ARE YOU BEING CATFISHED?

Almost a quarter of Brits aged from 18 to 50 have fallen victim to catfishing at some point in their life

- FRANCES LEATE

The dating game can be daunting, especially as so many people meet online these days. And today’s world of dating sites and apps can require some careful navigating, particularly when it comes to catfishing.

Catfishing is when someone lures you into a relationship by using a fictional online persona, and this can range from someone claiming they’re a few inches taller than they really are, to lying about their financial standing, profession or single status. Basically, if your match isn’t who they say they are, however great or small it may seem, then you’re not just being lied to, you’re being catfished.

With 22% of 18- to 50-year-olds reported to have fallen victim to catfishing during their lifetime, it’s now one of the main risks and concerns associated with online dating. Woman’s Own investigates… 

‘OF COURSE I BLAMED MYSELF’ 

‘I found out he had a wife’

Amy Nickell-Turner, 33, lives in Berkhamsted with her husband Jonathan, 43, and her nine-year-old son Freddy.

Before meeting my husband three years ago, I was a prolific online dater, dedicated to endlessly swiping until I found the one. A mission that took far, far longer than I ever planned. I did eventually find what I was looking for, but not without amounting my fair share of horror stories.