AI-enhanced images and inconsistent identities are driving new levels of public scrutiny, according to a ClarityCheck survey of over 1,300 adults in the US and UK.
Catfishing has become more technologically sophisticated, but user awareness appears to be evolving just as quickly. In a recent ClarityCheck survey of 1,300+ adults across the United States and the United Kingdom, 68% said they had discovered photos in suspicious profiles that were altered, filtered, or synthetically generated. These findings indicate a broader cultural shift in how digital deception is detected and understood.
Where image fraud once relied on simple photo theft or low-effort edits, today’s catfishing techniques are increasingly powered by generative AI and hyper-realistic editing. However, 54% of users now report that such imagery actively raises their suspicions. This suggests a growing visual literacy among users, who are becoming more adept at recognizing signs of artificial enhancement, from unnatural lighting to oddly perfect features.
ClarityCheck data indicates that detection now goes beyond visuals. 61% of users said they identified profile inconsistencies by verifying associated emails or phone numbers, often revealing mismatches between claimed identities and publicly available information. This cross-checking behavior suggests a new default: don’t trust, verify.
The layered nature of modern catfishing, spanning images, messages, and metadata, leaves more room for error on the part of perpetrators. For users, it has created a baseline expectation that authentic profiles should hold up under basic scrutiny. In response, people increasingly compare images across platforms, examine profile histories, and use verification tools like ClarityCheck.
Nearly half of respondents now say they actively look for red flags in photos, such as inconsistencies in facial symmetry or overly polished aesthetics. Importantly, the research also shows that heightened awareness doesn’t necessarily lead to paranoia. Instead, users describe spending more time evaluating profiles and disengaging earlier from suspicious interactions.
While the survey does not quantify the total number of catfishing cases, it reveals a measurable behavioral shift. The asymmetry of deception, where technological ease benefits fraudsters, is being met with growing user sophistication. Verification steps are becoming routine, and trust alone is no longer the default entry point for digital engagement.
The ClarityCheck findings highlight an emerging truth: catfishing today fails not because it’s crude, but because it can’t maintain internal consistency. And in an age of AI-powered identity play, user vigilance may be the most effective filter of all.
About ClarityCheck
ClarityCheck is an all-in-one background verification tool for phone numbers, emails, and images. Designed for everyday digital safety, ClarityCheck helps users identify unknown contacts, trace suspicious profiles, and assess potential risks using publicly available information. By combining reverse lookup and OSINT technologies, ClarityCheck supports more informed decision-making in online interactions.
ClarityCheck is an all-in-one background verification tool for phone numbers, emails, and images. Designed for everyday digital safety, ClarityCheck helps users identify unknown contacts, trace suspicious profiles, and assess potential risks using publicly available information. By combining reverse lookup and OSINT technologies, ClarityCheck supports more informed decision-making in online interactions.