Help me unravel this mystery!

[Vanillarose1]

This is so bizarre I don't even know where to begin...

I received a phone call this morning from a woman claiming that I am having an affair with her husband. I have never heard of nor met this man and he's about 20 years older (deduced from the fact she said they'd been married for 40 years).

She said that there were messages all over BOTH of their phones from me - arranging hotel and airport visits and I'm guessing graphic material as she was very upset.

She told me that he was in hospital having taken an overdose over all of it.

I do have my own public-facing business (think wedding photography as an example) so my face, number and approx location are all easily available. She had looked me up and read all of my reviews.

How on earth have I been linked to this mess? Could someone use my number and hack messages onto both of their phones? It makes no sense at all. My partner think that she may be a stalker or mentally ill but she sounded so genuine and distraught. We subsequently looked her up on Facebook and she lives in the same small town as us and does the job she claimed she does.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? I am shaking with shock even though it's all absolutely nothing to do with me!

I feel like I really want to help her!

I work with stalkers (amongst other things). Your information was public and so it was easy for him to create a ‘relationship’.

Despite not having much evidence at the moment you do need to make the police aware. I would think that as he is being treated more information will come out. You know very little about either of them and need to tread carefully, let the police decide what to do next. The more you communicate with her the more you could be feeding his fantasies and accidentally providing more information.

I really feel for you but also for his wife.

So it took age before she sent the screenshots, and when she did it was all stuff publicly available on your website.

Could the delay have been caused by her having to assemble it all ready to send to you?

What would the scam be? The OP and her husband are having to actively chase the woman to get any information

Surely a scammer would be initiating contact and keeping it going to actually do the scam whatever it is

For anyone looking for an update:

The lady called my DP yesterday in a state of distress saying that her husband had hidden both of their phones but she wanted to show us more evidence next week when her children were back at school. She said that the person impersonating me had sent her threatening messages. She then said her husband was coming and hung up quickly.

The long and short of it is that I've just had two lovely police officers come round to talk to me about the whole situation. They are going to do a welfare check on her right now. They have advised me to block her number and that any more calls from her will be considered malicious now that it is clear I am nothing to do with her situation. They suspect that her husband may be stalking me and have given me lots of advice on keeping myself safe. They also suspect that there could be mental health issues involved. In any case they have said that they will take over and won't be able to update me any further for confidentiality. I was very impressed that they took it seriously as I only reported it officially yesterday.

OP Im so sorry this has happened to you, how frightening for you and your family.

Im so glad the Police responded so positively and have given you good advice.

I hope the Police find the lady safe and well and she understand it is not you texting her Husband.

Stay safe OP and well done for handing this rationally calmly and safely. 🌸

Possible stalking is very scary, please be on your guard.

I just had a call from one of the officers. They felt they wanted to let me know that I wasn't in any danger from the man. It was a mental health crisis from the lady and she has contacted more women, not just me. The police are getting her some help.

Thank you to everyone who offered me any advice and took the time to read my posts! I was in a bit of a panic and couldn't think what on earth could have happened. People who posted here really helped me to have the courage to report it to the police - not something I've ever had to do before. People are often so quick to criticise the police but they have been brilliant here.

Aww no this is awful, that poor confused woman.

OP you have been very kind despite everything that has happened, Im glad it's turned out as this and not something much more sinister.

Hopefully the lady will get the hell and support she needs.

I'm glad you have some answers. And glad she will get some help.

I didn’t comment earlier but have been following your thread. I’m so glad it’s all being sorted and more importantly that you are safe.
Thanks for coming back to update us!

Thanks for the update @Vanillarose1

Must have been a big relief for you when the police called you back, that's really good of them to put your mind at ease.

Sad update about the lady concerned, she must be in quite a bad way to be doing this. I hope she gets all the right support and help now.

I’m glad you have some answers but how sad.