Spotting a Catfish: Tips from a Los Angeles County Investigator

Los Angeles County investigators have noticed increased instances of Internet catfishing since the beginning of 2020. Online catfishing involves impersonating someone else online. Sometimes, a catfish impersonates an actual person, but perhaps even more often, the profiles these fraudsters create are fictional people cobbled together from images and information pulled from the web, as well as the catfish’s imagination. Any seasoned California private investigator can tell you, the types of people and their reasons for catfishing, as well as what they hope to gain from it, are too numerous and varied to list, but many common threads run through catfishing behavior. From strange and inconsistent social profiles to a strong preference for text-only communication, most catfish have one or more tells that can tip off any savvy person to their ruse. Filmmakers Nev Shulman and Max Joseph who originally made the MTV Show Catfish were not private detectives but that didn’t hinder them from tracking down the true identities of many of the people featured on their show. If you suspect that someone you’ve met online may not be communicating honestly with you, bringing in a California private investigations firm to determine the truth could save you a lot of time, heartache, and even money.

L.A. Private Investigators Notice an Increase in Online Catfishing

In 2010, filmmaker Nev Shulman introduced the world to the Internet phenomenon known as catfishing. Online catfishing refers to a person’s use of a fake online persona to persuade someone into making commitments or taking actions they would not otherwise agree to. Motives for Internet catfishing have spanned a wide range – everything from loneliness and low self-esteem all the way to criminal intentions such as theft and extortion. People who engage in this type of fraud are known as “catfish,” and their victims are said to have been “catfished.” What a catfish hopes to get from those they target also varies a great deal, from simple attention and affection to intimate photos, large sums of money, and quite a lot in between. Catfish come in all ages as do their victims, though statistically, men are more likely to engage with catfishing behavior, from both sides of these schemes. While accurate statistics on catfishing are hard to come by due to lack of reporting, according to IDStrong.com, instances of catfishing, especially in the United States, exploded during the pandemic with reported cases increasing more than 350% between 2019 and 2021. And while reports have fluctuated, year to year, the significant financial losses from catfishing are only continuing to increase to the tune of $100s of Millions! Still, catfish don’t have to be asking for large sums of money to be damaging and dangerous. Hiring an L.A. private investigator to find out if the person you’re talking to online actually is who they say is always a wise move.

In popular culture, catfishing is probably best known in the realm of online dating. When all an Internet catfish wants is affection and validation, we don’t immediately think of what they’re doing as especially harmful. While engaging with someone lying about their identity purely for attention may not leave someone in financial ruin, it can drain many other valuable resources including time and emotional energy, especially when strong feelings develop on one or both sides. Victims of attention-hungry catfish may spend hours communicating (usually by text or other instant messaging) with someone they think they know, often without ever having met or even spoken with the person on the phone. The level of personal investment and emotional energy that a catfish can take up in their target’s life will likely grow over time and can negatively affect their real-life family, friendships, and professional relationships. California private investigators are familiar with the stories of people who have passed up great opportunities in both their personal and professional lives, because they had become so bogged down with maintaining an online relationship that turned out to be based on dishonesty. Life is too short to pour all your energy and enthusiasm into a connection that turns out not to be real. Consulting with a Los Angeles private detective agency to uncover the truth could save you a lot of time and heartache.

When a Catfish Wants More than Attention

While a broken heart is bad enough, when a catfish wants more than just their target’s attention, the stakes rise substantially! These more dangerous online fraudsters may spend weeks or months building rapport with their victims before they begin asking for intimate photos, small or large sums of money, etc. Reeled in by a fake profile and a connection that can feel every bit as strong as an in-person relationship, a victim is far more likely to believe and trust in the person catfishing them. L.A. private investigators have witnessed how this may lead to a victim’s willingness to take greater and greater risks over time, sending more intimate photos or even videos of themselves, transferring larger sums of money, or making online purchases at the catfish’s request. The types of request vary greatly depending on several different factors including the target’s age, gender, and financial situation, among others.

Catfish, their targets, and what they hope to gain are unique in each case, but an experienced Los Angeles County investigators can tell you – many common signs of catfishing are the same. Be on the lookout for these signs anytime someone you’ve not met in real life starts asking for your attention (or more) online.

Signs of Catfishing:

• Small number of photos – Most catfish use fake photos they find online. Because they’re mining photos from someone else’s profile or elsewhere on the Internet, they are unlikely to have as many photos associated with their online profiles as most people, these days. Take note of any other odd details about the images they use such as if none of their friends or family are ever included, if they all look like professional photography, or if they might even be using pictures of two or more different people they’re claiming to be. Don’t forget about reverse image searches.
• Fake Profile Clues – While most adults have had social media accounts for years, a catfish may have only recently built the profile they’re using to try to fool you. Be wary of anyone whose profile is relatively new, who doesn’t have very many other contacts or friends, or whose profile seems incomplete or just doesn’t contain much information about them.
• Hesitance to Meet in Person – If a catfish thought they could do what they’re doing, face-to-face, they probably would. Whether out of low self-esteem or in hopes of stealing something from their victim without getting caught, they’ve chosen to operate online. That’s why a catfish, while professing to love and care about you, will probably shy away from the idea of meeting in person or video chatting. If they live geographically far from you, they may discourage you from traveling to come see them. Some refuse, even, to speak on the phone, which may be an indicator that they are not someone of the gender they’re posing. Sometimes catfish will agree to meet in person, but then ghost their victim, which causes even more financial loss if the person went to any significant expense to arrange for travel.
• Increasing Requests – No matter what a catfish wants, if they find someone who’ll give it to them, they will almost certainly keep asking for more. What began as an exchange of a few messages once or twice a day becomes near-constant texting. A few months in, they asked for a loan of less than $100, but now they’re asking for close to $1,000 or much more. Give a catfish an inch, and they’ll do their best to take a mile. Your very best bet is to unmask them before the seriousness of the requests increases.

As painful as it can be to find out that a person you thought you cared about is not who they say they are, hiring a Los Angeles detective at the first sign of catfishing can save you a lot more than time. The longer you engage with a catfish, the more you stand to lose, emotionally, financially and potentially many other ways too. Kinsey Investigations knows how to recognize online catfish and reveal who you’re truly talking to. Ask anyone who’s been catfished for months or years at a time – the sooner you find out, the better.