My Boyfriends Ex Had Passed Away But I Think He Was Catfished r/Relationships

[@Emily-ck9ji]

Catfish stories fascinate me. It seems like it's a mixture of power, control, and excitement they feel when manipulating people this way. Knowing that they hold all the cards and whoever they're catfishing is at their mercy. I don't think I will ever understand why lies like these seems better to the Catfish than just being honest. There's got to be something missing in their own lives. An unhappiness with who they are, what they are, and where they are. It's cruel to trick people and make them care for individuals who never existed to begin with. Most also seem to "kill off" their persona as just one more way to inflict pain on others.

[@1tiptip187]

This is my experience in most cases. I found them on DA before and its like they are trying to Roleplay their lives as interesting and proving they are needed but need the other person to believe it.

[@chriskratzmeyer1207]

The part I don't understand is how someone can fall in love with someone they only know online.or even people who fall in love only after two days of dating .

[@1tiptip187]

@@chriskratzmeyer1207 people confuse infatuation with love. And for some people infatuation is a powerful feeling. I've had to shoot people down online and IRL who thought we had such a strong connection and they can't answer basic questions about me because they only see my work side (IRL) or the side of me sharing a basic interest online while being nice to them.

[@Icalasari]

@@chriskratzmeyer1207 I fell in love with a person online. Over 15 years later and still madly in love with her, along with having seen her in person many times You can fall in love with somebody's personality

[@chriskratzmeyer1207]

@@Icalasari I just don't see how someone can truly love someone t they never meant

[@psylocke2001]

I was involved with this woman I met in an online game some years ago. We connected really well and were involved for nearly two years. Then they vanished for a couple of weeks with no contact and then popped up again one day telling me they had been in the hospital. They had a cyst that had calcified and ran in to complications with the surgery and healing process. Over the next several months, they would vanish for days/weeks at a time, and when they came back, their story was more elaborate; wheelchair bound at one point. Then I met a 'friend' of theirs who was our go-between, but I noticed a few things; 1. they were never online at the same time. 2. they spelled some words the same way. I started watching Catfish, and pieces started to fall into place. Reverse searched the number on Spokeo and it came back to a guy with same birthday, same city/state, ect. The straw that broke the camel's back was the 'friend' telling me they had a stroke and couldn't speak or move much. When I mentioned I didn't think they were who they clamed to be, they vanished all together. Darrick, if you're reading this, I want the $400 I spent on my non-existant girlfriend back, you lying manipulative sack of shit.

[@AllyBarkin]

I was once catfished. I was 19 at the time. I believe the person’s motive was loneliness. I tend to doubt a large portion of what they told me about their life, but I do think they were honest when they at the very least seemed to feel alone. For that I pity them. To this day I find it so hard to forgive them, but I also find it hard to be angry.

[@InfernalShadowDragon]

Still believe a friend of mine dated a catfish. She was a nurse with a heart condition who somehow had time to be a yoga instructor and video game streamer in her spare time. Her parents were connected to the Italian mafia and wouldn't let her have a phone, yet she somehow sent my friend selfies... Also had 5 dogs to look after at home...

[@SailorMya]

This happened to me and my SO with one of his crazy exes. I got with my SO about a month after he broke up with this girl who was cheating on him with her drug dealer. She was on some hard stuff and he would have left just from that but the cheating was found out at the same time. They didn't talk for over 7 years and at that point we are together with 3 kids. They start messaging over Facebook and he was very open about everything with me. Well this friendship sours when she starts flirting and begging for him back. He blocked her and that seems like the end till months later he gets a message from her mother saying she died. (Her drug use caused her to have seizures and that is what "killed" her.) SO is upset since she was sill a friend but after that she was not just and ex anymore. She was placed on a pedestal and any words spoken about her were of good times. When you think of exes you can have good and bad memories hence why they are exes, but when a person dies you don't want to think ill of them. This drove me nuts till I looked her up and found her Facebook (that he had blocked) and guess who is doing just fine and still posting... I showed this to him and it ticked him off so he messaged her once about how good she looks for being dead and blocked her again. It takes a certain amount of narcissism to make someone believe you are dead.

[@--AreYouMemeing_]

Hope everyone’s doing well in their little corner of the world! My world book day costume went down great with the kids my cosplaying comes in handy sometimes it seems 😂 thanks for the upload mark 💛

[@michaelleppek4092]

So what? Who asked?

[@clairebear-96]

@@michaelleppek4092 Wow how unnecessarily rude, Mark asks in like every video to hear what everyone’s up to

[@clairebear-96]

For the record your costume sounds great!! I work with kids too and dressing up always gets them so excited!!

