GITNUXREPORT 2025

Catfishing Statistics

Most victims experience emotional harm, financial loss, and mistrust after catfishing.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The typical duration of a catfishing scam before victims realize the truth is about 3-6 months

Statistic 2

70% of scam victims said they wished they had been more cautious before sharing personal information online

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55% of victims believe they could have avoided being scammed if they had verified the person’s identity earlier

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56% of victims reported that the scammer quickly asked for money or financial help, often within the first month of interaction

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47% of victims reported feeling emotionally distressed after discovering they were catfished

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Nearly 60% of people who are catfished have difficulty trusting others afterward

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42% of victims report that their feelings of loneliness or low self-esteem contributed to their vulnerability to catfishing

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Nearly 80% of victims who confront their scammer report feeling embarrassed or humiliated

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60% of victims report that they developed emotional attachments to their online deceivers before suspecting anything was wrong

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75% of people who have been catfished say they would be more cautious about online relationships in the future

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52% of victims have reported feeling deceived after discovering that they were lied to online

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21% of victims of online scams said they ended up in emotional or dating relationships with the scammer

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65% of catfishing victims have experienced feelings of shame or regret after the scam was uncovered

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67% of women who are catfished report feeling betrayed or emotionally hurt, compared to 55% of men

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72% of victims who confront the scammer say they experience relief or closure afterward, even if failed to recover funds

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43% of scammers use emotional manipulation tactics to keep victims engaged

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Approximately 80% of catfishing victims do not report the scam to authorities or social media platforms, citing embarrassment or fear

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63% of victims of online scams feel more distrustful of online interactions after being scammed

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49% of victims of online scams report feeling a sense of personal violation once their deception has been uncovered

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35% of online fraud victims have reported losing money directly due to catfishing scams

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The average financial loss for victims of online dating scams, including catfishing, is approximately $10,000

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Only 15% of victims report successfully recovering their money or assets after falling prey to a catfishing scam

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Approximately 69% of online adults have encountered someone they believed was dishonest about their identity

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Women are more likely to be victims of catfishing, accounting for 67% of cases

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Men are more likely to be the perpetrators of catfishing, making up 55% of cases

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53% of victims report that they entered into relationships with catfish for at least 6 months before discovering the deception

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The average age of victims involved in catfishing scams is between 30-49 years old

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Around 19% of online users admit to creating fake profiles themselves, which can facilitate catfishing

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23% of teens aged 13-17 have been contacted by someone online who they believed was lying about their identity

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About 92% of online predators and scammers use fake photos to lure victims

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85% of participants in online dating profiles admit to embellishing or exaggerating details about themselves, which can lead to catfishing situations

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46% of catfishing scams involve individuals posing as military personnel seeking romantic relationships

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33% of respondents in a survey admitted to having made financial transactions with someone they met online who turned out to be a scammer

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48% of catfish profiles are associated with fabricated life stories and fake employment details

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4 out of 10 people who are scammed via catfishing report being targeted through dating apps

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About 30% of online daters have encountered some form of fake profile, which includes catfishing, at least once

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Fake profile photos are used in nearly 88% of romantic scams involving catfishing

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29% of scammer profiles are created using stolen identities or fake social security numbers

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The peak age for falling victim to catfishing scams is between 40-49 years old

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78% of teens who have been approached online believe that fake profiles are a common obstacle in their social media environment

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65% of online dating scammers are male, with females representing the remaining 35%

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81% of catfishing cases involve social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat

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72% of victims report that they continue to trust online platforms despite being scammed, highlighting a need for better safety measures

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Key Highlights

Approximately 69% of online adults have encountered someone they believed was dishonest about their identity
47% of victims reported feeling emotionally distressed after discovering they were catfished
Women are more likely to be victims of catfishing, accounting for 67% of cases
Men are more likely to be the perpetrators of catfishing, making up 55% of cases
81% of catfishing cases involve social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat
53% of victims report that they entered into relationships with catfish for at least 6 months before discovering the deception
35% of online fraud victims have reported losing money directly due to catfishing scams
The average age of victims involved in catfishing scams is between 30-49 years old
Around 19% of online users admit to creating fake profiles themselves, which can facilitate catfishing
23% of teens aged 13-17 have been contacted by someone online who they believed was lying about their identity
Nearly 60% of people who are catfished have difficulty trusting others afterward
42% of victims report that their feelings of loneliness or low self-esteem contributed to their vulnerability to catfishing
The typical duration of a catfishing scam before victims realize the truth is about 3-6 months

Did you know that nearly 7 out of 10 online adults have faced someone they believed was dishonest about their identity, revealing a widespread and emotionally damaging epidemic of catfishing across social media and dating platforms?

