When Fake Online Profiles Ruin Lives

Catfishing or impersonating someone with a fake online profile can start out as a joke. However, when victims face harassment, threats, or financial fraud, it can be a crime. Fake online profiles can lead to heartbreak, financial loss, and even physical harm. On dating apps and other online platforms, it is difficult to distinguish a real person from a scammer who uses someone else’s photos.

A personal injury attorney can help you recover compensation for fraud involving fake social media accounts. If you are a victim of someone using a fake social media profile, talk to an attorney about your legal options.

Why People Make Fake Online Profiles

Catfishing is the act of creating a fake online profile and seeking out other people online.

People can create fake online profiles for a variety of reasons. They may exaggerate their online dating profile with someone else’s picture to get more attention. A former partner or enemy could make a fake profile to get back at someone. However, online profiles are increasingly used for criminal purposes.

Scammers can use fake profiles to get sensitive information, defraud victims, or extort people after they share intimate photos. Phishing scams often involve emails or social media messages from fake companies. However, they can also start with a fake message from a romantic interest on a social media platform.

Online romance scams start with fake dating apps or even wrong number scams. These often involve people who live far away or overseas. They may ask for money for an emergency or to buy a ticket to come visit you. The money requests can continue until the victim is so deep in debt and ashamed that they cannot report the fraud.

Sextortion can start with online fake profiles where the other person shares intimate photos. When the victim reciprocates, the scammers demand money, gift cards, or crypto. If the victim doesn’t pay, the scammer threatens to send the explicit images to the victim’s family, friends, and coworkers.

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Criminal Charges and Civil Claims for Online Fraud

Using fake accounts can be a crime or give rise to personal injury or civil claims. Using someone’s likeness to create a fake profile alone is generally not a crime. However, criminal penalties can apply if the fake profile is used to take money or to threaten or harass someone. Impersonating another person online without criminal intent can still be a civil tort.

Some states have criminal statutes with specific violations applying to online impersonations intended to cause harm, intimidate, or threaten. Some states also allow civil claims for financial losses resulting from catfishing.

State-by-State Laws Against Online Impersonation

The following table shows states with specific criminal or civil laws for online impersonations:

Using fake online profiles and making false representations with the intent to deceive is fraud. Even in states without updated laws addressing online impersonation, it is still criminal fraud. Using another person’s personal identifying information to commit fraud can also constitute criminal identity theft.

A few states have passed legislation specifically for fraud using AI-generated images. Scammers can use AI-generated images in the same way they impersonate real people to harass, intimidate, or commit fraud.

What Are the Signs of Fake Profile Scams?

There are common red flags that should make you reconsider your trust in someone’s digital identity. Common signs of fake persona scams include:

• Connection starts with a wrong phone number message
• You connect on a dating site, and they want to take communication off the site to another app or platform
• Constant messaging quickly escalates the relationship
• They live far away or in another country
• You make plans to meet or video chat, but they always cancel at the last minute
• They need money for an emergency (medical trouble, family illness, legal trouble)
• They offer an investment opportunity

To avoid becoming a victim of fake profile scams, first be aware of the common signs of a possible scam. You can try a reverse image search of their profile picture to find matches. Don’t send any sensitive images or videos to someone you don’t know. If you see any suspicious activity, report it to the service provider.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

If someone has stolen your likeness or if you have become a victim of a catfishing scheme on the internet, you may have legal options. When someone impersonates you through social media and harms your online reputation, you can seek civil damages.

Contact local law enforcement to report criminal online impersonation or identity theft. For legal advice about civil claims to recover compensation, contact an experienced attorney who can identify legal issues and bring you justice.