The difference between catfishing and romance scams.

The media tends to use either phrase to describe a romance scam, but they are in fact very different beasts.  A catfish is usually done as a way to have control over the other person.  It’s not about money, but about making a person act in ways they want them to or to control their emotional state.  Some do this as a “game” and even see it as fun.  Romance scams on the other hand ARE all about money.    The primary goal of the romance scammer is to get money from their victim.  Anything else is incidental to that.  Break their heart, ruin their life, doesn’t matter so long as they send the cash.