Media Officer, podcaster and occasional VO artist. Former reader of 
news and @LBC reporter. Views my own - especially those on @LFC 
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I've recently been looking into the dangers of catfishing. There are calls to make the online practice illegal - with victims & lawyers working to change the law. Today I plan to share some of the stories I've been told.
Here's Rachel from #WestBridgford.pic.twitter.com/IBJAWu0m8y
My investigation found police dealt with more than 150 cases nationally between October 2015 and 2018 - however one thing that remains clear is the difficulty victims have getting any sort of conviction.
Sammy from #Birmingham had her photos stolen to catfish others.pic.twitter.com/VC1b1lBgMl
A petition calling for catfishing to be considered fraud has had more than 50,000 signatures.
That was put together by @AnnaRowe123 - she was one of 14 targeted by the same man.pic.twitter.com/ZFcjwaH0eC
It's not just a problem in the UK - but in many countries across the world.
Blogger and Influencer @MUrszula from New York was one of around 400 women catfished my one man.pic.twitter.com/CCfN9TkioW
Having spoken to victims I wanted to get the legal side of things.
@htuglow is one of the solicitors working with @AnnaRowe123 to change the law.pic.twitter.com/ogM7Wk8pPf
And then there's the perspective from the other side of the keyboard. Why do people do this?
Being as they lie about who they are it was quite difficult to get hold of anybody so... I decided to speak to @alexhobern.
He won the first series of @C4TheCircle by catfishing.pic.twitter.com/g6qcZ9Xxiu
I put my findings to social media firms. They've told me they're working hard to tackle fake accounts whilst the DCMS told me they 'expect online platforms to develop solutions to catfishing' and that they're considering where new legislation will have the strongest impact.
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