Content

Generative AI is a game-changer in the IT scene, creating an opportunity for tech workers using AI to be more efficient and work at scale.

However, AI isn't just revolutionizing how we work and access information — it's also changing how we’re deceived. AI catfishing is on the rise, and it’s especially prevalent among tech workers. But how common is it? We surveyed 1010 tech workers nationwide to find out.

AI catfishing is an encounter with an artificial intelligence system attempting to be human. 55% of tech workers say they’ve been catfished by AI, split more or less evenly between personally (romantic or otherwise) and professionally.

1. 19% have been catfished professionally

AI has entered the workforce as both a powerful tool and a threat to personal data. Nearly 1 in 5 tech workers have been AI catfished for professional reasons — primarily (70%) in the guise of professional recruitment. Fake professional recruitment attempts were followed by fake freelance/fractional job offers (37%), money solicitation (23%), competitors seeking intelligence (11%), and arbitrage (6%) as top purposes of AI catfishing.

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Most AI communication is conducted on text platforms like email (48%), chat platforms like Discord or WhatsApp (46%), or chat functions within a site — for example, LinkedIn messages (45%). 16% of text workers said they were called by an AI agent. Concerningly, 26% of tech workers reported receiving DeepFakes, or images and other synthetic media created or manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate real people.

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Also troublingly, 2 in 5 tech workers could not detect that the catfisher was AI. This resulted in negative consequences for some: 12% lost money, 3% lost their job, and 13% had another unwanted consequence occur.

2. Over 1 in 3 catfished personally, including AI masquerading as a friend

Dating apps have long been a fraught internet space and hotbeds of deceit. Now, in 2025, catfishing is no longer limited to just humans. It's no surprise then that 19% of tech workers were catfished romantically and of them, 46% were catfished by AI looking for a date.

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While the majority of catfishing happened via chat platforms like WhatsApp (46%) or messages within a site like Facebook or a dating app (40%), a striking 28% were catfished via DeepFake. Just over 1 in 4 were also catfished romantically via email.

The survey revealed another form of catfishing with more nefarious consequences. Of the over 33% personally catfished, 12% said they were catfished by AI pretending to be a friend from their lives and 27% said AI masked as an online friend. Another major locus of interaction is social media, where 44% of tech workers report being catfished by an AI social media profile.

Here, an even greater share suffered negative consequences: 18% lost money due to this AI catfishing. Happily, 60% were able to determine that they were interacting with AI before it was too late.

One thing’s for sure: It’s a brave new world with an increased need for literacy around AI’s capabilities and potential. Given that tech workers use AI more often than six months ago, we hope AI literacy will rise along with it.

3. Methodology & fair use
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In March 2025, we surveyed 1,010 tech workers nationwide on whether they’d been catfished by AI. 51% were men, 48% were women, and 1% were nonbinary or did not disclose. Ages ranged from 18 to 78 with an average age of 38.

For media inquiries, please contact media@digitalthirdcoast.net

Fair use

When using this data and research, please attribute by linking to this study and citing Howdy.com.