Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Was my online date probably going to murder me?

245 replies

Thefirstone · 31/05/2024 05:19

I haven’t slept tonight.
In early 2023 I met someone through a cuddle website online (I don’t remember which one). I am early 20’s and he is late 30’s so a lot older than me. we spoke for a few weeks at most but we clicked on a personal level and it was intense. I lived closer to him at the time (I now don’t). It became clear we had bonded. He spoke a lot about the issues he has with his family and I shared a bit about mine. He made himself out to be a really safe and trustworthy person that cared about me and I believe I massively over shared about my personal life, not knowing my family (I was brought up by my mother and she changed her name and her second name which I also took so I have no idea who my family are and she won’t talk about it), and having very minimal contact with my mother because she is bipolar and can turn on and off, she isn’t completely bad but has an abusive side to her and it isn’t good for my mental health. I don’t have many friends. We exchanged numbers. We didn’t meet in person but we were going to. He had good reviews. One day he just stopped replying a few days before we were going to meet up and after a bit I assumed he had lost interest and I deleted his number. I was a bit disappointed but I just forgot about him soon enough. I ended up moving a few hours away.
a few weeks ago I got a call and I didn’t know who it was at first but he was speaking to me in a friendly manner, asking me how I was etc. He explained who he was and that he lost contact because he ended up in hospital and then started dealing with personal family issues and self harm, and nevertheless I still don’t understand why he reached out to me but didn’t know how to question it further. He wanted to meet up like we were going to the first time bear in mind it had been more than a year since he just disappeared so I was reluctant despite how well we got on the first time.
I explained to him that I wanted to get to know him first and explained that he would have to stay in a hotel as I’m not completely comfortable. at first he seemed understanding and spoke about how he is respectful of the way that I feel but later on he got very offended and said that I must not like him if I am going to make him stay in a hotel even though it is the first time meeting him.
I have found his Facebook page it is from 2014 and he has no other social media besides linked in.
I suppose it is hard to work out with limited information but I have been speaking to a friend online who has said that he sounds manipulative and like he knows that I am isolated and cut off from a support network, knows I have issues and would be the perfect target if he is a murderer.
we were meant to meet up this Friday evening ever since the date was planned I have been having recurring vivid nightmares about being murdered in my bed by him and dragged off into the wooded area by my house. Tonight I haven’t slept at all as it’s Friday.
he doesn’t know my exact address but we were due to meet literally in a public space over the street from my house so that I can verify he was who he said he was before bringing him back to my house
but now I’m 99% sure I don’t want to at all.
I obviously have no evidence and it’s probably more likely that he wanted a shag but does it sound like he wanted to murder me and are there any other signs that I should look for that would tell me which it is? Do I explain anything to him or just block? I am extremely uncomfortable that he even has a rough idea of where I am and knows my name and number etc
if you got this far thanks for reading

OP posts:
WhenTheMoonShines · 31/05/2024 11:14

Oh OP, I really wish you had someone in your life to teach you how dangerous that kind of thing is, both the websites and inviting any stranger back to your home on the first date.

SeriaMau · 31/05/2024 11:14

Probably not.

whynotwhatknot · 31/05/2024 11:15

always meet in a neutral plae thats just good advie in general

noone should be coming to or near your house on a first meet

whatnnoww · 31/05/2024 11:17

Bless you OP . People are stressing not to meet him as they are worried about you . Some of us are lots older and have had life experiences, not all of them good , having made mistakes.

As other posters have said message him that you don’t want to meet today or at any point in the future , request that he does not contact you again. Then mute him for a few hours , don’t block yet just in case he starts to harass you , so that you can act if need be .

It is highly unlikely that you are his only contact and hopefully he will just move on .

whoneedssixteen · 31/05/2024 11:18

As others have said - message "I've had to go away for work at short notice (or visit an old friend who's unexpectedly in the UK or had the chance of XYZ tickets in another city) so I won't be at home. Luckily my cousin/ friend John is house sitting/ cat sitting/ hamster sitting. I think in the circumstances better just to leave things. Best wishes" Then BLOCK on everything and avoid those stupid sites.

bouquetofpheasants · 31/05/2024 11:19

Maybe your brain is compensating for your lack of common sense?

You don’t have the common sense to understand that you don’t bring some unknown man you have met online to your home. So your brain thinks of the worst thing you think could happen to you, which actually in the end stops you from bringing you home.

A cuddle site? Beyond weird. Of course it’s going to attract weirdos.

namemane · 31/05/2024 11:19

Savemydrink · 31/05/2024 05:43

Tell him you are sorry but you can’t meet as planned. A job came up at short notice and you will be working away for a while. No point in him coming as you won’t be here.

Then block him

I think this, or a variation on it, is sound advice.

A short, polite but clear message.

If you don't want to meet - for whatever reason, worry or fear then don't.

Blendeddogs · 31/05/2024 11:21

Ponderingwindow · 31/05/2024 06:17

It’s never a good idea to be alone with a stranger on a first meeting.

Additionally, if your instincts are telling you something is off about this man, you should trust them.

This. I met my boyfriend on bumble. We exchanged messages turned out I knew one of his colleagues at work.

We spoke on the phone - he gave his number but I called him from a withheld number . We spoke twice and met in a public place for a dog walk - we had tea. Hug at end of date - arranged date 2. It wasn’t until then I gave him my number and he didn’t know my surname until date 5. And didn’t know my address until date 6. He was fine with all of it. I was careful.

m please get therapy and some real friends

bouquetofpheasants · 31/05/2024 11:22

If it’s physical contact you need op, book a massage. My friend was recommended doing this when her dh died.

