My child refuses to believe the person is fake — what should I do?

Do not force the issue in one conversation. Present the evidence calmly and suggest a video call verification together. If the suspected catfisher refuses to video call, let that speak for itself. Give your child time to process — but do report to CEOP if you believe there is a risk of harm.

Should I tell the school?

If the catfisher may have targeted other children at the school, or if the incident has affected your child's wellbeing at school, informing the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead is sensible. They can offer pastoral support and escalate if needed.

เร่งด่วน

I Think My Child Is Being Catfished

You have discovered or suspect that someone your child has been communicating with online is using a fake identity — posing as a peer, a romantic interest, or a friend. Your child may be unaware, resistant to the idea, or already suspicious themselves.

Catfishing — creating a false online identity to deceive another person — can be deeply distressing for young people who feel a genuine connection with someone they trusted. Your child may feel embarrassed, betrayed, or even defensive. The most important thing is to stay calm, avoid criticising your child's judgement, and take the right steps to protect them from further harm.

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Approach Your Child Calmly

Share your concern without accusation. Use language like: 'I want to talk to you about someone you have been speaking to online — I am a bit worried and I want to make sure you are okay.' Listen to their response before sharing your evidence.

✗ Do not: Do not immediately tell your child they have been fooled — this can cause them to become defensive and shut down the conversation.

Review the Evidence Together

Ask to see the messages and profile. Look for red flags together: very new account, few followers, inconsistencies in stories, refusals to video call, requests for secrecy, requests for personal information or images, or moving the conversation off-platform very quickly.

Attempt a Verification Test

Suggest requesting a live video call. A genuine person will usually agree. If the person consistently refuses, makes excuses, or cancels, this is a strong indicator that they are not who they claim to be. Do not confront the suspected catfisher directly.

Preserve Evidence Before Acting

Screenshot the profile, all messages, any images sent, and any links or other platform usernames shared. Note the platform and the dates of key interactions. Do this before blocking or deleting.

Report and Block

Report the account to the platform for deceptive identity. If the person has requested images, engaged in sexual conversation, or attempted to arrange a meeting, report to CEOP immediately at ceop.police.uk. Block the account once the report is made.

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✗Do not contact or confront the suspected catfisher yourself — this can destroy evidence or escalate the situation.
✗Do not make your child feel foolish or naive — skilled catfishers deliberately exploit normal human desires for connection.
✗Do not delete messages or block the account before preserving a full evidence record.

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เหตุใดจึงสำคัญ

หากคุณต้องการรายงานต่อเจ้าหน้าที่หรือแพลตฟอร์ม หลักฐานสามารถช่วยได้

•Screenshot the sender's full profile including username, display name, profile picture, and any listed information — then do a reverse image search of their profile photo to check if it appears elsewhere online.
•Save a record of the message history, including any images, links, or contact details they have shared — note dates and platforms.

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✓Acknowledge the genuine connection your child felt: 'I understand this person seemed real to you and that this is hard to hear.'
✓Remind them that skilled catfishers are very convincing and that being deceived does not reflect badly on them — it reflects on the person who chose to lie.