[@KellerNeko]

@@michaelleppek4092 So what? Who asked you? Smfh

[@--AreYouMemeing_]

@@michaelleppek4092 well that’s it, I’ll just stop commenting oh woe is me 😔✋🏻

[@micahpatchen1538]

The catfished victim is often rabid about not being catfished. My dad got catfished in 2019 and I tried doing the same as OP and was told to keep my mouth shut, i'm too dumb to know the truth and blah blah. Dad told me to shut up and not talk to him again, and I haven't. Dad chose a catfish over his only kid....AND I'M IN MY 40s, he's in his 60s, I wasn't a snot nosed kid trying to tell daddy what to do. He lost his mind over his catfish. He turned into someone completely horrible, it was odd. he completely changed.

[@TiffWaffles]

And the sad thing is that catfish victims continue the cycle and find another 'person' that catfishes them some more. It's always heartbreaking to see. They are usually so defensive because the relationship the victim has with their abuser feels so real to them. So that's why they get so aggressive about defending their relationship. I hope your dad finds the light and gets help. He's going to need all the support after he realises that his relationship was nothing more than a sham.

[@micahpatchen1538]

@@TiffWaffles thank you! He's with people that can take care of him physically and emotionally. I don't talk to him, but I'm nosey enough to make sure he's safe. I understand his real feelings for the catfish. I understand his anger towards the truth too. But....lol...I'm way more stubborn than him lol! But it appears he's doing better than he was 😀

[@senpaiisofty4393]

These are always so sad, you can see the manipulation from the catfish and the desperation from the victim. No matter the reason behind it, both sides need to seek help for their own reasons and move on with their lives. Catfishing should be taken far more seriously for these exact reasons - it hurts so many.

[@robertbishop5158]

This is very disturbing that people do this And don't have a life of their own. These People need mental hospitalisation

[@AndreNDP]

I have been catfished multiple times in the past. I suspect I am being catfished now. Some people are just lonely and sad and would rather have something fake than nothing at all.

[@dreamingclouds4699]

I think it’s ego and a power trip as for the cat fishes motive. She(?) clearly wanted him to never get over her… truly a terrible person

[@cjb2749]

They can find the actual catfish easy; she's the one messaging him as her "friends." All he has to do is tell her that he knows and ask her why

[@TsukiKageTora]

I feel like everyone at some point need to get lessons of catfishing and scams online so a lot less people fall for them.

[@yolkednick9286]

The end goal of some catfishers is to just cause pain, to make someone feel as bad as they do.. or to get some sick thrill from it.. or both.

[@scarlettg.5772]

Old friend of mine was a catfisher on the small scale when he was a teen 16-18ish. He would manipulate men online on games like WOW and pretend to be a woman/girl that needed gold (in game currency) would flirt and dress his character skimpy. He got lots of guys to give him things. His response when ask why he did that and if he felt bad was “if they’re dumb enough to fall for it then why should I feel bad.” And that he did it because it was fun and he got stuff. He has no real morals and does what he wants because he can. And did this to pass time and push to see what he could get away with.

[@broken_queer_but_fighting8589]

Just had some hot cocoa cause it's a random cold day today so better stay warm 💜💜🤗🤗

[@riley6740]

Dr. Phil has these poor people on a lot and it’s so difficult to get them to acknowledge themselves being hoodwinked.

[@MsUnamusedNerd]

I hate catfish. These people are just disgusting. Like they will string people along in a fake relationship, unalive themselves, then come back as a “completely different person” to try to string that person on some more. Like how this catfish kept repeatedly bring up bad stuff whenever the dude said he was perfectly fine so much happy. That is extremely cruel.

[@maggpiprime954]

I know I'm a day late in this (I like listening with my morning coffee, so I save one for the next morning lol), but I suspect there are various psychological reasons for why ppl catfish (not for money): Emotional relationship they can't retain irl & the fantasy becomes real for them (making it hard to let go of the emotional input after the persona is killed off), enjoying the manipulation of a stranger's life, a combination of both... prolly more, I just can't picture any just now.

[@paden1865able]

A former friend got catfished and he's still stringing her along, using her for money. She tried to borrow cash from me to send to him and I flat refused. Thank God, she's still ignoring me to this day. People believe what they want to believe and don't want to see the truth.

