No, don't catfish anyone. It's a rotten thing to do. Do you sign your cheques with a friend's name? No. So don't be false when you're hoping to make friends or relationships. think of the other person. Is it nice to find out you've been cheated, misled?
Be straightforward, or don't communicate with a person at all. By all means protect yourself, that's sensible, but don't lie, cheat and pretend. That makes you a lesser person. A much lesser person.