In cybersecurity, catfishing refers to the fabrication of a false online identity by a cybercriminal for the purposes of deception, fraud, or exploitation. As the name implies, catfishing is most commonly used for romance scams on dating apps, websites, and social media platforms. Before becoming a common problem in the cybersecurity world, the term “catfishing” was defined as the practice of using catfish to keep cod active during transportation. This early definition was described in ... Catfishing refers to the creation of a fictitious online persona, or fake identity (typically on social networking platforms), with the intent of deception, [1] usually to mislead a victim into an online romantic relationship or to commit financial fraud, [2] such as the pig butchering scam. What does catfish mean? To catfish means creating a false identity or persona to deceive someone online. A catfish ploy can involve fake names, pictures, and personal information. The term is commonly associated with online dating platforms and social media, where individuals may create fake profiles to lure a romantic partner or manipulate others for various reasons. Common reasons for catfishing are: Emotional manipulation: Some people are drawn to manipulating others. This could entail ... Catfishing is when someone creates a false identity to gain trust, affection, money, data, or attention. The stories look convincing, the photos look real, and replies come at the right time.