[@dancingkitty11]

OP as hard as you try, you CANNOT compete with a ghost. He's not over her and probably never will be. It was an non meeting her ever relationship and this is how he acts over it? RED FLAG!🚩

[@CooperGal24]

OP's better off telling BoyFriend about this. If she keeps this a secret, she'll only betray BF's trust and loyalty! He HAS to know about this! Even if it does hurt him, OP should tell him that she'll ALWAYS be there for him, supporting him and will help him out in anyway she can, unlike the EX!

[@louellacharlton4425]

Tyvm Mark.. Cannot imagine deliberately hurting someone like that! Maybe demon inspired to get off on the pain. Sick and evil. Stay safe please. PEACE

[@maurer3d]

Chances are this "catfisher" is someone he knows and talks to regularly, who has it out for him, since this person seems to contact him whenever he seems to be happy. Some jackass at work, some idiot relative, an ex girlfriend with a grudge. etc..

[@GMAMEC]

It’s amazing how things appear differently when you are in a relationship. Please be safe out there.

[@broken_queer_but_fighting8589]

Whoever is reading this i send hugs and great vibes. Drink water, eat food, nap, take a break, take care of yourself gosh darn it. And if you don't I swear I will find you and keep you in a cottage and take care of you. 🤗🤗💜💜🤗🤗💜💜🤗🤗💜💜🤗🤗💜💜🤗🤗💜💜🤗🤗💜💜🤗🤗💜💜🤗🤗💜💜

[@katiesmith2031]

Hugs and great vibes back 🤗🤗💙💙🤗🤗💙💙

[@broken_queer_but_fighting8589]

@@katiesmith2031 much love I hope today has been well 💜💜🤗🤗

[@BritInvLvr]

Regarding catfishing. Imagine, if you will, you are an unattractive person. You’re invisible in real life. You have no one asking you out or paying attention to you. Your life is dull, dull, dull. You go online. Chat rooms, blogs, game chats, dating websites and create the person you want to be. Younger, thinner, prettier. You start getting lots of attention. You hold their attention with not only what they think you look like but your witt and intelligence. It always snowballs to where people want to meet you. But they can’t. How do you end this? You die, move, break it off. You didn’t want to go this far, but now you’re addicted to the thrill. So you start it up all over again. Yeah. I knew someone who catfished a ton of guys. I thought she was my good friend. Turned out I was catfished too.

[@broken_queer_but_fighting8589]

Hey you yes you remember to take care of yourself gosh darn it, you are always valid, and I love you and care about you so please take care of yourself 💜💜🤗🤗💜💜🤗🤗

[@chetarisin3035]

You're awesome. I hope you have a good week

[@broken_queer_but_fighting8589]

@@chetarisin3035 you too m8 and thanks 🤗🤗💜💜🤗🤗💜💜

[@carolroberts4614]

Hi Broken! Hope you're doing well!

[@broken_queer_but_fighting8589]

@@carolroberts4614 I hope you are doing great m8 much love 🤗🤗💜💜

[@RosiePosey5150]

I would not be able to stay with a guy or woman who was catfished. I don't understand how someone can fall for these tricks. I don't have any pity or respect for anyone scammed online

[@flashingunicorncupcakekiss1436]

Somebody that catfishs somebody like this with killing off the persona and then bringing out fresh stuff cut their victims with a fresh emotional wound. they want control over their victims. they are sociopaths who only feels something when they can provoke a feeling out of somebody else.

[@kristenhlady4079]

I think the catfish missed them, maybe trying to start an affair talking about her making him sad and then she would be there to comfort him, then a new letter would appear saying how much she always saw them being a good match or some other bs

[@carlrood4457]

Most catfishing is about money/gifts. For some, it's probably a bit of a power trip.

[@Mewse1203]

Story 1: there is no "friend". It's her. It's the catfish. Typical MO amd total bullcrap. That shit should be illegal

[@Toni_Snark]

Yep! Has to be!

[@definitelyarealperson248]

Look her up. Try to find proof she died. If you can’t, ask the bf if he wants to go up to visit her grave to remember her. Something like that?

[@TiffWaffles]

Yeah, a lot of obituaries are posted online- including death notices if an obituary costs too much.

[@lILunaticaIl]

my ex also had a wild catfish experience, tho it didn't reach this level. he had a long distance girlfriend who, instead of being upfront and breaking up with him, pretended to be hospitalized and that she "lost her memory" due to medication, but conveniently only forgot about him/their relationship, while still remembering everyone else in their friend group. then she strung him along for a couple of months pretending she wanted to "get to know him again". so cruel for absolutely no reason. he suffered with a lot of mental health issues and no one knew how to confront him about it when he was in such a vulnerable state, but we did eventually have an "intervention" of sorts and he managed to move on

[@Xokoy]

Catfishing is a form of trolling a lot of the time. Some people lack attention in their lives so they get their kicks from getting a rise out of other random people. Just knowing that they're getting an emotional response from people help them fill in a void in their own lives. Or they're just mean and detach from the idea that they're messing with other people and just do this stuff because they're bored and don't care that it's another real person on the other side of that exchange.

