Must-Know Catfishing Statistics [Recent Analysis]

Summarized & Collected by: Vamps.ai | Last Updated: 6/20/2024

In this post, we will explore a series of eye-opening statistics related to catfishing, a common and deceptive practice in the world of online dating and relationships. From the prevalence of catfishing incidents to the financial impact on victims, these statistics shed light on the alarming reality of fake profiles and romance scams in today's digital age.

Our Statistics Collection

Statistic 1

"In a 2020 survey, 41% of U.S. online adults said they had been catfished at some point in their life, an increase in 33% since 2018."

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Statistic 2

"Over 200,000 people in Britain may have been catfished on dating apps in 2019."

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Statistic 3

"Romance scams cost consumers a total of $201 million in 2019 in the United States, with many victims being catfished."

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Statistic 4

"In Australia, romance fraud grew by 50% between 2018 and 2019, with many instances of catfishing."

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Statistic 5

"According to a study by eharmony, 50% of participants reported encountering a fake profile while online dating."

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Statistic 6

"North America accounts for 29% of all catfishing incidents worldwide."

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Statistic 7

"Women are more likely to be targeted in romance scams, including instances of catfishing, with 63.2% of reported victims being female."

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Statistic 8

"In a survey, 45% of men and 43% of women said they had been approached by someone with false online identities."

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Statistic 9

"According to one dating website, almost 80% of its users had been involved in a conversation with a romance scammer at some point."

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Statistic 10

"In 2020, the average amount of money lost to romance scams, where catfishing often plays a role, was $24,438 per victim in Canada."

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Statistic 11

"In a 2020 survey, 58% of online dating users said they noticed an increase in fake profiles and catfishing attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic."

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Statistic 12

"85% of catfish scams involve false photographs being used in fake profiles."

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Statistic 13

"25 to 34-year-olds are the most likely to be targeted by catfishers, accounting for 24% of victims in romance scams."

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Statistic 14

"According to a 2019 survey, 35% of online dating users encountered a catfish or a similar online scam."

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Statistic 15

"The FBI reported that romance scams and catfishing reached a record high of nearly 20,000 complaints in 2020."

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Statistic 16

"Approximately 61% of U.S. online daters have encountered someone who is using another person’s photo on their dating profile."

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Statistic 17

"In a 2019 study, 8% of online dating participants admitted to “borrowing” someone else’s identity to create a fake profile."

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Statistic 18

"Romance scams, including catfishing, accounted for roughly 6.4% of all reported online fraud in 2020."

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Interpretation

The statistics presented here highlight the pervasive and damaging impact of catfishing in online dating and romance scams. The data reveal a sharp increase in catfishing incidents in various countries, with a significant financial toll on victims. Women are disproportionately targeted in these scams, and false photographs are commonly used to deceive individuals. The rise of fake profiles and catfishing attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic further underscores the opportunistic nature of these deceptive practices. These findings emphasize the urgent need for increased awareness, vigilance, and safeguards to protect individuals from falling victim to catfishing and online romance fraud.