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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sons GF- AGHHHHHHH

417 replies

OneCheeryGoldMoose · 16/12/2025 10:58

My son has an overseas GF (long haul flight) who he met online (they haven't met IRL yet). They facetime etc, always on the phone. My son is 18 and works full time lives at home with us.

He wants to go and visit her in the New Year.

Trouble is she is insane (I'm sorry but she is) and he won't see it. He has a great relationship with me and his dad and tells us everything.

Everytime he see's friends (even if they are at ours- my sons a gamer lad- not a go out clubbing pub lad) she doesn't speak to him for three days as she tells him he's been cheating on her. His best mate came over at the weekend with his gf and she informed him he'd clearly only bought him over for a threesome......

I asked him if he had hoovered his room whilst he was on call the other day- she then told him he allowed me to have too much control over his life. He came on holiday with us and his two sisters a month ago and she was screeching at him down the phone that he should hide in the airport toilet away from us and not get on the plane because his sisters would speak to girls whilst on holiday which would mean he would also speak to them.

I have chats with all three of my kids at the end of the week like a catch up, check in on life and any issues/advice they want, just like a little mental health check from my side- he told her he was just talking to me for ten minutes and she replied back saying I'm a strange mother and obviously a narcissist that wants to control his life, that would be the only reason I speak to them all so much.

I don't know what to do. He has his own money to go and we will advise but not stop him if he's that adamant about going. But I am terrified she's dangerous and he's in an abusive relationship.
She recently sent him a document about trigger words to avoid when he comes as it will set her off- including speaking about me and his dad, any ex relationships, his sisters and his friends. He burst into tears and spoke to me and his dad. We explained it's not normal but he's in the mindset of when she's nice it's amazing.

His dad is on the verge of hiding his passport ffs. We have said he is the prime position to just block her as we aren't even in the same country but he can't/ won't do it.

OP posts:
FlockOfSausages · 16/12/2025 11:18

Honestly I would have stopped feeding this drama a long time ago. It’s not a relationship, they’ve never even met.

whyohwhyisitalwayswet · 16/12/2025 11:18

It is a country with no gun control, and she sounds unhinged! Definitely hide his passport, he'll rant and rage for now and thank you for it in a few years time.

Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:19

She's already done what? The nude pics or the money request?

ohyesido · 16/12/2025 11:20

Hide the passport. He will not be safe

HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear · 16/12/2025 11:21

Has your son ever posted anything negative about Trump online? If so, might he accept that as a reason that it's too risky for him to go to the US at the moment?

OneCheeryGoldMoose · 16/12/2025 11:21

Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:19

She's already done what? The nude pics or the money request?

Money. She has told my son she wants to be a stay at home wife and he should start providing that lifestyle now. We put an absolute stop to that though. I know he isn't as he's saving for a house and sends his dad half his money to go into savings so he doesn't spend it.

OP posts:
Motnight · 16/12/2025 11:21

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 16/12/2025 11:00

I’d hide his passport. Then deal with the fallout afterwards, better angry and disappointed than dead

That's a stretch isn't it?

Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:21

You say his dad is being blunter than you and saying he's behaving like an idiot. What is his reaction to that? Does he laugh? Or does he seem caught in the middle?

Does he work? Where is he getting the money for travelling ? Can you tell us what country she's in?

OneCheeryGoldMoose · 16/12/2025 11:22

Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:21

You say his dad is being blunter than you and saying he's behaving like an idiot. What is his reaction to that? Does he laugh? Or does he seem caught in the middle?

Does he work? Where is he getting the money for travelling ? Can you tell us what country she's in?

She's in America. He works full time and lives at home with us. He seems caught in the middle.

OP posts:
Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:22

My gut is that this is a scam rather than a lunatic.

Does she know he's got savings?

ChikinLikin · 16/12/2025 11:23

Even if she wasn't nuts, this is insane. He's never even met her. When they meet up, there might not be a spark at all. Then what? It's dangerous.
Would he agree to ralk to a counsellor about this?

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 16/12/2025 11:23

Does he have additional needs OP? Any reason why he has elected to have a girlfriend he hadn’t met that lives abroad over a girl that lives locally and he can actually spend time with?

All of those are red flags. A healthy relationship would be with someone who you saw regularly, made you feel loved, no drama, actively encouraged positive relationships with friends and family.

I don’t know about hiding the passport, I would literally say ‘absolutely not’ and list the thousand reasons why this person is dangerous. He sounds naive at best and part parenting is to give kids the insight to see the lunatics a mile off. Maybe you e been too nice and too kind so far.