[@cheekyweb8055]

Ugh lol I wish they would of confronted her haha! A lot of the times people who are catfishes are insecure about themselves with how they look. Or sometimes they are just plain mean and it’s a game to them. It depends on the case.

[@sciencenerd218]

Just in time for my lunch as I finally get to sit down

[@MalkavianGhoul]

Whoever the catfish is they just wanna manipulate under the illusion they care. They set up the orignal ex to die to really hurt OP's boyfriend. It's sadly not that uncommon. Then the catfish just comes back and when they see Op's boyfriend is happy and moving on they want another chance and get their hooks in and pull them down. It makes them upset they don't have full control over his life anymore and so they want to put some hurt on them for their own sick kind of fun. I hardly doubt any chance of the ex being a real person let alone dead. Its all just a manipulative game to hurt someone for their enjoyment.

[@WobblesandBean]

The fact that it "keeps coming up" even after he said he doesn't want to talk about it is kind of a red flag. This guy doesn't deal with his emotions well, and he sucks at communicating. You're a good egg, OP, but do keep this in mind for the future if you two get married.

[@strangastrigo]

Catfishing is such an odd thing... If this were a character in a story the motivation I'd go with is a woman who doesn't feel appreciated by family or neglected by spouse. She could decide what she needs is the thrill of someone directing love and attention at her but something prevents living the dream. Create a character, the ideal self, and find someone online. Faking the death could have been her way of trying to stop (or just what she did when things started cooling down and a new mark was needed for greater enthusiasm). The reminders as 'friends' would be likely if she needed to be reminded she was special enough no one could really get over her. The woman absolutely needs to get help whatever the true reason. I can't imagine someone in a good mental place doing something like this.

[@ebagentj]

Just an aside, I love how cute and happy your ending theme song is.

[@AryonaSamoto]

The only thing I can think of for the cat-fishing is that it gives the cat-fisher relevance. Some people are so lonely and disillusioned from the world that having care and compassion given to them by a stranger, even if it's towards a fake persona, gives them relevance. It's not okay and doesn't justify their actions but it's an explanation.

[@Silence-1170]

Hope all of you are doing well waffles! Grandpa is feeling better so that's good. Have a good rest of your Friday!

[@carolroberts4614]

So glad he's doing well!

[@frankhooper7871]

Maybe I'm cold-hearted, but I can't imagine getting that emotionally involved with somebody you've never actually met.

[@damien678]

I met my bf online, and I was incredibly emotionally invested in him before I met him. I lived in a country town and while I was lucky enough to know other lgbtq+ peers, I was still very isolated, and wasn't able to connect with them since it was still just a small group of us. I've now been living with my bf for years, and I'll never regret making connections online, even though they've definitely hurt me in the past.

[@bannerturtoise1219]

As for the person that did the catfishing and why, I think Micheal Cain said it best, "...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."

[@greed94]

OP sounds like an absolute keeper. Their SO better hold tightly onto this one.

[@cynicalminion]

the original catfishing doesn't really puzzle me as much as that they're trying to bring the "dead ex" up again... catfishing seems "logical" even if "getting off on messing with somebody" isn't a healthy or "okay" thing to do. THIS sounds like the inverse of the response to someone's action/comment "who hurt you?" by this i mean, "who'd your bf hurt?" because it seems like someone's decided to make HIM SPECIFICALLY unhappy (or try to, at least)... like, this has undertones of "bf dated somebody's crush (or picked someone else instead of somebody crushing on him) and that person has obsessed about it for years, and first through a non-existent gf, and then through emotional manipulation, has attempted to ensure that bf never happily shares his life with anyone else"

[@pegacis]

I can imagine that people who catifish and don’t do it for stuff like money our material goods are just extremely lonely and cowardly. They crave attention and love but due to whatever circumstance (maybe low self esteem) it’s easier for them to to look for that online while pretending to be someone else because they are not secure in who they are.

[@kolonarulez5222]

First OP was ok with their partner getting a tattoo commemorating his ex?

[@ladyv5655]

He probably had it before they met.

[@jaymevosburgh3660]

Anyone that can fall in love with a person they have never met and do not talk with on a regular basis is a creepy weirdo! That is not healthy, at all, in any sense. They obviously need therapy for whatever issues cause them to act that way. I know I couldn't trust them.

