Psychological Patterns of Emotional Manipulation in Catfishing

Imagine making a strong relationship with someone online, only to discover that this person never existed; this unsettling scenario is the reality of catfishing, a practice that Rachelle Smith defines as “the creation of a false social media profile that deceives other individuals on an online platform” (46)Smith, Rachelle M. Lies: The Science Behind Deception. Greenwood, 2022., in Lies: The Science Behind Deception. In an age where digital relationships are increasingly common, catfishing has emerged as a serious social and psychological issue. This paper will examine how social media plays a role in catfishing, explore the psychological traits common among both victims and perpetrators, and propose strategies focused on platform accountability, mental health support, and legal solutions. The internet has continuously changed everyday activities throughout the last two decades, and with it, exposure to new manipulation methods. Nowadays technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), serves as a tool for nearly everything; working, studying, entertainment, shopping and meeting people. Communication has also advanced significantly with the development and improvement of internet and digital applications (apps). People have been increasingly tending to meet others through social media, first viewing profiles and making judgments based on the different kinds of content shared such as pictures, videos or real-time posts; so that after this virtual interaction they can consider the possibility of meeting in person or not. Relying on social media as a primary way of meeting new people and creating new relationships comes with different kinds of risks. One problem is that these types of apps let users present themselves in ways they prefer, creating characters with identities different from the real ones, using different gender, background, age, physical appearance or location. In their article “ScamGPT: GenAI and the Automation of Fraud,” Lana Swartz, Alice Marwick, and Kate Larson recognize the numerous ways that advances in technology, especially in AI, can lead to major implications for identity impersonation. The existence of a variety of apps that produce texts, images, videos, and voices, make scammers more powerful by generating information they can use against their victimsSwartz Lana, Alice E. Marwick, and Kate Larson. “ScamGPT: GenAI and the Automation of Fraud.” Data & Society Research Institute. May 2025. DOI: 10.69985/VPIB8. All this increase of online anonymity makes it more difficult to identify whether someone’s online profile is real or entirely fictional, and trusting fake profiles becomes even more dangerous when individuals begin sharing personal information. This environment is not only risky in terms of emotional deception, where false identities can be tricked causing disappointments and heartbreaks, but it can also cause other forms of harm, such as financial frauds. Online dating apps are becoming more popular and widely used everyday, but they can make it easier for some people, the catfishers, to deceive others for personal purposes. Catfishers often share certain psychological or behavioral traits that drive their manipulative actions to gain trust. Cassandra Lauder and Evita March, in their article “Catching the Catfish: Exploring Gender and the Dark Tetrad of Personality as Predictors of Catfishing Perpetration” explain how the Dark Tetrad, known as a set of four personality traits (psychopathy, sadism, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) is often linked to the catfishers and their manipulative, deceptive, and harmful behavior. These four traits are common among fraudsters and they can have evolved as adaptive tools for personal gain through the manipulation of their victims. Catfishers often create a different strategy depending on their target, pretending to be someone else online in order to deceive or exploit themLauder, Cassandra, and Evita March. “Catching the catfish: Exploring gender and the Dark Tetrad of personality as predictors of catfishing perpetration.” Computers in Human Behavior. December 05, 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563222004198.. To better understand how the Dark Tetrad influences online deception, and what the psychological profile of a typical catfisher is, it is helpful to explore each trait individually. Catfishers do not feel guilty for the manipulation on their victims; they often deceive to exploit and dominate regardless of the emotional harm caused, making them look like psychopaths. The sadists enjoy watching others suffer or be embarrassed, fulfilling their only purpose of harming people, becoming a trait that fits well with a manipulative profile. The third trait of the Dark Tetrad is narcissism, as catfishers often feel the need to boost their ego or appear more desirable to attract victims; they can even lie so convincingly that they start to believe their own lies, living in a complete parallel life. The last but not least trait is Machiavellianism, being a characteristic that fits catfishers since they tend to act in a manipulative, cold, and calculated way to achieve their own interests, regardless of the way or the harm they may cause to others. According to Lauder and March, psychopathy, sadism, and narcissism are traits that are a strong predictor of catfishing, but Machiavellianism does not significantly predict catfishing (6)Lauder, Cassandra, and Evita March. “Catching the catfish: Exploring gender and the Dark Tetrad of personality as predictors of catfishing perpetration.” Computers in Human Behavior. December 05, 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563222004198.; this can be because Machiavellians typically lie for clear, tangible goals like power; if there is no obvious personal gain, they might not bother. One example that shows a psychological pattern of a catfisher with manipulative behaviour is the case of Simon Leviev, also known as The Tinder Swindler. As reported by Lauren Sarner in the New York Post, Simon Leviev, born Shimon Yehuda Hayut in Israel, is a fraudster best known for using dating