I’m a spoiled rich kid and my pics are used to catfish people on dating apps (2024)

FAQs

What to do if someone is using your pictures to catfish? ›

Screenshot, report and block fake accounts

To have a fake account removed, take screenshots of the profile as evidence and report it through the app or online platform – you can check The eSafety Guide for information about how to report on most online platforms and services.

Catfishing refers to when a person takes information and images, typically from other people, and uses them to create a new identity for themselves. In some cases, a catfisher steals another individual's complete identity—including their image, date of birth, and geographical location—and pretends that it is their own.

It is often on social media or dating apps and websites as a common tactic used to form online relationships under false pretenses, sometimes to lure people into financial scams.

Make a report

Use platform reporting tools to request that profiles are taken down. Speak to the police if you think a crime such as fraud, stalking or harassment has taken place, and take screenshots of messages or false accounts as evidence.

If a Catfish Uses Your Name or Photos

Impersonating a real person can lead to serious trouble, like a civil lawsuit for defamation.

If you suspect you're dealing with a catfish, use an online reverse image search to find out if the person's photos are on anyone else's online profiles. You can also search their messages online. Take any particularly unique or romantic lines they've written to you and search to see if they pop up anywhere else.

The TV show "Catfish" uses Google Images to find if the people they investigate are real. They upload photos to Swindlerbuster Image Search to see if the photos are used on dating sites. If they find the photos on dating sites, it suggests the person may be pretending to be someone else.

For example, you can compare their name, date of birth, address, or email with public records, databases, or directories. You can also look for their online presence on other platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook, and see if their profile, activity, and network are consistent with their identity.

Find out exactly what personal information has been revealed. Block the scammer's email address or 'unfriend' them from any social media sites or apps. Consider changing your family member's email address and phone number, especially if contact from the scammer continues.

Deception in online dating is a growing problem.

Though both men and women fall prey to catfishing, women are more likely to be victims, as are people with anxious attachments. Online daters should exercise caution—especially when a potential date seems "too good to be true."

What's the difference between catfishing and kittenfishing? ›

While kittenfishing involves minor stretches of truth or sugar-coating the reality of things, catfishing is outright lying about your identity and pretending to be someone you're not—down to possibly even using photos of someone else on a dating profile.

If someone uses a photo of you without your consent, they may be infringing your copyright or breaching the ACL. You should first attempt to resolve the issue by contacting the infringing party. If that does not work, you can lodge a formal complaint or send them a cease and desist letter.

If someone reposts your photo without permission (a license), they are liable to YOU! Even if they didn't know it's illegal, it's copyright infringement. There is even more confusion about giving credit. It does not matter if someone reposted your photo but gave you credit – it's still copyright infringement.

Most often, catfishing involves the act of using another person's picture and talking to people online. By themselves, these activities aren't illegal despite their harmful consequences. However, catfishing is often a stepping stone towards more serious crimes.