Internet Catfishing Statistics 2024: Don’t Become A Statistic

Online dating is fun and games until you realize you have been catfished. The sinking feeling that the person you‘ve invested time and emotion into is not who they claimed hits hard. Unfortunately, online scams involving fake identities are so common that six in ten women are likely to experience catfishing at some point, according to surveys.

As an experienced online privacy researcher, I want to provide you with the most insightful catfishing statistics to save you from potential scams. Read on to learn more about this troubling trend, the motivations behind catfishing, and most importantly—how to avoid becoming another statistic.

Key Internet Catfishing Statistics

• The global financial cost of catfishing hit $600 million in 2020, up 26% from 2019, according to FBI data.
• 68% of catfishing victims met the perpetrator through online dating sites and apps, per 2022 surveys.
• 13% of American adults (1 in 7) have reported being catfished, according to Morning Consult polling in 2021.
• Approximately 20,000 people are targeted by catfishers annually in the United States alone.
• Monetary deception is the #1 motivator for catfishers, followed by revenge and emotional abuse.
• The Philippines saw the most catfishing cases globally, with 1,315 incidents recorded in 2020 and £2,506 average loss per victim.
• The United Kingdom suffered the highest financial cost at £24 million lost to romance catfishing scams.

What is Catfishing?

For those unfamiliar with the term, catfishing refers to when someone creates a fictional online identity to deceive a victim, often for financial gain or simply for cruelty. The catfisher uses fake photos and false details about their life to manipulate their target over weeks or months.

Catfishing schemes typically follow a pattern where the perpetrator first gains a victim‘s trust and affection, then fabricates emergencies or hardships to convince them to send money. Tactics range from made-up medical bills, stranded travel plans, business investment offers, or pleas for gifts and loans.

This slow build emotional con combines elements of romance scams and confidence tricks. According to cybersecurity experts, catfishing exploits human vulnerabilities like loneliness, greed, or the desire for connection.

By the Numbers: Monetary Loss from Catfishing

Collectively, the reported financial loss from catfishing totaled $362 million in 2018 globally. This figure rose to $475 million in 2019, before spiking to over $600 million in 2020, per FBI data.

The COVID-19 pandemic drove more people online for social connections, fueling a 26% increase in catfishing scams. With lockdowns preventing in-person meetings, more turned to online dating where scammers thrived.

In the U.S. alone, approximately 20,000 catfishing victims handed over money each year from 2017-2020. The average loss per victim ranged from $2,600 in 2017 up to $3,000 by 2020, indicating the scams became more lucrative.

Inside the Catfisher‘s Mind: Why People Catfish

While financial deception makes up the bulk of catfishing motivations, experts say various psychological factors also drive the disturbing trend.

Low self-esteem and loneliness play a major role, with catfishers creating an imaginary persona to escape their own lives. A 2022 study found over 25% of surveyed catfishers portrayed a fake identity to make themselves seem more interesting and attractive.

On the darker end, some catfishers are fueled by narcissism, revenge, and desire for control. These emotional abusers seek to manipulate and humiliate their victims as a form of retaliation or entertainment. Up to 20% of catfishing cases involve harassment or stalking.

Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression may also contribute to catfishing behavior. A 2020 analysis suggested socially isolated individuals catfish to fulfill unmet needs for belonging and intimacy.

Avoiding Catfishing: Red Flags and Prevention Tips

While anyone can fall victim to these troubling scams, there are steps you can take to detect catfishers early and avoid manipulation.

• Reverse image search profile photos using Google to check if they are fake or copied from somewhere else. Many catfishers steal pictures of models or social media influencers.

• Beware profiles lacking personal details or using vague descriptions. Catfishers struggle fabricating an entire fake persona.

• Insist on video chatting early in your interactions. Scammers will avoid showing their real face and make excuses.

• Look for inconsistent details in their online presence and conversations that seem suspicious.

• Go slowly with sharing personal info and never send money or financial details to someone you haven‘t met face-to-face.

Being vigilant early on can help you avoid the heartbreak and financial wreckage caused by catfishing emotional predators. Don‘t ignore red flags just because you want to believe them.