KreedKafer · 31/05/2024 11:22

a cuddle website is basically meeting up for cuddles with strangers

I cannot imagine there will be any man on a 'cuddle website' who isn't a murderer

Blendeddogs · 31/05/2024 11:22

I’d message - really sorry something came up I can’t make our meeting.

if he then tries to rearrange say - sorry I’m really busy

diffuse the situation

change your number if needed

AliceOlive · 31/05/2024 11:28

Tell him your brother had a fire and is coming to stay at your house and you’re not sure for how long. Then fade and block after a few days.

I am saying this because unstable people don’t take rejection well and it’s just an easy excuse that he can’t get around. If he thinks there is a man in your house he’s less likely to push.

PinotPony · 31/05/2024 11:29

Does he have your address, OP?

AliceOlive · 31/05/2024 11:29

whoneedssixteen · 31/05/2024 11:18

As others have said - message "I've had to go away for work at short notice (or visit an old friend who's unexpectedly in the UK or had the chance of XYZ tickets in another city) so I won't be at home. Luckily my cousin/ friend John is house sitting/ cat sitting/ hamster sitting. I think in the circumstances better just to leave things. Best wishes" Then BLOCK on everything and avoid those stupid sites.

This is even better.

Callipygion · 31/05/2024 11:30

I don’t like the sound of him at all. What if he was in prison during the time you lost contact? Do not under any circumstances have him in your house! If you must meet him do so in a cafe or similar just for an afternoon coffee and then say goodbye. Don’t let him see where you live. I would strongly recommend you cancel meeting altogether and cut contact with him.

Needanewname42 · 31/05/2024 11:31

KreedKafer · 31/05/2024 11:22

a cuddle website is basically meeting up for cuddles with strangers

I cannot imagine there will be any man on a 'cuddle website' who isn't a murderer

It almost sounds like a shag site. I can well imagine they'll be men on their who just want a cheap shag zero strings.

I'm worried telling him she wants to play board games he'll be thinking something a bit more raunchy than a simple game of monopoly.

coastalhawk · 31/05/2024 11:32

Many red flags. Please do not do this.

Wordless · 31/05/2024 11:34

@KreedKafer Grin

It would seem to remove some of the labour involved in a murdering career.

On dating sites most people are aware of boundaries.

On Tinder most people (presumably) have their wits about them and know perfectly well why they’re meeting.

But a cuddle website? Oh ho! Let’s gather lots of vulnerable and naive and probably young people who are completely willing to forego any physical or emotional boundaries and will invite me home with no anticipation of what I might do to them.

Hmm My God, the 21st century has thrown up some extraordinary ways of putting people in harm’s way …

SabbaticalinMogadishu · 31/05/2024 11:38

Doingmybest12 · 31/05/2024 06:42

Because your first post says you might meet him still, your next posts say you've invited him to your flat for board games and another one says you don't want to meet him , but he's going to turn up near your home (which you arranged) and you still want to see what he's like all be it from a distance and you say you feel overwhelmed. So people are genuinely trying to help you. You are playing with fire but seems on one level you like the drama of whether he's a murderer or not.

Yes, you sound very vulnerable, and with instincts that don't prioritise basic safety. I'd suggest you come off any form of dating app for now.

DullFanFiction · 31/05/2024 11:42

Just to reiterate the advice.
Please don’t go and meet him. Trust your gut instinct.

You dont have to be nice. You don’t have to pander to the ‘hurt’ of someone you’ve never met. Cancelling or even ghosting him will not make you a bad person.

Please send him a message saying you’ve changed your mind and you’re not interested in meeting him. Ever.
Then just as you’ve dine before, delete his number. And the app/website you’ve been using.

Callipygion · 31/05/2024 11:44

L0bstersLass · 31/05/2024 10:07

You don't need to think of an excuse. Tell him straight that you've changed your mind and don't want to meet. "Hi, I not able to meet tonight. I also think it's for the best that we don't plan to meet in the future. Please don't contact me again as this is not a relatiohsip I want to pursue. Thank you. Thefirstone.

The "maybe just stop talking to him or something" is very telling. It suggests that you're not confident at drawing a line under a situation. You're clearly uncomfortable with him. There's no maybe about it. Stop talking with him.

Send him a similar message to the above and block him. Job done.

This. Send this message to him. You don’t need to be making up wild excuses. Just say what L0bstersLass suggests. It’s clear and straight to the point.

Hi, I am not able to meet tonight. I also think it's for the best that we don't plan to meet in the future. Please don't contact me again as this is not a relationship I want to pursue. Thank you.

DotDashDot24 · 31/05/2024 11:48

You don’t have to pander to the ‘hurt’ of someone you’ve never met.

He went AWOL and didn't contact you for a year.

Don't worry yourself about his feelings or being polite. He wasn't worried about either.

You wouldn't owe him anything even if he hadn't done that, but with having done that
you owe him less than nothing.

In general you need to become comfortable Inna couple of places, like parks or coffee shops or something .. if you want to date

I wouldn't have a stranger near my home for a long time. Not a chance.

AliceOlive · 31/05/2024 11:50

The only reason I suggest not being direct is that unstable people are unpredictable and often do not take rejection well. He knows where OP lives within a block, it wouldn’t be hard for him to find her.

Busbusbusbusbus · 31/05/2024 12:22

God what on earth is a cuddle website I've heard it all now! Who in their right mind would use that?! Sounds like a place that would attract weirdos looking for vulnerable people. Never even know cuddles websites were a 'thing' I thought it was a typo.

Anotherparkingthread · 31/05/2024 12:48

Disappearing and then reappearing and wanting a place to stay... Are you sure he hasn't just got out of jail op?

Swipe left for the next trending thread