Avoiding meeting in person and asking for money are among the biggest warning signs.
People are being encouraged to watch out for the 'four red flags of catfishing'.
Mental health charity Turn2Me is warning of the dangers of the practice and hoping to help people spot the signs online.
Tullamore's Fiona O'Malley is their CEO, she says avoiding video calls or meet-ups, stories of inconsistency, moving a relationship forward at a fast pace, and asking for money are just some of the tell-tale signs:
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