apps, primarily Tinder, to scam women by posing as a wealthy heir to a diamond empire. He allegedly defrauded victims and banks through a Ponzi-style scheme, using money from new victims (often women he met on Tinder) to fund his luxurious lifestyle and repay earlier victims. He adopted the name “Simon Leviev” to falsely claim he was related to Lev Leviev, a Russian-Israeli diamond magnate. In 2018, he began a romance filled with luxury, private jets, expensive dinners, and promises of a future together with Cecilie Fjellhøy, a 29-year-old Norwegian student in London. Then, he faked danger, sending photos of his bodyguard injured, and convinced her to send him around $250,000 or give him access to her bank accounts; she discovered the truth after her bank raised suspicions and she learned from American Express that he was a known fraudster. Fjellhøy and other two victims (Pernilla Sjöholm and Ayleen Charlotte) helped expose Hayut’s global scam, which may have defrauded at least a dozen women and families of over $10 millionSarner, Lauren. “The devious tactics ‘Tinder Swindler’ used to con singles out of $10M” New York Post. February 02, 2022. https://nypost.com/2022/02/02/i-was-in-love-with-the-tinder-swindler/. This case is examined for The Thought Co, a group of psychologists focused on anxiety, relationship traumas, and personal growth. They conclude that Leviev’s manipulation reflects traits commonly associated with psychopathy: charming and emotionally intelligent on the surface, but cold, exploitative, and lacking genuine empathy underneath. Victims, caught in a romantic intensity relationship, often overlooked red flags because they felt loved, important, and seen. Leviev's manipulation was not just financial, it was emotional. He made his victims feel they were rescuing someone they cared about, reversing roles in the scam to make them believe they were in control. In reality, he planned everything, showing traits like emotional detachment, lack of regret, and self-serving behavior, traits of antisocial or psychopathic tendencies“Swindler science: a therapist’s breakdown of the emotional manipulation of tinder swindler.” The Thought Co. February 19, 2022. https://www.thethoughtco.in/blogs/priyanka-kartari-varma/swindler-science-a-therapists-thoughts-about-tinder-swindler?srsltid=AfmBOoqc0GG5Vw93CX6aC2pdBxVoDg38nyrMhbyx0u84A6MWSWuw3Jwg&utm_source=chatgpt.com. The case of Simon Leviev highlights the danger of assuming emotional authenticity online and the need for emotional awareness, skepticism, and grounded decision-making in digital relationships. His behavior illustrates how online platforms can amplify psychological vulnerabilities, especially when users are emotionally open, lonely, or idealistic about love. Others, like Leviev, who attempt to carry out scams, select their victims that match a prototype and then develop the fraud. As Tom Buchanan and Monica Whitty highlight in their article “​​The Online Dating Romance Scam: Causes and Consequences of Victimhood”, online dating platforms often use personality profiles to match users, and these profiles could also help identify individuals at higher risk of falling victim to romance scams, proposing several psychological risk factors, such as loneliness, personality traits like high agreeableness and extraversion, strong romantic beliefs, like idealization or belief in “love at first sight,” and sensation seeking. Among these, the romantic belief of idealization is the psychological factor most strongly associated with catfishingBuchanan, Tom & Monica T. Whitty. “The online dating romance scam: causes and consequences of victimhood.” Psychology, Crime & Law. March 28, 2013. DOI:10.1080/1068316X.2013.772180. Identifying traits that make someone vulnerable to catfishing underscores the importance of prioritizing psychological, social, and spiritual well-being in today’s technological world. Loneliness and sensation seeking are psychological patterns that can drive people to seek deeper connections ignoring warning signs; similarly, sentimentality, high agreeableness and extraversion make people more emotionally open that trust easily without doubting the other person on the other side of the screen; acknowledging these psychological patterns that make individuals more susceptible to manipulation, suggest that crime prevention strategies may need to focus on broader awareness and education on mental well-being. Nowadays, people are becoming more like ‘robots’, with less sense of humanity, that makes them more vulnerable to others; in addition, after the COVID-19 pandemic, people become more lonely with weakened relationships since working in isolation from home and doing everyday activities online, making them more vulnerable to scams. A person’s psychological profile is not the only factor that can lead to becoming a catfishing victim, life circumstances can also increase vulnerability to scams. According to Swartz, Marwick, and Larson, people who are going through a period of mourning in their lives or separation with their romantic relationships, are also common targets for catfishing because of their emotional vulnerability (11)Swartz Lana, Alice E. Marwick, and Kate Larson. “ScamGPT: GenAI and the Automation of Fraud.” Data & Society Research Institute. May 2025. DOI: 10.69985/VPIB8. The fact that romance scammers look through apps such as social media or dating sites for clues to scam, make everybody a possible target to catfishing and emotional manipulation. No matter the age or the gender, as I mentioned earlier, well-being is a significant tool to fight against catfishing and any kind of scam. It is important to pay attention to the information shared online. The reality of catfishing highlights the need for more digital information, privacy awareness and more emotional support, especially for those who may be more isolated or seeking connection. Once the psychology of victims and offenders is discussed, it is possible to identify a relationship between them. Victims who are emotionally open, lonely, or overly trusting become an easier target for catfishers, who use these vulnerabilities to manipulate, hurt and gain control over the victims. One example