Support Toolbox

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Catfish Specific Resources:

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• Turn2Me - https://turn2me.ie/turn2me-launches-online-support-group-for-victims-of-catfishing/

  • Online support group for victims of catfishing

• The CyberSmile Foundation - https://www.cybersmile.org/help-center/catfishing/

  • Registered with the US and the UK

  • Focuses on Internet related emotional problems (Including Cyberbullying, Social Media, Cat Fishing Ect. 

  • Has a helpline directory to arrange for support, most of which are various forms of crisis hotlines

  • Has an AI program to help guide information and support

  • Does not offer any legal support

  • Has a page dedicated to practical advice for catfishing

• ​The Cyber Helpline - https://www.thecyberhelpline.com/guides/catfishing

  • General help guides and info about cyber crime as a whole

  • Breaks down catfishing as romance scams

  • Signs of a romance scam

  • How to deal with a romance scam

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Government Support:

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• Live Fear Free Helpline Wales - https://www.gov.wales/live-fear-free

  • Welsh Government official site

  • Has a phone number to call for assistance and direction (presumably to direct to both emotional and legal officials)

  • Nothing specifically on catfishing

  • A directory on how to be online safely and how to tell if things are fake/a scam

  • Seemed more focused on fraudulent websites than people

• West Yorkshire Police page on Sextortion - https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/advice/personal-safety-and-possessions/sextortion

  • Walks through how to recognize sextortion and what to do ​if you are a victim or protect yourself

  • Provides links to report it and other links to help 

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General Victim Support:

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• Victim Support - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

  • General system that helps support victims following a crime

  • Usually directs to therapy or to legal help (more of a personalized directory)

  • You can reach out or be contacted by them (if you give police permission to give them your contact when reporting

• Women's Aid Federation England - https://womensaid.org.uk/

  • Focuses on Domestic Abuse

  • Includes sections for online domestic abuse and revenge porn

  • These ideas are not exclusive to someone you have met in-person and can include catfishing to get the info/images

• National Stalking Hotline - https://www.suzylamplugh.org/Pages/Category/national-stalking-helpline 

  • More on the physical basis but catfishing is used for this (stalking and kidnapping) to establish trust and lure people out

  • Great victim design to determine if they are being stalked and to direct to law enforcement/legal help

  • Includes guides for online dating and safety in meeting in person

• Surviving economic abuse - https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/

  • A form of domestic abuse as it’s main key

    • Much more difficult to tailor to catfishing but still a possibility in specific cases

      • Includes “borrowing” money from victim to limit their actions

      • Sabotaging access to money by limiting working hours (Catfishing relationships may only be able to talk at certain times when you would be working)

• Revenge Porn Hotline - https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/

  • Includes sections for online domestic abuse and revenge porn

    • These ideas are not exclusive to someone you have met in-person and can include catfishing to get the info/images

  • Includes videos and info about sextortion

• Freephone 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline England - https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

  • Focuses on Domestic Abuse as a phone hotline to call

    • These ideas are not exclusive to someone you have met in-person and can include catfishing to get the info/images