[@KCCAT5]

The story is typical of catfish 101

[@charondusk5608]

The motives behind catfishing are highly varied. Most commonly, it's an attempt at a scam, trying to get money out of the person they're victimising, either through sob stories or blackmail should the victim trust them enough to send things like adult photos/video. For some, it's loneliness, an unsatisfaction with their own lives driving them to make themselves "important" in another's life, even if it means lying. This one...this is one of the worst ones, because it's neither of the above. This is someone whose sole motivation was to cause pain and suffering, to have control over someone and effectively live rent free in their head. THAT is why these "friends" reach out every now and then, and seem only do it when he's apparently happy - it's to continue the torture, to exert their control and power over him. While it's more likely just some random schmuck deciding to be an asshole just to get their rocks off, I have read a number of catfishing stories like this where it turned out that the catfish in question was someone that the victim actually knew, and the motivation was either purely spite, they viewed the victim as "deserving it" for some (often imagined) wrongdoing, or it was a sick, twisted kind of control, effectively getting the victim to turn to them for comfort. I have to wonder if that's the case with this catfish, too, because it would explain how the catfish seemed to know the best time to reach out again and make things difficult....although that could also just be the random schmuck being bored. Regardless, it's good that OP was able to back-up her theory and that the BF knows the truth now and can start to truly move on from it.

[@isabellecasier5702]

Someone with some knowledge in IT could find the IP adress from that "friend" and there is a website where you can find a location for the IP adress. But its manipulation in the highest form, the internet provide a screen in the anonomity and allows the manipulation to be even more deviant.

[@jeanipin3430]

This is the same person with multiple accounts sending all those posts, I will bet my life on this. They are very sad people indeed and this person is doing the same to multiple people. It's just sick and sad

[@carlrood4457]

I suspect the "friend" was going through their old marks and feeling him out for second round with the "friend". Probably should have used sister or cousin, however; someone more likely to come across "old things" in their possessions rather than just a friend.

[@Mhidraum]

Yay, upload from Mark. 😊 I'm currently trying to sleep while recovering from covid. It's hard because of how painful my throat is. I keep being woken up by a lovely mix of weird feber dreams, coughing, or my nose running.

[@Mewse1203]

Be kind, be safe and take care of yourself. Have a great day.

[@shawnesmith5364]

To be honest even she was a real person and had died, I feel like it would be fucked up to constantly be reminding and bringing them up. It feel like a rub in the face, only serving as a way to open old wound, and proven the guy from moving on( processing her death and being happy)

[@alicewilloughby4318]

Story 1 - I haven't finished the story yet, but I think OP should absolutely tell her BF her suspicions! He deserves to know and to stop letting this person/people jerk him around! He may well feel angry and betrayed (he has a right to!) but hopefully he will eventually get past it. It sounds like someone is being a really sadistic asshole! Later - Well, thank God that went a lot better than it could have. I kind of see what the BF means; even if the young woman herself was fake, the emotions he invested in her were real and finding out the truth can't just magically make that go away. Hopefully, in time, they will fade, though. As for the tattoo, he should keep it, but have a catfish tattooed around it.

[@UzumakiDonnoHinata]

Oh hi, Mark! I just got done at the gym. Now I'm cleaning house and then I'm going to work on the crochet baby blanket for my unborn niece. Much love!

[@jackiewepps4694]

I bet you there are just some awful people out there who enjoys making other people suffer for no reason.

[@eduardoalexanderoliveirade9112]

Considering the person actually existed (according to the documents they found about her birth) I'd bet she started to date him decided she wanted to break up with him for whatever reason but didn't have the courage to do so and created the cancer story so she wouldn't have to talk to him. But now that she saw he had moved on from her she decided to create the gifts to keep herself alive in his memory because she didn't want him to actually get over her

[@Harry-iq4xt]

To give my opinion on this story if it does turn out to be fake, it's someone who thrives off the power and control they have over another person what started as a long distance cat fishing quickly got out of hand. This "death" was primarily used as a way out but I think this friend of the ex is the person who was the ex to begin with and whenever they feel like they just mess with him in order to thrive again off that control again.

[@Weirdandwonderfull19]

Yay 😁. Been waiting up for a new Waffle before bed. Perfect end to the day 😁.

