Don't Get Hooked: Why Catphishing Goes Beyond Valentine's Day Romance Scams

No, we haven't misspelled 'catfishing'. The 'ph' is deliberate - though sadly, these scammers are far more dangerous than playful felines.

Valentine's Day puts romance scams in the spotlight, but modern catphishing schemes extend far beyond matters of the heart. From LinkedIn manipulation to AI-powered deception, these attacks target both personal and professional relationships.

The Evolution of Catphishing

Traditional catfishing involved simple deception through fake dating profiles. Modern catphishing has transformed into a sophisticated cyber threat, powered by AI technology and social engineering. Scammers now wield an arsenal of tools, from AI-generated profile pictures to deepfake videos. They manipulate professional networks, execute business email compromise attacks, and construct elaborate recruitment scams. These attacks blend technical sophistication with calculated social engineering, making them particularly difficult to detect.

Professional Catphishing Tactics

The business world has become prime hunting ground for catphishing scammers. They create convincing recruiter profiles to harvest personal data from job seekers. Some pose as vendors or partners, slowly building trust before attempting system access. Others deploy AI chatbots for round-the-clock manipulation campaigns. These scammers exploit professional networks to build credibility, often targeting people for months before launching their attacks.

Warning Signs in Professional Settings

Several tell-tale signs can expose a catphishing attempt in professional environments. Unsolicited connection requests from recruiters or executives should trigger immediate scrutiny, especially when accompanied by lucrative job offers requiring minimal experience. Be wary of attempts to move business communications to personal channels or pressure to make rapid decisions. Watch for reluctance to verify identity through official channels. Modern AI-generated profile photos often contain subtle inconsistencies – a trained eye can spot these artificial markers.

AI-Powered Deception

Artificial intelligence has revolutionised the catphishing landscape. Scammers now deploy deepfake technology to conduct convincing video calls while voice cloning enables sophisticated phone-based manipulation. AI generates detailed persona backstories that stand up to basic verification attempts. Automated chatbots maintain multiple conversations simultaneously, allowing scammers to cast wider nets. These technologies enable precise impersonation of legitimate businesses, creating convincing facades that can fool even cautious professionals.

Protect Yourself and Your Business

Effective protection against catphishing requires a multi-layered approach. Start by verifying identities through official channels and conducting reverse image searches on suspicious profile photos. Maintain strict boundaries by keeping professional communications on business platforms. Scrutinise unsolicited offers and unusual requests with heightened skepticism. Technical controls like multi-factor authentication provide crucial safeguards, while close monitoring of financial transactions can catch compromise attempts early. Regular staff training on social engineering tactics forms your last line of defense.

What To Do If You're Targeted

Swift action is crucial when you suspect a catphishing attempt. Preserve evidence by documenting all communications immediately. Report suspicious profiles to platform administrators and notify your IT security team or managed security provider. Submit reports to CERT NZ for business-related scams to aid broader threat tracking. Conduct a thorough review of access controls and tighten security where needed. Use the incident as an opportunity to update and enhance your security awareness training program.

Stay Alert Year-Round

While romance scams spike around Valentine's Day, phishing threats persist throughout the year. Protecting yourself and your organisation requires constant vigilance, strong verification processes, and up-to-date security awareness. The Instillery offers comprehensive security awareness training, including specific modules on phishing detection and prevention. Contact us to learn how we can help protect your organisation from these evolving threats.

This blog was inspired by our friends over at Phriendly Phishing.