Catfishing - inglês

Discipline: English

N2, N12 & N26

M2A

Escola Básica e Secundária da Cidadela

Teacher: Carla Coimbra

Catfish

Ana Pérez, Leonor Madeira & Victoria Ferrante

5. Signs that your being Catfished

2. What is Catfishing

4. The effects of Catfishing

1. Introduction

3. Reasons why people do catfishing

9. Webgraphy

8. Conclusions

6. How to prevent being Catfished

7. Recomendation of a movie

Index

Introduction

Catfishing is a deceptive practice where individuals create fake online profiles to manipulate others, often on social media and dating sites. Those involved, known as "catfish," use stolen images and false details to lure victims into romantic or financial scams. Motivations include insecurities, mental health issues, and revenge. Understanding catfishing and its effects is vital for navigating the online world. In this presentation, we will cover the reasons for catfishing, its effects on victims, common signs of a catfisher, and prevention strategies.

What is Catfishing?

Catfishing involves creating a fake online profile or identity, often on social media, with the purpose of deceiving someone. This deception typically aims to lure a victim into a romantic relationship online or to facilitate financial fraud. Those who engage in catfishing, known as catfish, usually use fake photos and fabricate details about their lives to appear more appealing, often for personal satisfaction, financial gain, to avoid legal repercussions, or simply to cause trouble or troll others.

Reasons why people do catfishing

Insecurities

Many people catfish due to personal insecurities, feeling that they are "not good enough" and preferring to use images or identities they consider more "attractive" or "worthy."

Mental Illness

Conditions such as anxiety or depression can lead people to hide their true selves. Some may feel that the only way to confidently communicate is by pretending to be someone else.

Hiding Identity

Some catfish to conceal their real identity, whether to troll others, engage with people outside of an existing relationship, or attempt to extort money.

Revenge

Catfishing is sometimes used as a tool for revenge, with people creating fake profiles to damage the reputation of those they feel "deserve" it or to hurt them emotionally

Reasons why people do catfishing

Harassment

In some cases, individuals create multiple catfishing accounts to harass a target online, creating the impression of a large group engaging in abuse to overwhelm the victim.

Exploring Sexual Preference

Individuals exploring or questioning their sexuality may use fake profiles to explore their curiosity while maintaining anonymity.

The Effects of Catfishing

Experiencing catfishing can have serious consequences for a person's mental health, especially if they formed an emotional bond with the catfisher. Victims often face trust issues that affect their personal and professional relationships. They may also feel embarrassment and regret for believing in a fake persona, leading to potential financial losses and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. If victims have shared explicit images or engaged in sexting, they may experience feelings of betrayal and fear of public exposure, including revenge porn or sextortion threats. These situations can lead to long-lasting mental health problems, including anxiety disorders and depression.

3. Reluctance to Meet Up

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4. No Snapchat Presence

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Signs That You Might Be Being Catfished

1. Few Friends or Photos

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2. Avoiding Video Calls

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Be wary when chatting with someone you don't know well, especially if you lack solid evidence of their identity.

Be careful when sharing images or explicit messages. Once sent, they cannot be undone.

Take Your Time

Talk to Someone

If you have concerns about an online acquaintance, confide in a trusted friend. They can help identify potential “red flags” that you might overlook.

Catfishers often try to scam money. Avoid giving money to anyone who requests it online.

How to Prevent Being Catfished

Stay Cautious

Never Send Money

Don't hesitate to ask questions to feel more comfortable. A catfisher may struggle to answer accurately, which can reveal inconsistencies.

Set your social media accounts to private. This reduces the likelihood of being targeted, as catfishers won't have access to your profile information.

Adjust Privacy Settings:

How to Prevent Being Catfished

Ask Questions

Conclusions

Catfishing is a growing online threat that can deeply affect victims emotionally, financially, and mentally. By understanding the motivations behind catfishing and learning to recognize red flags, we can better protect ourselves and others. Maintaining caution in online interactions, safeguarding our personal information, and seeking support when uncertain are essential steps to prevent falling prey to this form of deception. Raising awareness and promoting safe online practices will help reduce the risks associated with catfishing.

We recommend this movie

It addresses the theme of catfishing. A chilling true story about identity theft, recently released on Netflix, depicts the intricate deception in which a woman was entangled for nine years of her life.

Thank you for your attention

webgraphy

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catfishing
• https://www.cybersmile.org/what-we-do/advice-help/catfishing
• https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/29/tech/catfishing-explained-what-to-do-as-equals-intl-cmd/index.html

Avoiding Video Calls

They will likely make excuses to avoid video chatting, such as claiming their webcam is broken.

What do they mean by few friends or photos

Catfish often have limited social media friends and only a handful of images, typically taken from someone else’s profile.

What does Snapchat have to do with it?

If someone is active on other platforms but doesn't use Snapchat, it could be suspicious, as Snapchat requires sharing live selfies.

Do catfishers cancel in-person meetings at the last minute?

Catfishers often refuse in-person meetings or may agree but cancel at the last minute.