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Becoming a catfish to catch a catfish

When journalist Andrew Lloyd discovered someone had been using images of his face to create a fake online identity, he went undercover to find out why.

One day in 2024, Welsh journalist Andrew Lloyd was taking a look at who had viewed his most recent Instagram story. That’s when he saw something strange: himself. More specifically, an Instagram profile using photos of his face, but under a different name. Andrew realized someone had spent years collecting his images in order to make fake Facebook and Instagram accounts. Andrew decided he’d become a catfish in order to try to confront this catfisher. Eventually, he was able to get in contact with the fraud and discover why he had been stealing Andrew’s likeness.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Saskia Collette

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Andrew Lloyd standing in a street. Credit: Chris Lloyd)

Available now

41 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Thu 16 Jan 202512:06GMT
  • Thu 16 Jan 202518:06GMT
  • Thu 16 Jan 202523:06GMT
  • Fri 17 Jan 202503:06GMT

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Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected