Catfish is a term used when someone creates a false identity online via any social media platforms, and lures someone in with false information and false hope. What’s sad is that many innocent people fall for these false characters, and are often left in the dark for many years until they actually meet them in person, or when someone intervenes and reveals the truth to them.
On a scarier note; many people do this as a means of cat fishing young children online. We live in a very tech driven age, and who knows what still to come via the digital front. That’s why I am so passionate that we learn and know the ‘ins and the outs’ when it comes to using wisdom online. Not everyone is who they profess to be online, therefore we need to be extra cautious and wise as to what we entertain online.
We need to be extra cautious when it comes to our children being online. As we don’t really know what they are being exposed to, and who is out there preying on them. Don’t ignore or turn a blind eye to when it comes to the safety of your children. We need to know and understand everything that is happening both online and offline, and we need to be able to lovingly and wisely guide our children through it all. We may not be able to protect our children from every bad guy lurking out there online, but we can empower them with the tools, insight, and knowledge as to how to live in a world that is filled with the unsuspecting and unexpected.
SIGNS OF A CATFISH
Having said that, we too need to keep an open eye to potential catfishers, and online scammers. The following tips below, will give you a bit of insight and wisdom, when it comes to navigating your way through social media safely.
- Their profile pictures look very over the top, and very photoshopped, or maybe they look like some sort of perfect celebrity.
- They don’t tend to have normal candid everyday photos of themselves with family and friends.
- Their job requires them to constantly fly around the world, hence you will never be able to meet them in person.
- Catfishers bio information tends to be very broad, and they seem to be likable and perfect.
- Catfish move way to fast emotionally over a short period of time.
- They make too many excuses as to why you can’t ever see them in person, or over Skype.
- They prefer to text, and make excuses as to why they cannot speak over the phone.
- If they do speak to you over the phone, their voice does not match their ethnicity from their profile picture.
- When they ask you for money, or to deposit money into another account with different personal details.
- The stories or excuses they tell seem far-fetched and unattainable.
Don’t ignore your gut feelings and instincts. If you have a suspicions about a person, listen to your inner voice and follow-up on it. After all you need to guard your heart and use wisdom when it comes to finding love. Know your worth, and remember that you deserve to be in a relationship that is personal, that is founded on trust. Don’t waste time online desperately looking for love and affirmation, that you fall prey to being a victim of cat fishing.
Be safe out there, and use wisdom online!