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Relationships

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Original poster

Worried friend is being catfished

84 replies

Catfishconcern · 31/12/2019 10:46

Is it possible for someone to send a DM to you on Instagram that looks like it comes from a celebrity account?
I am worried about a friend who follows a celebrity on Instagram. He sent her a DM, she was thrilled, and they’ve been messaging back and forth ever since, since around October. Their relationship has become very close, they share intimate details and have discussed the future - to the point where she believes they’ll be together. She is trying to arrange to meet him through his management team at the moment so we’ll see what happens with that. He is going along with it saying he’s also very keen to meet.
I hope it’s all real for her sake as she has really fallen for him. He has sent her messages about his love for her etc. She is in her early 60s, he is mid 40s and very famous and fanciable. It just seems too good to be true.
However she is convinced it’s him because she was following his verified real Instagram account and she got a DM from that account.
I’m so worried about her.

OP posts:

Scarsthelot · 31/12/2019 10:50

Why would she arrange to meet him through his management team?

I have several celebrity friends. They arrange to see their own friends. Around their diary. But their management team dont arrange their dates.

They will simply ask when they are free one week and where there are, then message the friend making arrangements and their PA would put it in the diary. Presuming they are very famous and very busy. Celebrities have time off too, where they come an go as they please.

A blue tick could mean anything. Some fan accounts have blue ticks to show they are an official fan account.

Many celebrities donr even run their own accounts.

mcmooberry · 31/12/2019 10:51

Oh Lord it seems unlikely! If he asks her for money then it will be clear....
What can you do but wait it out?

Original poster

Catfishconcern · 31/12/2019 10:54

Yes. I agree...
The only thing I’ll say is that it’s definitely his real Instagram account. I’ve looked at the account myself which she follows and it is.
So all I can think is that somebody else with access to his account is messaging her.
He’ll get so many DMs (I cant remember whether she says she sent him a DM first or other way around) that he probably has people who goes through the messages for him? So somebody is maybe using his account and having this weird pseudo relationship.
It’s just an awful situation!

OP posts:

Dawsoncreek · 31/12/2019 10:54

If it’s verified then it almost certainly has to be him unless he’s account has been hacked

AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet · 31/12/2019 10:54

Surely she would know if his account is genuine? If he is very famous, his account will have thousands/millions of followers.

What other ways are they communicating?

Dawsoncreek · 31/12/2019 10:55

His*

Original poster

Catfishconcern · 31/12/2019 10:56

Yes I think all I can do is wait it out but I hope for her sake it’s over soon rather than later. No chat of money yet, I almost wonder if it’s someone enjoying the emotional closeness of their texting back and forth. 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:

Original poster

Catfishconcern · 31/12/2019 10:57

Yes the account itself is genuine, he does have thousands of followers.
They are not messaging on Instagram anymore, after his initial message they quickly moved on to either texting or what’s app.

OP posts:

Scarsthelot · 31/12/2019 11:01

It being his account doesnt mean its him. Lots of people dont run their own accounts.

I met a celeb friend through a game. He came to the uk for comic con and sent us tickets. I didnt believe it was him until I actually met him in person.

He was famous in the 90s. Less so now. But he doesnt run his own social mediA

SushiGo · 31/12/2019 11:03

That is a concern - moving it off the Instagram feed to a private phone number means the messages aren't being seen by anyone but your friend and whoever X is. Whereas, as has been said the social media might well have multiple people with access. It could still be the celebrity but...

Can you get in touch with the management company yourself and say you are worried?

doritosdip · 31/12/2019 11:06

There is an episode of this scenario on MTV Catfish and it turned out that the celebrity's assistant was the real texter
Many celebs don't manage their own Insta accounts and have their management/assistants manage it for them.

Original poster

Catfishconcern · 31/12/2019 11:06

Yeah I reckon his Instagram is unlikely to be solely run by him. Good idea maybe I’ll try to get in touch with his management team if I can figure out how.

OP posts:

doritosdip · 31/12/2019 11:08

Will he video chat with her? Avoiding video chats is a major red flag.

HulksPurplePanties · 31/12/2019 11:11

There was an actual episode of "Catfish" where this happened. It was the celeb's cousin who ran his social media account and was using it to get naked pictures of women.

Original poster

Catfishconcern · 31/12/2019 11:11

No he’s never video chatted.

OP posts:

Dipsydoodle · 31/12/2019 11:12

Oh dear. Was she absolutely sure the original message came from the verified account and not from another account set up to look the exact same, same profile pic etc? The cynic (realist) in me says it would be easy for someone unscrupulous to make a fake account that is almost identical to the real one, target followers of the main account and hustle them onto other media before the fake account is taken down.

Also I've had a fling before with a relatively famous person and they don't get management to arrange dates! If they're texting and calling and 'close' then he would arrange to meet her himself. The management thing is a stalling technique.

Original poster

Catfishconcern · 31/12/2019 11:12

Hulks - ugh yes that’s the kind of thing I’m worried about :(

OP posts:

Dipsydoodle · 31/12/2019 11:14

I meant just texting, obviously they aren't calling because it isn't him!

Original poster

Catfishconcern · 31/12/2019 11:16

I’m not sure dipsydoodle. She says she’s sure it came from that one. But yeah it’s a possibility it was a fake thing set up.
And yes I don’t see why he couldn’t just arrange the meet up himself - the management thing sounds super dodgy and unnecessary.

OP posts:

leolion81 · 31/12/2019 11:16

Just because the account she follows is verified doesn't mean it's the same account messaging.

SimonJT · 31/12/2019 11:17

Lots of people don’t run their public insta, many will have a separate private insta that they run. My ex is in a fairly well known band, any messages coming from that account are from management, not individual members.

If it was genuine it would have moved to a phone number, plus that way if it leaks it’s harder to actually link it to the person in the press.

NightsOfCabiria · 31/12/2019 11:19

Is she telling you all this or gave you seen the actual messages yourself? It could still be fake of course, either way. Is this celebrity person single?

letsdolunch321 · 31/12/2019 11:19

Your friend should video call the guy vi whatsapp, if he is genuine he should answer

Dipsydoodle · 31/12/2019 11:19

There are some male celebs who do get a kick out of messaging women like this but would never meet them. It's an ego thing. But I very much doubt they would do it to a woman in her 60s. It's usually young women.

As long as she isn't being asked for money etc. then all you can do is be there for the emotional fallout. Have you tried googling the celeb to see if there's any recent pics with a girlfriend/wife etc?

Dipsydoodle · 31/12/2019 11:20

Can you get hold of the number somehow and call? The person might answer if they don't think it's her.

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