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Original poster

I am being catfished right now!

438 replies

qualitychat · 23/02/2024 21:34

I received a friend request on Facebook just now. This is definitely someone catfishing me. He comes from Austin, Texas but has pigeon English. He is a Marine Engineer living in Sweden. He does a very dangerous job. He is a nice looking man, he has sent me a photo. He tragically lost his wife 5 years ago due to medical negligence. Am I wrong in stringing him alone?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
Nanaof1 · 24/02/2024 04:37

Ofcourseshecan · 24/02/2024 00:03

I think he got suspicious and hung up after I told him that auntie Mary’s head had fallen right off and never been found

Sending prayers for poor Auntie 🤣

Hopefully, they were able to transfer a cadaver head to poor Auntie Mary, and she is back to playing bingo and bridge. 😉

effoffwind · 24/02/2024 04:35

I once spend over an hour describing my elbow bunion to one on the Fitbit community
He was declaring undying love ... I was declaring a need for cabbage poultice

Nanaof1 · 24/02/2024 04:22

Mothership4two · 24/02/2024 03:10

@Mummyoflittledragon the photos didn't look like it. It looked like someone who worked in a port out and about doing his job. I expect they were lifted from a newsletter (or similar) because he was a good looking man.

I've had a few try to friend me on FB. They are always US citizens, military contractors, and based in the Middle East. The pictures are always either on a boat or in a uniform at some base.

Nanaof1 · 24/02/2024 04:18

mynameiscalypso · 23/02/2024 21:56

Oh so it's someone who's been groomed from a young age by a gang like Black Axe where it's almost impossible to leave without retribution

Show quote history

So what? No difference if she keeps him going or if he goes after another person who might be naive enough to fall for it.

Or do you think we should all send them money because it's a gang? FFS

GMAFB

fallenover · 24/02/2024 04:17

Mumof2NDers · 23/02/2024 23:03

Have you watched Daisy May Cooper on Jonathon Ross? Tried to post a link but didn’t manage it 🤦‍♀️

[grin]
BarbieDangerous · 24/02/2024 03:52

Why you so mad? @shreknjumps

Nothing wrong with people replying and taking the piss. The more time spent with people like the OP is less time spent with real victims who are quick to part with their cash. Why would you have a problem with that?

cauliflowerqueen · 24/02/2024 03:25

I've never received anything this exciting. I do occasionally get very dull messages asking if I'll be at yoga tomorrow and similar. 😴

Mouse82 · 24/02/2024 03:23

SaltySoo · 23/02/2024 21:45

Has he got a child aged about eight who needs a mother but who is happy at boarding school so will be no bother?

And did his late wife bequeath him a briefcase which has something valuable in it but he has to pay for the paperwork to get the briefcase sent to him/you?

Snap, I was about to ask if they had a young child at boarding school. Someone at work got catfished by a bloke like that. Even when he didn't show up in Australia on the flight he was supposed to be on, she still believed he was real.

Mummyoflittledragon · 24/02/2024 03:16

Oh I see. Yes, all the more realistic I suppose. I presume it’s not a remotely racey photo. Hopefully the person is blissfully unaware of their image being used and there will be an expiry date to the picture as it will look grainy or old fashioned in time.

Mothership4two · 24/02/2024 03:10

@Mummyoflittledragon the photos didn't look like it. It looked like someone who worked in a port out and about doing his job. I expect they were lifted from a newsletter (or similar) because he was a good looking man.

Mummyoflittledragon · 24/02/2024 02:49

Mothership4two · 24/02/2024 02:15

I have been messaged by a very good looking Swedish engineer widow. It was a couple of years ago. I just block these kind of messages immediately.

I do feel sorry for whoever is in those photos though, it must be frustrating to have no control over your image and it be used (probably) thousands of times to scam people.

They will possibly be computer generated images. There is a site called something like ‘this image does not exist’.

Am loving peoples work here.

RantyAnty · 24/02/2024 02:41

I don't understand why you have your Facebook Messenger open to strangers in the first place?

Justfinking · 24/02/2024 02:28

I'd ask for some money 🤭

Mothership4two · 24/02/2024 02:15

I have been messaged by a very good looking Swedish engineer widow. It was a couple of years ago. I just block these kind of messages immediately.

I do feel sorry for whoever is in those photos though, it must be frustrating to have no control over your image and it be used (probably) thousands of times to scam people.

Bythefireside · 24/02/2024 02:14

shreknjumps · 24/02/2024 01:39

"I enjoy wasting their time. I entertain fb friends with screenshots."

My fb friend does this. Because she gets a few people putting laughing faces she thinks they are entertained. They're not

Wow you’re fun….

marmaladulation · 24/02/2024 01:55

I pass the phone to my 12yo son. We have a signal, where I wave above my head and he comes running. His voice hasn't broken yet so all good. He particularly enjoys the "internet problem ones'. He can keep them going for a good 5 minutes. If he's not here I hang up. His favourite is answering the phone, when I can tell it's a scammer number with "jimmy's takeaway - what would you like to order?" Always a resounding beep beep beep.

JaneJeffer · 24/02/2024 01:44

Are you not feeling the love @shreknjumps?

shreknjumps · 24/02/2024 01:41

"I howled with laughter at that one"

Howled? Really?

shreknjumps · 24/02/2024 01:39

"I enjoy wasting their time. I entertain fb friends with screenshots."

My fb friend does this. Because she gets a few people putting laughing faces she thinks they are entertained. They're not

Garlickit · 24/02/2024 01:38

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 23/02/2024 23:09

His love letter is online.
https://www.1001loveletters.com/Cartas.aspx?Id=112
Quote a few back to him!
https://www.1001loveletters.com/Cartas.aspx?Id=112

😲🤣 That's really something. Good find!

shreknjumps · 24/02/2024 01:37

And this thread shows exactly how these scams end up working 😒. Never reply, for fucks sake.

I wonder why I bother with my actual job at times

5YearsLeft · 24/02/2024 01:28

qualitychat · 23/02/2024 22:11

Latest message and I quote "This fairly recent friendship is something I consider to be sacred already. It makes me have faith again in some simple but fundamental human values which sometimes; for the lack of practice, we swipe under the carpets of our memories and of our hearts. For me, this new friendship is precious and that why I intend to keep it till the end of my days" 🤔

Erm…. Is the precious, sacred friendship in the room with us right now?

skygradient · 24/02/2024 01:20

mynameiscalypso · 23/02/2024 21:46

You realise that the person who sent the message could well have been trafficked and is being held as a modern slave in a scam centre right?

Yes, just watched a documentary about love scam compounds where they're held against their will. It's very common

battgirlatheart · 24/02/2024 01:15

I enjoy wasting their time. I entertain fb friends with screenshots.
I sometimes say to them when they want to be friends that they have to fill out a friend application form that costs £250 to apply and if successful they can pay by message by hour or all you can message package deal. They all decline!!
I am a big fan of a certain pop star and they all post on his posts saying they are the personal assistant and to dm and beware of fakes.
I had one telling me the real one was fake and I was like ummm no I’m going to see him for a VIP meet in a minute and he said I was being scammed lol even sat and took a picture backstage with pop star he’s still telling me it’s fake and I’m being scammed and he’s the real pop star!!

MsRosley · 24/02/2024 01:09

mynameiscalypso · 23/02/2024 21:59

@Slanabhaile Oh I totally agree that the problem isn't the people sending these messages and making these calls, it's the gangs that use violence and slavery. But engaging with one doesn't do anything other than make them have to work longer to meet their targets for the day.

Meet their targets? You mean extract money from vulnerable people. And you're concerned that OP is preventing them from doing this????