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Original poster

Friend catfishing neighbour on Insta - tell him?

137 replies

TwinklyBlueEagle · 18/10/2024 14:26

My friend made a fake account for laughs on Instagram last year using photos of a model from Brazil and she has started using the account to catfish one of our neighbours because she thinks it’s funny. She has made it look very genuine and if I didn’t know it was fake I’d think it was a real account.

I personally think it’s really naughty to deceive someone I know into forming a relationship with a fake woman. I jokily told her she should stop but she didn’t think I meant it. The whole thing doesn’t sit right with me though but if I tell him she’ll think I’m a right backstabber.

OP posts:
RaspberryBeretxx · 18/10/2024 15:47

I'd tell him the account is fake and that the pics are a Brazilian model but quietly (via an anon insta message or similar) partly to maintain reasonable neighbour relations and partly so as not to humiliate him. I'd also tell your "friend" in no uncertain terms that this is a horrible thing to do and distance yourself from her moving forward.

Iwantamarshmallowman · 18/10/2024 15:31

Summertimer · 18/10/2024 15:04

What?? A ridiculous assertion. Very wrong, very rude and you are reported.

Show quote history

but you were victim blaming.

BodyKeepingScore · 18/10/2024 15:28

I could not be friends with someone who'd deceive and manipulate another person like this.

Butterfly43 · 18/10/2024 15:25

Your friend sounds like a complete moron. I'd tell the neighbour the truth and then bin the friend off.

bergamotorange · 18/10/2024 15:21

I couldn't be friends with someone who did that.

I would tell him.

Dozycuntlaters · 18/10/2024 15:20

Why would you "jokingly" tell her. If that was my friend I would be saying wtf is wrong with you, its a dreadful thing to do, and then tell the person being catfished. It's not back stabbing, it's the right thing to do. She clearly has issues if she has to resort to that behaviour so maybe tell her in a non joking way that she should be focusing in that rather than bring other people inadvertently into her shit fest.

bergamotorange · 18/10/2024 15:19

This reply has been deleted

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You know people do.

Stop victim blaming.

StaunchMomma · 18/10/2024 15:14

Your 'friend' is an utter shit.

I couldn't be around anyone that vile.

It's not funny or impressive in the slightest.

anon4net · 18/10/2024 15:10

Catfishing is damaging to mental health and has resulted in suicide/suicide attempts of victims who feel humiliated.

I would rather be perceived by a bully as a backstabber, than let someone become a victim to something that we know deeply impacts their well-being and mental health. Tell your friend to stop in a way that isn't 'joking' and tell the neighbour. It is really that simple.

QuestionableMouse · 18/10/2024 15:09

Summertimer · 18/10/2024 15:04

What?? A ridiculous assertion. Very wrong, very rude and you are reported.

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Okay Hun.

DaisysChains · 18/10/2024 15:09

Awful to neighbour and awful to the model too

as someone whose life has been destroyed by abuse inc stalking the thought of someone out there using a photo of me to catfish random men is horrifying

masquerading as another person is not ‘a laugh’ it’s a nasty trick at best and at worst potentially lethal

and frankly there should be no ‘jokily’ about it - catfishers should be told straight to stop and their victims - those being ‘fished’ and those whose identity was being ‘worn’ - also told what this reprobate has been at

flyingefffs · 18/10/2024 15:08

Summertimer · 18/10/2024 15:04

What?? A ridiculous assertion. Very wrong, very rude and you are reported.

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What did you report it for exactly…?

SoupDragon · 18/10/2024 15:07

I'd tell him. It's nasty behaviour on the part of your friend. I wouldn't want to be friends with someone like that.

SoupDragon · 18/10/2024 15:06

Summertimer · 18/10/2024 15:04

What?? A ridiculous assertion. Very wrong, very rude and you are reported.

Show quote history

Reported for what?? 😂😂

mickandrorty · 18/10/2024 15:06

I would tell him, but to be fair I wouldn't care if I fell out with her because i don't think I would want to be friends with someone who can do something so revolting.

godmum56 · 18/10/2024 15:05

what everyone else has said. Why do you want to stay friends with someone who can do such a cruel thing for a joke? oh and its not "really naughty" its thoroughly unpleasant.

Summertimer · 18/10/2024 15:04

QuestionableMouse · 18/10/2024 14:55

Nice bit of victim blaming there.

Show quote history

What?? A ridiculous assertion. Very wrong, very rude and you are reported.

Coconutter24 · 18/10/2024 15:02

“I jokily told her she should stop but she didn’t think I meant it.”

Of course she didn’t think you meant it if you told her ‘jokingly’. You need to tell her straight it’s an awful thing to do

cattywat · 18/10/2024 15:01

AdviceNeeded2024 · 18/10/2024 14:59

What an awful thing to do. He’ll be humiliated when he finds out. Tell her to stop now or you’ll tell him.

Why has she gone for your neighbour specifically? Did she initiate the contact?

She also sounds like she has far too much time on her hands.

I know right, who the hell has time for this childish stuff ?

How old is your friend op? And why specifically your neighbour ? Is he vulnerable in any way Is that why she's doing this to him?
She sounds like a right twat

AdviceNeeded2024 · 18/10/2024 14:59

What an awful thing to do. He’ll be humiliated when he finds out. Tell her to stop now or you’ll tell him.

Why has she gone for your neighbour specifically? Did she initiate the contact?

She also sounds like she has far too much time on her hands.

MeMyCatsAndI · 18/10/2024 14:56

Tell her she's a shit person.

flyingefffs · 18/10/2024 14:56

Naughty? You jokingly told her!?

Why don’t you dare to stand up for what you believe in op?

QuestionableMouse · 18/10/2024 14:55

This reply has been deleted

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Nice bit of victim blaming there.

QuestionableMouse · 18/10/2024 14:54

Beautiful3 · 18/10/2024 14:35

That's really horrible. An ex student did that to another student where I worked. It really devastated him as he'd sent intimate messages and photos. I'd nip it in the blood and tell them.

It's "nip it in the bud" just so you know! ☺️

I couldn't be friends with someone who was so cruel. Report the account and slip the neighbour a note or message before he gets any more emotionally invested.

Having been on the recieving end of a "joke" like this, it's humiliating and devastating. I was tricked into believing a lad I liked was interested in me, ending up with 19 year old me waiting outside of a pub for him for our "first date" only for one of my friends to show up and tell me the entire thing had been a joke she's been playing. It took me years to get over it, and even now I'm extra wary about starting new relationships.

She's being absolutely awful and no one deserves to be treated that way.

scrimblescramble · 18/10/2024 14:50

Ask your friend to watch Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare on Netflix. Catfishing is not funny, it's playing with someone's emotions and deceiving them. This person you consider a friend is horrible.