Cat Fishing

“Cat fishing” is an Internet phenomenon of someone pretending to be someone else online. Typically, it's someone pretending to be young and attractive who is...not. In financial terms, the scam often involves using the false identity to charm someone out of something valuable, usually money.

Your coworker Sally meets someone online. He says his name is Bob. Based on the Internet profile, Bob is gorgeous, soft-hearted, shares all her interests...he's just perfect for her. But Bob needs money for or a sick family member. Sally hasn’t met Bob in person yet, because Bob has that sick family member and can’t travel. Bob asks for a loan and Sally gives it, because she and Bob have been talking for months and she thinks Bob is The One. Eventually, when she tries harder to meet him, he disappears. And so does the money. Sally has been catfished.