How one woman fought back after discovering a trusted colleague created fake profiles to manipulate her into sharing private images
Imagine building trust with a colleague, only to discover that they’ve created entire fake personas to deceive you emotionally and intimately. This was the painful experience of Ravina (name changed), a Senior HR Advisor, who reached out to us after uncovering a year-long web of deceit crafted by someone she saw every day at work.
What is workplace catfishing and why is it dangerous
Uncovering catfishing deception
Catfishing and the Misuse of Private Information
Is catfishing illegal in the UK
Taking legal action for catfishing
Other catfishing cases we’ve helped clients win
Lawyers’ thoughts about the case
What is workplace catfishing and why is it dangerous
When most people think of catfishing, they picture dating scams on the internet, but what happens when the deception comes from someone you see in the office every day? In Ravina’s case, a colleague posed as two separate people: “Adrian” and “Tom.” The first, Adrian, pretended to be a romantic interest. The second, Tom, promised financial help in exchange for private images.
All conversations took place on Snapchat, with fabricated excuses preventing in-person meetings. Ravina had no reason to doubt the legitimacy of the people she was speaking to. Her colleague had vouched for them, shared photos, and encouraged her to continue the relationships. Behind it all, it was the same person: someone she trusted.
Uncovering catfishing deception
The deception was uncovered when Ravina, suspicious of being constantly let down by both personas, began to question the strange consistency of excuses and missed plans. Driven by a deep sense of unease, she conducted her own online research, meticulously combing through social media and university pages.
Eventually, she identified the real individuals whose images had been used to represent “Adrian” and “Tom”, both completely unaware of her and uninvolved in the impersonation. These men confirmed that while they knew her colleague socially, they had no knowledge of any online relationships with her.
This chilling revelation triggered the collapse of the false narrative Ravina had been sold. It echoed elements seen in previous cases Cohen Davis has dealt with, such as the Sweet Bobby case, where the client was similarly manipulated by a web of deceit for years using the stolen identity of a real person. In both instances, it was the client’s persistence and personal investigation that exposed the truth.
These moments of discovery mark a devastating turning point- emotionally shattering, yet legally crucial. In Ravina’s case, all signs pointed to a single orchestrator: her own colleague, who had access to her daily life and personal trust. We helped her pursue a civil claim for three key breaches.
Catfishing and the Misuse of Private Information
By deceiving Ravina into believing he was someone else, the perpetrator gained access to her private thoughts, emotions, and images without her informed consent. UK privacy law protects individuals from having their personal life intruded upon. Importantly, misuse of private information does not require that the information be disclosed to a third party.
Disclosure may represent an additional or more aggravated misuse, but it is not a necessary element of the wrongdoing. Misuse can take many forms. Simply extracting private information from someone under false pretences and then using it as a tool to create, maintain, or exploit a relationship constitutes misuse.
In Ravina’s case, her private data was used to build a false narrative of intimacy and emotional trust which was, in reality, a means of manipulating and extracting even more personal disclosures. This kind of deception and exploitation is exactly what the tort of misuse of private information is designed to address.
The fact that the communications were based on fabricated identities stripped Ravina of her ability to make informed choices. That loss of control itself is a harm recognised by the courts, and she was entitled to compensation for both this and the emotional distress it caused.
Is catfishing illegal in the UK
Catfishing can amount to unlawful behaviour in the UK when it crosses into recognised legal wrongs such as harassment, misuse of private information, or breaches of data protection law. While the mere act of using a fake identity online may not be illegal in isolation, the way that identity is used can bring about serious legal consequences.
In Ravina’s case, the conduct wasn’t just deceptive, it was relentless. She was subjected to ongoing emotional manipulation through fabricated stories of illness and personal crises. These were used to maintain control, prolong the fake relationships, and deepen her emotional investment.
This kind of sustained psychological pressure falls clearly within the scope of harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. The Act recognises harassment as any course of conduct which causes alarm or distress and which a reasonable person would find oppressive or unacceptable.