[@InItForTheParking]

Why? Because habitual liars thrive on manipulation, some even emotional manipulation. I'm not saying that lightly or to make anyone sound bad. As a child, about 5-10 years old I was a horrible habitual liar. I remember that it made me smile to be good enough that people would believe what I said, no matter how ridiculous. Thankfully I grew out that crap when I started forming adult opinions on other people and realizing that people are only as good as their word.

[@gloriasowle8083]

Often the people catfishing are housebound or half social problems that make having a real relationship impossible for them. They have learned that talking through internet allows them to be whomever without having to face a person. When reality comes close then breakup or in this case terminal illness ends relationship. The "friend " ploy allows them to hold on. Yes, it's sick, but for 5 years they too were in a relationship and didn't really want to end it.

[@trainerlesseevee478]

My doggo hasn't been feeling well the past few days so I've spent most of my time in bed with my pup. We both listen to Mark when we do this 🧇🖤

[@SamanthaTotimeh]

YHHHH BOY!!! Sitting here in bed with my cat Nala. We just finished watching some People's Court 😂 Mark you would absolutely LOVE it; it's so good. Highly recommend. My fave will always be Paternity Court but I think People's Court is more your speed!

[@krizkatz1574]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who binges paternity court too. Some of those cases are wild and the judge is 🔥

[@SamanthaTotimeh]

@@krizkatz1574 Yes! I love Judge Lake; she's both tough and gentle. It's crazy how some of these parents just go back and forth about their feelings and what the other party has done and not mention the child at all. And she's obviously gorgeous and I love Jerome "BOOM BOOM" Hamilton just as much 😂😂😂 it's not the same without him

[@gngrblls2thwall]

If you haven't met her, she's not your girlfriend

[@RokoFireFox]

I really love catfish stories. They are always so interesting. I used to catfish once. But never went as far as "killing" the person off. In my personal experience, I was in high school dealing with a lot of things. I used it as a way to escape my life. If I lost contact with someone with someone that was it. I do keep on and off contact with someone I used to catfish. But I came clean to him forever ago. But I can't imagine bringing up someone who "died" to and ex every now and then outta the blue. That just seems cruel

[@colmwhateveryoulike3240]

I was wondering if it's a way of trying to experience relationships the catfish might not feel ready for or worthy of without the real risk?

[@RokoFireFox]

@@colmwhateveryoulike3240 I think some people do it for that. A lot have low self esteem and thats why they do it. At least on Catfish the tv show.

[@colmwhateveryoulike3240]

@@RokoFireFox Yeah always lots of paths to similar behaviour.

[@ZoeyHope]

Friend is the catfish!!!

[@carolroberts4614]

Yes

[@amandab8433]

Something similar happened to me and a group of friends. Waaay back in the Yahoo Groups days I belonged to an Atheist Homeschoolers page. There was this widower with twins who became a part of this close knit group. He said that his wife had died years earlier from some illness, can't remember the name, and his twin sons also suffered it. Anyway we moms took him into our "Family", and helped him in anyway we could. Not money, but just helping him by sending books, curriculum, and things like that. So when FB came along we all moved our group there. A yearly schooling convention came around, and we were all so excited to see him and his boys, who we now thought of the three as family. I week before leaving he posted that they were in a horrific car accident and the twins were killed. One friend thought something was just off. So she started to search for an accident that might have happened. What she did find was this famous sports writer who was posting his life things, and they were spot on the SAME that "Mike" had posted. Long story short we had been Catfished by this person for six years. We all felt so stupid for letting this person into our lives, and sending him things when the real person did not have kids, or was even married. That's when I started my "I won't believe who you are until we meet in person.

[@Lillypop93]

Yay I was just looking for something to listen to while I cook

[@ddjohnson3961]

Now I wanna watch catfish. Still a little worried for OP in the last one when she mentioned his temper even though she never got to see it.Also it kind of bugged me how he didn’t realize that this whole situation bugged her. His whole reaction seemed weird to me.

[@lowganc1739]

Yeah, that response he gave "but she's still gone.." It makes no sense for him to say such a thing, how could she be gone if she never existed? I'd say there's a good case to be made that the catfisher might be closer to OP than she thinks! Who knows what motivated people to do the weird things they do, however OP's jealous reactions where maybe what he desired, something to boost his ego every now and again. His reactions were not consistent with someone who was so hoodwinked.

[@collady1]

The friend is most likely the “girl friend” who spends all their time on the computer all day and night doing this to lots of other people. Two friends were catfished by a person who had no idea they knew each other. Together the friends turned the tables on the original catfisher!

[@carlrood4457]

It may be my age, but I find the idea of purely online relationships to be creepy. I can see continuing and existing relationship online if someone moves, but connecting with someone you've never looked in the eye feels weird.

