'Love is a powerful force and in our pursuit of it we are easily blinded': Examining negative consequences experienced by catfishing fraud victims.

This article focuses on the negative consequences experienced by victims of catfishing, defined as the creation of partially or completely fake online profiles to deceive others in social or romantic relationships. Using self-report survey data from 663 U.S. adults who engaged in online relationships, the study finds that catfishing victims commonly experience emotional distress (e.g., disappointment, trust issues, anger), physical symptoms (e.g., trouble sleeping, changes in eating habits), and disruptions in work and family life. Factors such as longer communication with the catfish, reporting the incident, female sex, lower education, and prior intimate partner violence victimization were associated with greater negative outcomes. The findings highlight the complexity of catfishing victimization beyond financial loss and suggest the need for targeted support, prevention efforts, and further research on the long-term impacts of catfishing.