Catfishing is quite common on the web these days. Surveys show that at least one in three people has been a victim of catfishing online. Catfishing is an act of using somebody else’s images and creating fake accounts to talk to other people. Even if the images are real, they may not share their true identity with you. Catfishing accounts are present abundantly on social media websites as well as matrimonial apps. It is quite similar to identity theft and the goal of the person committing the crime is to gain access to your personal information. So it’s essential to take precautions when accessing your social media accounts or your Charter cable account, especially on public wifi.
Here are some proven tips to avoid being catfished online:
Do a Reverse Image Search
One of the best ways to find if you’re talking to a real person is by doing a reverse image search on Google. When you search a particular image of a suspicious account on Google, related image results will show up. If you find similar images on different social media platforms, then know that this is a fake account. You can easily take photos from the Facebook account and Instagram page of a suspected account. Do not share any personal details with such an account. Block them instantly.
Never Share Personal Information
On social media, you may end up talking to someone and even liking them. They may even confess their warm emotions to you in the second third conversation. Most of the time, this is just a catfishing scenario. In such a case, be very careful about sharing your personal information with them. They can use personal information such as credit card details and social security numbers for their own benefits. Furthermore, they can also use your personal information to harass you. Therefore, it is very important that you stay away from such people and only communicate with friends and family members on social media.
Ask Your Family Members if They Know the Person
You may meet someone online. There may be warning signs from the very start that the person is dubious. It may be highly possible that the person adds your friends and family members to their account as well. Talk to them and ask them if they know this person. If they do, then it’s okay. Otherwise, it’s a catfishing scenario and you must block the account immediately.
Meet Them in a Public Place or Video Call Them
One of the best ways to identify if someone is catfishing or not is by asking them to meet you in a public place or video call you. If they refuse to do so, then it’s a clear sign that it’s a catfishing scenario. Make sure to ask these questions sooner than later to save your time. Don’t waste months in becoming friends with a fake person.
Use Your Common Sense
Common sense plays the most important role in identifying the catfisher. It may happen that a person is using their original photos but yet they are lying about their personal details. In such a situation, you need to trust your instincts and make a decision if they are fake or real. To verify this, you must ask them why they are contacting you. If you do not get a solid reply, block them.
Know that there are many cyber-attackers present online ready to compromise your security. They want to get access to your personal information so that they can hack your credit card and steal money. Do not give any personal information to anyone online. They may be able to log in to your account and ask you to pay a ransom to get it back. Keep your accounts secure with strong passwords and never give any password hints to anyone.
By following these tips, you can refrain from falling prey to catfishing traps. Make sure to follow standard security practices on the web. more info to visit: http://thdailymagazine.com/