[@Josku2411]

Oop early and drawing my borderlands big woman number 2 because i like drawing big women

[@sequoyasierra5671]

CATFISH I watched a show about catfishing. In the case of the possible catfisher in the story, these people quite often have low self-esteem and have no or very few friends. They generally feel they aren't attractive for some reason, usually are lonely for a love companion, and don't think they will ever have the type of person they want for a Significant Other. They catfish someone to pull them into their grand love story. This fulfills their fantasy of the fairy tale love affair. They can say or be anything they wish to be. Ultimately, continuing the relationship becomes problematic because the victim will eventually want to meet. This can't happen because the fisher most often creates an online persona that has nothing to do with their true personality. The emotions involved are the same as falling in love in person even though the fisher realizes it isn't real. But it can't last. The fisher has to end the relationship and death is the easiest way. It is all so tragic and melodramatic and the perfect ending to a fake relationship. The victim will mourn for the person, will talk to the fisher's 'friends' (who in all probability are the fisher as well) and the fisher will get the love and the attention they crave. As for periodically coming back into the victim's life as the catfisher's friend, well that is control and may have an element of jealousy involved. The occasional reminder of the relationship breathes life, for a moment back into a dead relationship. It is about the fisher reliving the love affair. Usually, these catfishers are just lonely people who have nothing interesting in their life and so they create an exciting online love life. They are energy vampires that suck the life out of their victims in the end. . The fisher may be of either sex. There are other types of catfishers, but this is a typical profile of somebody who catfishes for love online. There is a real possibility that the victim may actually know or has known the catfisher in the present or the past but it can also just be a FB/ Twitter thing where somebody stumbles across a user profile and takes a fancy to it.

[@Toni_Snark]

5 years, y’all!! And why in god’s name would you get a tattoo of someone’s name you had never met? Never MET?? Or even FaceTimed or whatever!! Blows my mind.

[@dianagoodwin233]

Wanted to comment on why this person would do this, I don't condone what this person has done...want that out 1st lol. I chronic illnesses that makes me more homebound, which I hate I'm more a social person, and it can get really lonely even if you do not live alone. People who do this take their loneliness or social outcastness (not even a word) too far. They don't show their real self cause " why would anyone love me" They may make friends but lose them because they get too clingy, or jealous (like OPs situation, everytime catfishee(really making up words now) is moving on the catfisher is threatened and does something to "get their friend/SO back" It can get really lonely for people. So if someone in your life is sick, home bound, shy whatever, reach out. Pandemic has made most things harder for everybody. Take care of each other

[@roguemom530]

Hi Mark! I love your videos, they brighten my day, and I look forward to them daily. Can you please tell me the name and artist of the song at the end of this video? It's a catchy little diddy, and I would like to know more! Thank you very much, keep up the awesome work!

[@Russman67]

Some people are just driven to create pain in other people. It gets them off. That's why someone can find a complete stranger and mess with their head. It's sick behavior but explainable.

[@Zeracheil]

Must be a really slow day on Reddit if these old stories are getting drug back up.

[@winterkind1772]

I think I catfished someone once... This was over a decade ago, I must have been 12-14? I can't remember. I spend all my free time in some online game and at first it was more of roleplay thing for me. You know? Being someone I wanted to be. A little older, a little cooler, not this depressive little girl that had no friends. But I just ended the whole thing when it got to exhausting to remember my own lies noone "died" or anything dramatic. I am truely sorry looking back now, but I think esp. younger catfishes can act this way because they can not imagine being loved for who they really are. That's what kept me at it at least. My family always told me, what a horrible person I was... so yeah. I pretended to be someone else. Oh and it only made me more lonely in the end because I really liked this guy but I knew he didn't like me but this persona I created. It was horrible.

[@ajzephyros7454]

I have not personally been catfished, but, I watched a catfishing play out over several years this psycho had made up dozens of people she used to manipulate her mark

[@47896285pgdfzgnd]

Even if they found the catfish, what can they do? Are there laws about this stuff?

[@carolroberts4614]

At least they would know the truth and he can move on! I don't know about the legal side, but I would think it would be illegal if they had been using it to get money.

