‘Love is a powerful force and in our pursuit of it we are easily blinded’: Examining negative consequences experienced by catfishing fraud victims

Digital victimization is increasingly observed as a societal concern, with individuals concealing their true identities behind screens to manipulate and target others who are seeking friendship or companionship online. The study centers on catfishing, defined as the creation of a partially fake or completely fake profile on a social media platform or dating site for the purpose of deceiving another person. This work builds on a relatively narrow line of prior research that has predominantly examined those harmed by online misrepresentation. By examining the harms associated with this deceptive practice, the article situates catfishing within a broader context of online vulnerability and victimization, highlighting the kinds of negative experiences that can arise when trust is manipulated in digital spaces. To address these questions, the researchers rely on self-report survey data to identify and analyze the consequences faced by catfish victims. Respondents share personal accounts of adverse outcomes stemming from encounters with deceptive online identities, providing insight into the range and severity of harm experienced. The analytical approach focuses on cataloging the types of negative effects and exploring patterns across cases, with attention to how these effects compare to those observed in other forms of crime, whether encountered online or in offline settings. The emphasis on self-reported experiences foregrounds the perceived impact of online deception and its persistence over time in victims’ lives. The findings indicate that victims of catfishing endure negative consequences that resemble those reported by victims of a variety of crimes, spanning both digital and physical environments. This alignment suggests that catfishing functions as a form of victimization whose effects correspond to established understandings of harm in broader crime literature. In light of these results, the article discusses implications for policy and proposes directions for future research. The policy-oriented discussion considers potential measures to mitigate risk and support affected individuals, while recommendations for future inquiry outline avenues to deepen understanding of the prevalence, trajectories, and long-term consequences of online deception.