<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
Catfishing can be a hurtful thing, but seems common. How do people who lie about their romantic profiles on dating sites, how do people who catfish others, how do they do it?
<|assistant|>
People who catfish others by creating fake online dating profiles are often motivated by a desire for attention, sympathy, or to manipulate and defraud people. They use photographs of other people or of themselves in different ages or body shapes, steal someone else's identifying information and use it to create the profile, create a fabricated backstory and photos, or use online apps and services to generate a fictional character. They often troll dating sites and social media channels looking for potential victims, gain their trust, and ultimately seek some type of financial or personal gain. Once in a relationship, the catfish will often vanish or will become less and less chatty when asked questions. They will have carefully chosen answers to questions, but never give enough personal information or real photos of themselves. Someone who is catfishing may also send messages of sympathy or encouragement to their potential victim, telling them that they are a good person and worthwhile even if no one else believes it. This can be incredibly hurtful and even damaging to their victims' self-worth.