Episode IV: Going Catfishing: Social Media Connections from ‘Nowhere’
Assessment and what red flags to look for [Catfisher] is someone that claims to ‘serendipitous’ make a connection request to [Dr. Nothing] Names changed to protect the innocent and to protect folks working under duress to a global scam network:
Based on the conversation between [Dr. Nothing] and “[Catfisher],” there are several indicators that suggest “[Catfisher]” might be engaging in catfishing or scamming behavior:
Initial Contact and Vague Introduction:
[Catfisher] initiates the conversation with a simple greeting, which is often a tactic used by catfishers to engage potential victims without providing much personal detail.
Military Claim:
[Catfisher] claims to be “stationed in El Paso,” a common excuse used by scammers to explain limited availability or the use of a VPN, creating a plausible reason for not meeting in person.
VPN and Location Inconsistencies:
Mentioning a VPN and military stationing could be legitimate but is also a tactic used to justify why her IP might not match her claimed location, raising verification concerns.
Age Discrepancy:
[Catfisher] set up her profile suggesting she was born in 1976 but later claims to be 30 years old, which indicates an inconsistency that might be used to appeal to different age demographics or manipulate trust.
Evasive Responses:
[Catfisher] responses to validation questions are evasive, showing reluctance to engage fully with verification processes, which is typical of those with something to hide.
Request for Validation:
[Dr. Nothing] tests [Catfisher] a with a website link for validation, which [Catfisher] questions rather than complies with, indicating possible deceit.
Lack of Personal Engagement:
[Catfisher] interaction lacks depth, focusing more on superficial engagement rather than building a genuine connection.
Photo Discrepancy:
A critical point of concern arises when [Catfisher]claims a photo she allegedly just took is of herself. However, when [Dr. Nothing] checks, he finds this photo has been online for several months, indicating that [Catfisher] might be using stolen or recycled images. This is a classic sign of catfishing where individuals use images from other people or the internet to falsely represent themselves.
Unusual Validation Question:
The question about the number “1046” for validation might be another test to see if [Catfisher] can respond coherently to an unexpected query, often used to expose inconsistencies in a scammer’s story.
This pattern of behavior, especially with the addition of the photo discrepancy, strongly suggests catfishing or scamming:
* Quick engagement but slow to provide verifiable personal details.
* Using occupations or locations to excuse not meeting or verifying identity.
* Inconsistencies in personal information, including age and photos.
* Reluctance or evasiveness when verification is attempted.
The use of an old photo as current is a clear red flag for deceit, as it directly contradicts her claim of having taken it recently. This behavior, combined with her other evasive and inconsistent actions, paints a picture of someone potentially operating under false pretenses. Without further verification through direct communication methods or meeting in person, there’s a high probability that “[Catfisher]” is not who she claims to be.
[Podcast coming soon]