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| Should 'catfishing' be made illegal? | Should 'catfishing' be made illegal? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Anna Rowe had a whirlwind romance with Antony Ray after meeting him through the dating app Tinder. | Anna Rowe had a whirlwind romance with Antony Ray after meeting him through the dating app Tinder. |
| But their 14-month relationship came crashing down when she discovered his profile was a fake. | But their 14-month relationship came crashing down when she discovered his profile was a fake. |
| His name was not Antony and he was not single. | His name was not Antony and he was not single. |
| In fact, he was a married dad who had initially used photos of a Bollywood actor on his profile and had lured in other women too. | In fact, he was a married dad who had initially used photos of a Bollywood actor on his profile and had lured in other women too. |
| "He used me like a hotel with benefits under the disguise of a romantic, loving relationship that he knew I craved," says Anna. | |
| The practice of using a fake profile to start an online romance is known as "catfishing". | The practice of using a fake profile to start an online romance is known as "catfishing". |
| Now Anna, 44, from Kent, has launched a petition calling for it to be made illegal. | Now Anna, 44, from Kent, has launched a petition calling for it to be made illegal. |
| But how serious is catfishing and is it practical to make it a crime? | But how serious is catfishing and is it practical to make it a crime? |
| More than half of online dating users say they have come across a fake profile, according to consumer group Which? | More than half of online dating users say they have come across a fake profile, according to consumer group Which? |
| While the number of people defrauded in the UK by online dating scams reached a record high in 2016. | While the number of people defrauded in the UK by online dating scams reached a record high in 2016. |
| There were 3,889 victims of so-called romance fraud last year, who handed over a record £39m. | There were 3,889 victims of so-called romance fraud last year, who handed over a record £39m. |
| It has become so prevalent, that it led to the creation of reality TV show Catfish - which is dedicated to helping victims learn the true identity of their online romances. | It has become so prevalent, that it led to the creation of reality TV show Catfish - which is dedicated to helping victims learn the true identity of their online romances. |
| Currently catfishing is not illegal but elements of the activity could be covered by different parts of the law. | Currently catfishing is not illegal but elements of the activity could be covered by different parts of the law. |
| If a victim hands over money, the "catfish" could be prosecuted for fraud. | |
| Someone using a fake profile to post offensive messages or doctored images designed to humiliate could also face criminal action. | Someone using a fake profile to post offensive messages or doctored images designed to humiliate could also face criminal action. |
| 'Premeditated' | 'Premeditated' |
| A review of social media and the law by the House of Lords in 2014 concluded there was enough current legislation to cover crimes committed online. | A review of social media and the law by the House of Lords in 2014 concluded there was enough current legislation to cover crimes committed online. |
| New guidance was also issued by the CPS in October to help the police identify online crimes - including trolling and virtual mobbing. | New guidance was also issued by the CPS in October to help the police identify online crimes - including trolling and virtual mobbing. |
| But Anna thinks the law needs to go further. | But Anna thinks the law needs to go further. |
| Writing on her petition, she said: "I did not or would not consent to have a sexual relationship with a married man, let alone a man who was actively having relations with multiple women simultaneously. | Writing on her petition, she said: "I did not or would not consent to have a sexual relationship with a married man, let alone a man who was actively having relations with multiple women simultaneously. |
| "His behaviour was definitely premeditated showing his intent to use women, yet the current law will not find his actions a criminal offence." | "His behaviour was definitely premeditated showing his intent to use women, yet the current law will not find his actions a criminal offence." |
| Tony Neate, chief executive of Get Safe Online, recognises the devastating impact catfishing can have on victims. | |
| "It can ruin a life. I know there have been suicides because it's affected someone badly," he says. | |
| "It can affect their mental stability and lead to depression and the victims feel they can't trust anyone again. | "It can affect their mental stability and lead to depression and the victims feel they can't trust anyone again. |
| "I do think we need to look more wisely at this in relation to how it is tackled at the moment." | "I do think we need to look more wisely at this in relation to how it is tackled at the moment." |
| Built-in screening system | |
| Mr Neate, a former police officer, says there should be a "discussion" about punishing the worst catfishing offenders. | |
| But he raises concerns about how practical a new law would be to implement. | |
| "I really feel for that poor woman [Anna] but we have got to be realistic on how far we got and how the police would be able to enforce it," he says. | |
| "Let's have the discussion because we can't have people being hurt and it's something we have got to look at." | "Let's have the discussion because we can't have people being hurt and it's something we have got to look at." |
| Many dating websites offer users advice on how to spot a scammer and tips to avoid being taken in by a fake profile. (See "Tips to avoid catfishes", below) | |
| Popular dating site Match.com has a team which will remove unwanted accounts and check photos and personal ads. | Popular dating site Match.com has a team which will remove unwanted accounts and check photos and personal ads. |
| It also has a built-in screening system that can help identify suspicious accounts, remove them and prevent re-registration. | It also has a built-in screening system that can help identify suspicious accounts, remove them and prevent re-registration. |
| Lovestruck has a verification service that can confirm members are single and professional by checking their profiles against their other social media sites. | Lovestruck has a verification service that can confirm members are single and professional by checking their profiles against their other social media sites. |
| 'Genuine reasons' | 'Genuine reasons' |
| But the advice has not stopped many people being duped. | But the advice has not stopped many people being duped. |
| Last month, university professor Judith Lathlean revealed how she was tricked out of £140,000 by a gang using a fake profile. | |
| Ife Ojo, 31, and Olusegun Agbaje, 43, were jailed in 2016 after conning a woman out of £1.6m using a fictional character. | Ife Ojo, 31, and Olusegun Agbaje, 43, were jailed in 2016 after conning a woman out of £1.6m using a fictional character. |
| But Andrew McClelland, cgief executive of the Online Dating Association - the trade body for the industry - believes legislating against catfishing would be "difficult". | |
| He said there could be genuine reasons why someone might not use their real details online - for example if they had been in an abusive relationship and did not want their ex-partner to find them. | He said there could be genuine reasons why someone might not use their real details online - for example if they had been in an abusive relationship and did not want their ex-partner to find them. |
| Data protection and freedom of expression would also be an issue when it came to enforcing such a law, he added. | Data protection and freedom of expression would also be an issue when it came to enforcing such a law, he added. |
| "The biggest problem this faces is how do you legislate against someone lying?" says Mr McClelland. | |
| Tips to avoid catfishes | Tips to avoid catfishes |