Global Internet Catfishing Statistics

Catfishing is sadly a worldwide phenomenon, with reported cases on the rise across continents. According to 2020 cybercrime figures:

• Philippines – 1,315 catfishing incidents, £2,506 average loss per victim
• Nigeria – 1,129 cases, £10,719 average loss
• Canada – 1,054 cases, £5,365 average loss
• United Kingdom – 978 cases, £25,112 average loss
• Türkiye – 683 cases, £27,048 average loss
• Ghana – 534 cases, £15,398 average loss

Other nations with over 300 reported catfishing cases include:

• Afghanistan – 485 cases, £9,561 average loss
• Germany – 361 cases, £9,209 average loss
• Mexico – 259 cases, £7,717 average loss
• UAE – 249 cases, £28,907 average loss
• China – 243 cases, £45,004 average loss

Romance scams and catfishing incidents have increased globally in tandem with the rise of online dating. Dating sites provide rich territory for scammers to find emotionally vulnerable targets.

The Rising Threat of Romance Catfishing

A particularly insidious and traumatic form of catfishing is the romance scam—where a catfisher uses dating sites to manipulate a victim into a fake relationship for financial gain.

This con combines catfishing with advanced persuasion tactics to exploit lonely singles looking for love and connection. UK charity Victim Support warns romance scams represent "one of the greatest threats posed by catfishing.”

• In the UK alone, £24 million was lost to romance catfishing in 2022.
• Other high romance scam costs were seen in Türkiye (£18 million) and Nigeria (£12 million).
• Globally, over $500 million was stolen through online dating scams in 2020.

A 2022 academic study on romance scams found victims suffer higher trauma than survivors of violent crimes. The emotional damage of romance catfishing includes depression, PTSD, and even suicidal thoughts.

The Psychological Toll of Catfishing

Beyond the financial costs, we cannot ignore the psychological devastation left by catfishing emotional abuse. The trauma of discovering a relationship was a total fake can haunt victims for years.

Depression and anxiety are common effects, with victims left feeling violated, isolated, and betrayed. Data from the Identity Theft Resource Center shows more than one third of catfishing targets suffer moderate to high emotional distress.

Trust issues are another lasting repercussion. A 2020 study by Dr. Monica Whitty identified catfishing victims can suffer PTSD-like symptoms making it hard to form relationships long after.

Whitty warns catfishers who sadistically manipulate others for enjoyment are a growing breed of “Dark Tetrad” abusers—exhibiting narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and trolling tendencies.

For some, the humiliation and shame of being catfished leads to serious mental health crises. Counselors caution the trauma can hit much harder for vulnerable populations like the LGBT community or disabled individuals who found a safe space violated.

Why Catfishing is Rising: Online Dating & Social Media

Looking at the data, it’s clear catfishing cases have steadily risen over the past decade alongside two key tech trends:

1. Online dating – The $3 billion dollar dating industry has exploded, with over 40% of singles in the U.S. and Europe using dating apps and sites. This provided ripe territory for scammers to target emotionally vulnerable people looking for love.

2. Social media – Platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter also allowed more anonymity and fabricated personas. Catfishers use fake accounts on social media to initiate relationships then move targets off-platform to dating sites and messaging apps.

With more personal data and photos publicly available, it also became easier to steal someone‘s identity and create elaborate fake profiles. The rise of influencer culture also provided ready-made personas to impersonate.

As the internet removes barriers to impersonation, vigilance against catfishing becomes ever more critical. And with technologies like CGI "deepfakes" making it possible to digitally clone faces and voices, the threats could worsen.

Don’t Become a Statistic: Protect Yourself Online

Hopefully these catfishing statistics have opened your eyes to the size and severity of this troubling phenomenon. While scammers will only get more sophisticated, you can take steps to protect yourself online:

• Search dates thoroughly on social media and public records for red flags
• Insist on video chats to confirm identity early on
• Go slowly sharing personal info until you fully verify them
• Beware appeals for money or requests to move off-platform
• Never send compromising photos which could be used for blackmail
• Trust your instincts—if something seems “off” about them, cease contact

Stay vigilant against manipulation and safeguard your heart and money against those who would take advantage. With awareness and caution, you can find meaningful connections online without becoming another catfishing statistic.

Sources:

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• 2021 Identity Theft Resource Center Catfishing Survey
• 2022 Morning Consult Online Dating Survey
• Dr. Monica Whitty, Cyberpsychology Researchers
• 2022 Study in Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace
• TechShielder
• Psychology Today
• Victim Support UK
• 2022 Study in Telematics and Informatics