023 - People Online May Not Be Who They Claim
“Scammers often pretend to be attractive teens, gamers, or influencers to gain trust. Be cautious with strangers who quickly become overly personal or ask to move conversations to private apps.”
The Perfect Profile Might Be a Perfect Fake
You’re scrolling through your feed or hanging out in a gaming lobby, and you get a follow request or a DM from someone new. Their profile looks amazing—they’ve got the perfect aesthetic, they play the exact same games as you, or they look like an influencer in the making. They start chatting, hyping you up, and making you feel like you’ve known them forever.
It feels great to connect with people who "get" you. But here is a reality check for the digital world: people online may not be who they claim.
The Art of the Digital Disguise
Cybercriminals, scammers, and creeps don't use scary monster profiles. They hide behind pictures of attractive teens, popular gamers, or friendly students to get past your guard. They are professional catfishers.
Once they build your trust, their goal usually shifts. They might try to get your personal information, ask for money for an "emergency," or pressure you to move the chat over to private, unmonitored messaging apps. In worst-case scenarios, they try to trick you into sending private photos so they can blackmail you later.
How to Spot the Fakes
You don't need a high-tech tracking system to protect yourself. You just need to switch on your internal detective. Here is your quick verification game plan:
Do a Quick Background Check: Look at their profile closely. Do they only have three photos that were all posted on the exact same day? Do they have thousands of followers but zero comments from actual friends? These are massive red flags.
Keep Your Guard Up: If an online friend immediately starts asking deep personal questions—like where you go to school, your exact address, or your parents' work schedules—do not answer.
The "Facetime" Test: If someone refuses to jump on a quick video call, claims their camera is permanently broken, or aggressively pressures you to move to a sketchy private app, pull the plug.
If a situation ever feels weird or uncomfortable, trust your gut. Block them immediately and talk to a trusted adult. You can also reach out to organizations like Technoactivism for support. Stay smart, keep your private info private, and look past the profile picture!
What Now
If you are dealing with a fake online profile, an impersonator, or someone you met online who is acting sketchy or pressuring you, you need to protect your digital safety immediately. Based on safety guidelines from youth-focused digital defense non-profits like ConnectSafely and the Cybercrime Support Network, follow this five-step checklist:
Lock Down Communication immediately: Stop replying, commenting, or arguing with the account. Block them entirely on the platform where you met, as well as on any other social media or gaming apps where they might try to find you.
Preserve the Evidence: Before the person deletes their account or messages, take clear screenshots of their profile page, their username or account handles, the conversation history, and any photos they sent. This documentation is vital if you need to report them later.
Report the Account to the Platform: Use the built-in reporting features on the app (such as Instagram, Discord, or Snapchat) to report the profile for impersonation, harassment, or scamming. This alerts the platform to investigate and permanently ban the fake account.
Tell a Trusted Adult: Catfishing and online manipulation thrive when you feel isolated or embarrassed. Break the silence and talk to a parent, teacher, relative, or school counselor who can stand by you, help look over your settings, and support you without judgment.
Secure Your Personal Information: If you accidentally shared sensitive details—like your school name, phone number, home address, or password—with the unverified online "friend," immediately update your passwords, maximize your account privacy settings to "Private Only," and let your parents know what specific information was exposed.
Local Resources
The Children's Center [https://www.thechildrenscenter.org/]
(360) 699-2244
Teen Talk (Clark County Community Services) [https://ccteentalk.clark.wa.gov/]
(360) 397-2428
Lutheran Community Services Northwest [https://lcsnw.org/office/vancouver/]
(360) 694-5624