[@alanhampton6]

With the catfish story, I had something similar happened to me when I was about 16 I was talking to this guy and it was when I first came out of the closet so finding someone that happen to be near me even though it was an hour seemed awesome we talked for a couple months we wasn’t officially dating or anything but I was really starting to get interested. We were both depressed teenagers and talked about it a lot. well one day he starts texting me that he’s about to swallow a whole bottle of pills I’m like oh my God I don’t know what to do but throughout the entire period of us talking he had this best friend that was a female who I had added on Facebook so I messaged her and said that I don’t know what’s going on but it doesn’t look good. She broke the news to me that he had committed suicide and I was shocked I didn’t really know what to think but I was sad for while but didn’t really feel like I loved him we never talked on the phone we never see each other so although it was sad I just went along with life. After about 8 years. His “best friend” Comes out of the woodwork and tells me that long ago she was was cat fishing me through this made up guys account she apologized a bunch and explained that she had a huge crush on me and was hoping that by bonding through grief of this imaginary person that we could start a relationship which is odd because I’m gay. I told her that I didn’t really care and I appreciate you letting me know about what truly happened but it’s messed up I’m glad that she came to that realization.

[@shannond1511]

I guess because my ex tht died was also my best ftiend nd we had grown up together makes me feel almst offended by the first story. He never even met the person and got tattoos, didnt go to the funeral either but was supposedly.super close to her. Even of he was not catfished, which i think he was, he couldnt be that close to her.

[@1tiptip187]

I had a few situations with the lonely and friendless type of catfishers on DA. The type that you can tell are trying to build some kind of online relationship with someone because they cant have that life IRL. I ditched talking to them fast though once it was obvious they were getting overly attached and their behavior was far beyond the normal bit of online "Persona" white lies and actually trying to play me. The pitiful part is they weren't even good at the ploy as even a minor bit of detective work from curiosity could find conversations they had with others contradicting their made up personas. Like they just expected people online to fall for it. The scary part is I wondered later if the idea was to fish for people that would easily believe it.

[@CrysRonstelle]

I am 100% sure it was someone op's partner knows!

[@soulreaper1981]

People that don't have a live katfish. They love the feelings and drama. Because there not getting it in there real live

[@ladyv5655]

People who catfish other people are vile disgusting pieces of $hi!. How sadistic do you have to be to mess with people's feelings?

[@vernell2601]

Yay!!! Happy weekend waffle gang

[@JSainte17]

Anyone notice that OP said originally that she was only doing this for his sake and NOT because she felt threatened, but then in the first update, where she explains that they've both chalk it up to a catfish that she now "no longer feels threatened". I totally get her feeling bad about herself/their relationship when he receives trinkets from his "dead ex-gf", but I don't like that she framed it as only doing it for his benefit, when really, she felt threatened by a dead girl. If her boyfriend had had an actual relationship with someone for many years, and then they died, and he met her, but still was somber when she was brought up years later, Reddit would come down hard on her for expecting him to forget his dead ex, and would call her insane for being jealous of a woman who tragically died young, while she's about to marry the dude (aka he obviously loves her more than anything).

[@jaymevosburgh3660]

Well yeah, I would be just as pissed off if this were happening to my partner with a "dead" ex. I care about their happiness and well-being, so if someone was seemingly going out ov their way to upset them about the past and keep them depressed while we were trying to grow together I would do whatever was in my power to help put an end to it. Plus it's painfully obvious this lady was never real in the first place. People that care about you wouldn't act that way and be so vague and distant on purpose while tugging at emotions. So ov course she felt threatened along with wanting to help him out! Some weirdos were messing with him and threatening their happiness as a couple. However this whole thing bothers me, I don't trust people that can fall into love with a stranger so quickly and never met them. It creeps me out, and something fierce!

[@albertgongora6944]

I'm not going to lie I remember hearing Story one on a different Channel and I'm not going to lie I feel bad for Opie boyfriend at the time when he still was somewhat I guess in a relationship with this catfish person but at the same time I was like come on dude like how the hell do you go get a tattoo of somebody and you don't even look up if they literally died in the papers or online when it came to like you know their name and everything like that like it shouldn't I was like come on dude like how the hell do you go get a tattoo of somebody and you don't even look up if they literally died in the papers or looking it up online of they really did pass away that way you could have went to their grave in like paid respects of this was a person that actually did die but the boyfriend just was like oh she died okay I'm going to go get a tattoo that's it I'm not going to question anything you and I get that he was in an emotional state and all that but seriously man I will never understand how somebody could be that gullible

[@anitacharron9153]

I don't know where you are writing obituary my Dad's cost us $20

[@deborahyoung1873]

Not trying to be rude, but how can you even consider yourself in any type a relationship with someone online that you haven't even met?! Just seems kind of pathetic.

[@kebryanhayes7757]

Yb >

[@Madmark50484]

Women do this kind of stuff for attention especially if they do have other things going on in their life’s.