Behavioral Patterns and Prevention Strategies

The typical duration of a catfishing scam before victims realize the truth is about 3-6 months
70% of scam victims said they wished they had been more cautious before sharing personal information online
55% of victims believe they could have avoided being scammed if they had verified the person’s identity earlier
56% of victims reported that the scammer quickly asked for money or financial help, often within the first month of interaction

Behavioral Patterns and Prevention Strategies Interpretation

With most catfishing schemes lasting half a year before exposing their true nature, it's clear that a little caution and early verification could save over half of potential victims from falling for a scam that often rushes to cash within the first month.

Emotional and Psychological Impact

47% of victims reported feeling emotionally distressed after discovering they were catfished
Nearly 60% of people who are catfished have difficulty trusting others afterward
42% of victims report that their feelings of loneliness or low self-esteem contributed to their vulnerability to catfishing
Nearly 80% of victims who confront their scammer report feeling embarrassed or humiliated
60% of victims report that they developed emotional attachments to their online deceivers before suspecting anything was wrong
75% of people who have been catfished say they would be more cautious about online relationships in the future
52% of victims have reported feeling deceived after discovering that they were lied to online
21% of victims of online scams said they ended up in emotional or dating relationships with the scammer
65% of catfishing victims have experienced feelings of shame or regret after the scam was uncovered
67% of women who are catfished report feeling betrayed or emotionally hurt, compared to 55% of men
72% of victims who confront the scammer say they experience relief or closure afterward, even if failed to recover funds
43% of scammers use emotional manipulation tactics to keep victims engaged
Approximately 80% of catfishing victims do not report the scam to authorities or social media platforms, citing embarrassment or fear
63% of victims of online scams feel more distrustful of online interactions after being scammed
49% of victims of online scams report feeling a sense of personal violation once their deception has been uncovered

Emotional and Psychological Impact Interpretation

While nearly half of catfished individuals experience profound emotional turmoil—ranging from shame and betrayal to low self-esteem—most remain silent out of embarrassment, revealing that even in the digital age, emotional scars are often hidden behind the veneer of online trust.

Financial Consequences and Recovery

35% of online fraud victims have reported losing money directly due to catfishing scams
The average financial loss for victims of online dating scams, including catfishing, is approximately $10,000
Only 15% of victims report successfully recovering their money or assets after falling prey to a catfishing scam

Financial Consequences and Recovery Interpretation

With 35% of victims losing money, an average of $10,000 plundered per scam, and only 15% ever reclaiming their assets, catfishing remains a costly masterclass in digital deception—reminding us that sometimes, love (or a good story) isn’t worth losing your wallet.

Prevalence and Demographics of Cybercrimes

Approximately 69% of online adults have encountered someone they believed was dishonest about their identity
Women are more likely to be victims of catfishing, accounting for 67% of cases
Men are more likely to be the perpetrators of catfishing, making up 55% of cases
53% of victims report that they entered into relationships with catfish for at least 6 months before discovering the deception
The average age of victims involved in catfishing scams is between 30-49 years old
Around 19% of online users admit to creating fake profiles themselves, which can facilitate catfishing
23% of teens aged 13-17 have been contacted by someone online who they believed was lying about their identity
About 92% of online predators and scammers use fake photos to lure victims
85% of participants in online dating profiles admit to embellishing or exaggerating details about themselves, which can lead to catfishing situations
46% of catfishing scams involve individuals posing as military personnel seeking romantic relationships
33% of respondents in a survey admitted to having made financial transactions with someone they met online who turned out to be a scammer
48% of catfish profiles are associated with fabricated life stories and fake employment details
4 out of 10 people who are scammed via catfishing report being targeted through dating apps
About 30% of online daters have encountered some form of fake profile, which includes catfishing, at least once
Fake profile photos are used in nearly 88% of romantic scams involving catfishing
29% of scammer profiles are created using stolen identities or fake social security numbers
The peak age for falling victim to catfishing scams is between 40-49 years old
78% of teens who have been approached online believe that fake profiles are a common obstacle in their social media environment
65% of online dating scammers are male, with females representing the remaining 35%

Prevalence and Demographics of Cybercrimes Interpretation

With nearly 70% of online adults experiencing deception, and 92% of romantic scams leveraging fake photos, it's clear that while love and connection thrive in the digital age, so too does a persistent epidemic of identity fraud, often perpetrated by men and targeting women aged 30-49, reminding us that sometimes, the greatest virtual illusion is the person behind the screen.

Role of Social Media and Digital Platforms

81% of catfishing cases involve social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat
72% of victims report that they continue to trust online platforms despite being scammed, highlighting a need for better safety measures

Role of Social Media and Digital Platforms Interpretation

These statistics reveal a paradox: while the vast majority of catfishing occurs on social media, many victims remain trusting in these platforms, underscoring the urgent need for stronger security measures to turn their faith into safer connections.