Daygloboo · 16/12/2025 11:23

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 16/12/2025 11:00

I’d hide his passport. Then deal with the fallout afterwards, better angry and disappointed than dead

I agree. Could anyone intervene in any way because she sounds pathological

HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear · 16/12/2025 11:24

I'd also be concerned that she might emotionally blackmail him into actually marrying her while he's there.

OneCheeryGoldMoose · 16/12/2025 11:24

ChikinLikin · 16/12/2025 11:23

Even if she wasn't nuts, this is insane. He's never even met her. When they meet up, there might not be a spark at all. Then what? It's dangerous.
Would he agree to ralk to a counsellor about this?

We agree. I don't get the whole online never having met up thing either, but all his gamer friends appear to be doing it as well. I fully agree with everything you have said but it's so illogical I actually don't know how to handle it.

OP posts:
Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:25

Poor lad.

Its a 'romance scam' i recon.

At least America is a long way away! I think there is an advice line for this type of thing ...

Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:26

If he's really dead set on going could you go with him?!

OneCheeryGoldMoose · 16/12/2025 11:26

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 16/12/2025 11:23

Does he have additional needs OP? Any reason why he has elected to have a girlfriend he hadn’t met that lives abroad over a girl that lives locally and he can actually spend time with?

All of those are red flags. A healthy relationship would be with someone who you saw regularly, made you feel loved, no drama, actively encouraged positive relationships with friends and family.

I don’t know about hiding the passport, I would literally say ‘absolutely not’ and list the thousand reasons why this person is dangerous. He sounds naive at best and part parenting is to give kids the insight to see the lunatics a mile off. Maybe you e been too nice and too kind so far.

No he doesn't. I have 0 idea. He is conventionally good looking and tall and has a fantastic full time job. He gets alot of attention from girls. This is the thing, his sister asked him what he would do if she came to him with this relationship and he said he'd end it on her behalf- yet he can't seem to apply it to himself.

OP posts:
BadgernTheGarden · 16/12/2025 11:27

I would be very concerned about him going to meet her, you have no idea who she is in real life. She may be a total con artist, once they meet and presumably have sex, he is going to be in deep, they may even get married straightaway. At least make some backup plan, some code word if he's in trouble and another number to ring if she won't let him ring home. I would be in full panic mode.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 16/12/2025 11:28

Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:26

If he's really dead set on going could you go with him?!

I think this might be a good way round. A family holiday to the US! Son gets to 'drop in' on his 'gf' (meeting online is VERY popular among gamers) and you could be around to pull his arse out of the fire.

I don't think gf is a scammer, they tend to be a LOT cleverer than this. I think she's probably an unsocialised girl who lives in her parents' basement and doesn't work or go out much. I suspect meeting in real life will kill a lot of the attraction he has for her - but he really does need to meet girls in real life.

Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:29

Just had a little google for you re: scam advice.

Theres lots of it! This is the first thing which came up

Sons GF- AGHHHHHHH
Muffinmam · 16/12/2025 11:29

OneCheeryGoldMoose · 16/12/2025 11:01

Honestly I can see her being on this level. She sent a message saying remember my brother has a gun. I am terrified.

Hide his passport.

OneCheeryGoldMoose · 16/12/2025 11:29

BadgernTheGarden · 16/12/2025 11:27

I would be very concerned about him going to meet her, you have no idea who she is in real life. She may be a total con artist, once they meet and presumably have sex, he is going to be in deep, they may even get married straightaway. At least make some backup plan, some code word if he's in trouble and another number to ring if she won't let him ring home. I would be in full panic mode.

Edited

He made a comment about he would have to be back on a certain date for work and she went well you aren't great at alarms so I might not wake you up on purpose so you miss your flight. I think I've decided I'm taking the passport. F this honestly 😤

OP posts:
Laiste · 16/12/2025 11:29

It's a couple of numbers to report to in case of suspected scams or fraud

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 16/12/2025 11:30

OneCheeryGoldMoose · 16/12/2025 11:26

No he doesn't. I have 0 idea. He is conventionally good looking and tall and has a fantastic full time job. He gets alot of attention from girls. This is the thing, his sister asked him what he would do if she came to him with this relationship and he said he'd end it on her behalf- yet he can't seem to apply it to himself.

Well then we have to assume she has successful groomed him which is even more worrying. The best thing you could do is get him out on a date with a real girl that lives somewhere near. Anyone you could set him up with on a blind date if need be. A house party? Something over Christmas? He needs to get out of the house and get laid.