But she never would post a photo that convinced me she really was.

I couldn't figure out why she was making it up. She was in another part of the country. Just for kicks, I guess.

6

The phenomenon of internet predators that fabricate online identities and entire social circles to trick people into emotional/romantic relationships (over a long period of time). Possible motivations: revenge, loneliness, curiosity, boredom The term catfishing was inspired by the 2010 documentary "Catfish."​

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