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Catfish scams target everyone. How to keep kids safe



CNN
 — 

Catfishing crimes have ensnared people for years.

This week, a grieving family implored parents to monitor their children’s online activity after a former Virginia state trooper catfished a 15-year-old girl online. He then traveled to Southern California, where he allegedly killed the girl’s mother and grandparents.

“Parents, please, please know your child’s online activity. Ask questions about what they are doing and whom they are talking to,” said Michelle Blandin, the girl’s aunt.

It’s not the first catfishing scam to make headlines. Football player Manti Te’o, whose story was featured in a recent Netflix documentary, fell victim to a catfish hoax. Celebrities, including musician Brad Paisley, have also been victims of similar hoaxes.

So what’s catfishing and why do people do it? And how can you protect yourself and your children? Here’s what you need to know.

Catfishing is a form of online deception in which people use fake photos and identities to create a fictional persona. They do it for various reasons, including to target potential love interests or people they’re trying to befriend.

Other catfishers can be child predators trying to gain the trust of a minor. In the Southern California case, Austin Lee Edwards, 28, portrayed himself as a teenager to lure the girl, authorities say….

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