Catfishing becomes harassment when the fake persona is used to repeatedly interact with someone in a manner that causes significant emotional harm. The deceit need not involve threats or physical contact, emotional manipulation alone can be sufficient. For Ravina, the result was a severe impact on her mental health, including anxiety, panic attacks, and a loss of sleep. This legal classification as harassment gave her the right to seek damages for the distress caused.
When catfishing is used not only to deceive but also to obtain or manipulate private information (including emotional disclosures or intimate images) it can simultaneously trigger legal claims for misuse of private information and breach of data rights. Together, these laws offer victims a powerful framework to hold perpetrators accountable and reclaim their dignity and safety.
Catfishing and breach of data
Ravina’s private data, including images and personal disclosures, was collected and stored under false pretences. This contravened her rights under the UK GDPR, which requires lawful, transparent handling of personal data. Her data, due to its intimate nature, qualifies as special category data, which carries stronger protections. The defendant had no legal basis to process this data, and therefore committed serious violations.
Taking legal action for catfishing
As soon as we understood the facts and confirmed the legal breaches, we took immediate action to protect our client’s interests. With her still working in the same office as the perpetrator, time was of the essence. The emotional impact was intense, and she needed urgent support.
We acted fast, prioritising a swift, discreet, and decisive legal strategy. Our team drafted a clear, strongly-worded letter of claim outlining the key legal wrongs- including misuse of private information, harassment, and GDPR violations. The evidence we had gathered was compelling, and it left little room for denial.
The perpetrator admitted to everything shortly after receiving the letter. We followed up with focused and firm negotiations. Rather than allowing the matter to drag on, we worked efficiently to agree on a comprehensive resolution that would give our client closure without forcing her through the stress of court proceedings.
The final settlement included:
• A payment exceeding £35,000 to cover damages and legal costs.
• A written apology acknowledging wrongdoing.
• A binding agreement to delete all personal data, including sensitive images.
• A promise to cease any form of contact going forward.
To make the outcome practical and enforceable, we agreed on a payment plan so that our client would be compensated fairly without delay, and the defendant could meet his obligations. This fast, careful handling of the case reflects our firm’s commitment to delivering results with compassion, precision, and urgency, especially in highly sensitive matters involving emotional abuse and digital deception.
Other catfishing cases we’ve helped clients win
At Cohen Davis Solicitors, we have successfully brought several catfishing cases to favourable outcomes. One of the most high-profile was the widely reported Sweet Bobby case involving our client Kirat Assi.
In that matter, we helped expose a decade-long deception that involved fake social media profiles, impersonated family members, and severe psychological harm. The case was the subject of a global podcast and brought national attention to the legal implications of catfishing.
Another recent case involved a client who was manipulated into sending intimate images by a fake persona on Snapchat. Much like the case above, the perpetrator had used photos of real people to create false trust, eventually leading to the client being emotionally and sexually exploited. We were able to secure a substantial damages settlement and legal assurances to protect her going forward.
These cases are often highly sensitive, particularly when intimate images or reputational harm are involved. We understand the emotional impact on victims and handle each matter with absolute discretion. Our team combines legal expertise in privacy, harassment, and data protection law to ensure our clients are protected, empowered, and supported every step of the way.
Lawyers’ thoughts about the case
This was one of the most emotionally complex cases we’ve worked on. It wasn’t just about someone creating a fake persona, it was about the deliberate betrayal of trust in a professional environment, combined with emotional and psychological exploitation.
What stood out was the calculated nature of the deception and the devastating personal toll it took on our client. We took what was a deeply personal violation and helped our client transform it into a strong, focused legal claim.
This case also highlighted just how quickly and efficiently a legal resolution can be achieved when the strategy is right and the facts are clear. Ultimately, the outcome was about more than money. It was about accountability, dignity, and enabling someone to move forward with confidence after an incredibly distressing experience.