of how a person’s psychological state can make them vulnerable to emotional manipulation is the case of Mariana González, shared in the podcast “Vos Podés” by Tatiana Franco. Mariana started meeting people on a dating app on the recommendation of her psychologist, since she was very focused on work, feeling lonely, she decided to start building relationships online. Mariana met a guy who claimed to live in Miami and seemed to be a real person with a credible profile on social media. After a few months, Mariana’s father passed away, and the man took advantage of her vulnerability to become closer to her, and began manipulating her, telling her he had a health condition that got worse with stress and worry. Mariana, with extreme empathy, gradually gave up control, stopping her social life, losing control over her social media accounts, and even quitting her job to prepare for a trip to live in Miami. Days before her trip, the man faked committing suicide, impacting Mariana’s mental health, who blamed herself for his death. However, she later began to question the situation. Upon investigating, she discovered that the entire story had been a lie, he had stolen the identities and lives of real businessmen and was pretending to be one of themFranco, Tatiana, host. “Me enamoré de un perfil falso en una app de citas (Con: Mariana Gonzalez)” Vos Podés El Podcast!, Season 3, Episode 167, March 12, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBpEFRz-8Tg&t=3s. This real example of catfishing clearly shows how psychological well-being is crucial when building relationships. Catfishers do not just want to cause financial harm but also emotional damage; in some cases, their main goal is to gain control, they want to have control over the situation, and even over the victim's lives. They manipulate their targets to the point of emotional dependency, pushing them to extremes where the victim can feel powerless and entirely reliant on the offender. Since the internet is becoming more indispensable for communication and catfishing often leads to psychological or financial harm, we must implement stronger privacy protections in online apps, as well as promote more education and awareness. Nowadays, many apps require face identifications for access; however, this measure is often limited to login purposes and does not create a secure database that could assist in the case of a crime or fraud. Every app should implement a stronger platform accountability, where digital platforms such as social media, dating apps, or marketplaces, are responsible for protecting users, enforcing rules, and responding to harm that occurs on their services, including misinformation, harassment, or fraud. Including stronger ID verification, the same that lately the banks have implemented, which include multi-angle facial recognition, and identify verification by associating biometrics to government-issued credentials, such as a driver’s license or a passport (Fournier)Fournier, Roland. “How banks use facial recognition to secure the customer journey.” HID Global Corporation. February 22, 2022. https://blog.hidglobal.com/how-banks-use-facial-recognition-secure-customer-journey, can allow users compare to a database to prevent identity supplantation. In the same way, more education and awareness could help to alert people that catfishing is a real issue that is growing every day. Implementing educational programs in school about the dangers of sharing personal information or creating relationships online, could help reduce the fraud rate. In addition to awareness programs, institutions like schools should prioritize the well-being of their students, and companies should do the same for their employees. Addressing and raising awareness about the psychological needs of potential victims could help prevent not only catfishing but also other issues related to mental and physical well-being. On the other hand, the government should implement stronger measures to combat online fraud. According to Sen Nguyen for CNN, catfishing itself is not considered a crime; however, activities such as extortion, cyberstalking, defamation, and identity theft are legally recognized as crimes in many places. Also, one of the primary obstacles in addressing online frauds is the issue of jurisdictionNguyen, Sen. “What is catfishing and what can you do if you are catfished?.” CNN. January 30, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/29/tech/catfishing-explained-what-to-do-as-equals-intl-cmd.; this weakness in the legal system makes catfishing an ideal crime for offenders that can “mislead” the law, as digital crimes often cross national borders, and where harmful behaviors associated with catfishing can go unpunished unless they escalate into more clearly defined offenses. Therefore, governments of all the countries must work toward creating specific regulations that clearly define and penalize catfishing as a form of online deception. Strengthening international cooperation and investing in digital security would also improve the ability to investigate and prosecute these cases effectively. In conclusion, catfishing is a complex and growing problem generated by psychological manipulation, evolving technology, and emotional vulnerability. This practice is driven by individuals with traits linked to the Dark Tetrad that focus on victims that also share psychological patterns associated with loneliness, high sympathy and unrealistic romantic beliefs. Understanding both the psychological patterns of perpetrators and the vulnerability factors among victims is crucial to developing effective prevention strategies. Combating catfishing requires stronger platform responsibility and accountability, widespread digital education, mental health support, and clear legal definitions. And last but not least, society should be more critical of the information found online, as advancements in technology and AI have increased the chances of facing false or misleading content. Only through the combined efforts of individuals, technology developers, educators, and governments can society reduce the risks of online deception and better protect people in the digital age. Works cited