Determining Credibility of Online Friends- Modified to Include Original Comment

[gaylasue]

Always be cautious when conversing with someone online that you do not know personally.  Do not give out personal information even if that person seems like the most wonderful person on the planet.  There are too many strange, perverted people out there.

[lvstephanie]

There isn't a very good way to check out the credibility of people that you meet on-line. It is so easy to present a different front than who you actually are while on-line since the people on the other side can't see you. In fact, in 2010 there was a documentary movie made about something very similar to what you describe. If you haven't seen it, you may want to check out the movie Catfish. MTV (the producers of the movie) have also turned it into a TV show. From the movie, the term "catfish" is now used to describe a person that disguises themselves in various social media sites; the term is meant that instead of getting a premium catch, like a salmon, you end up catching something more undesirable like a "catfish".