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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

Should I contact women from my husband's chat forum to confirm the truth?

54 replies

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 05:28

Dh and i always had intimacy issues due to what i know now after many years of confusion due to his anxiety surrounding sex and thinking he wasnt any good. I was always willing, but felt rejected.

So last year to my shock found out he was using sex chat forum called freechatnow. I never in a million years thought he would do such a thing, told me he is faithful, and i trusted him with my life. I decided after learning things on mumsnet not to confront right away. I know bad but went on his phone middle of the night to see if i could find out more as everything was wiped by morning. He caught me one evening, and thats when he went pale, and confessed he spoke to women for 7 years. It started as he felt terrible about himself in sex department , wanted to feel good about himself then got addicted. He exchanged nudes with women too. He said he only spoke to women 2-3 times at most as he only repeated the same thing in the sex talk exchange, and they got bored. So he claims was random women.

I felt like a bomb blew up in my life. My sister passed away from cancer few months previously so felt like i was living a nightmare. I agreed to work it through provided full honestly. He immediately deleted his account as he said he felt great shame. He does not know i actually saw a few times before getting caught , and screenshot a few things. This last year ive been crying pretty much daily and feel such intense pain. I still feel in shock and not thinking clearly. Worst year of my life.

Its been a year later when it suddenly occurred to me that one of the screenshots had a friend list of 12 women including two blocked. He made a new account with a local surrounding name, think leedsguy as he forgot his password the week i was trying to find more. Then it hit me hang on, it was a new account (although been on that website for years) , but if these were only brief, insignificant conversations of only 2-3 times, why were these women saved as contacts? How did he know who to add right away back on unless he spoke to them a lot more than just 2-3 times? I feel like i did when i first found out and sick to my stomach. Is he lying about the extent of it?? He has been completely clean for one year , trying to rebuild but i told him i needed full honestly.

Here is my question. I got screenshot of their usernames and feel i need to know truth. If he is still lying, then he blew it. I dont know much about these websites, but would it be odd to message them directly as his wife?? Would they even care ? I just must know the truth but dont know what to do. Please advise

OP posts:
LizandDerekGoals · 25/07/2026 05:34

They are not going to respond to a random person with something that could damage themselves. They may also tell him.

You dont trust him rightly so what are your alternatives?!

AnonymityAnonymity · 25/07/2026 05:41

I don't see the point in contacting these women.
You know your H has been turning to other women for his sexual fulfilment for many years. That is a huge betrayal of your marriage OP and of you personally.

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 05:47

I wanted to work on our marriage and im desperately sad for the kids. Everyone has died, and the kids and him
only family i have now. I can work through it if what he claims true, but if its talking with same women for years, that feels different to me. I just dont know what to do and feel so scared and alone.

OP posts:
LizandDerekGoals · 25/07/2026 05:50

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 05:47

I wanted to work on our marriage and im desperately sad for the kids. Everyone has died, and the kids and him
only family i have now. I can work through it if what he claims true, but if its talking with same women for years, that feels different to me. I just dont know what to do and feel so scared and alone.

Then if you are never going to leave him, there is no point to finding out any more. Let it go.

user1492757084 · 25/07/2026 05:52

Tell him it is over, as he has not found you dear enough to trust with intimate problems.

You are not suited.

Maybe you can remain friends and parent together but you need to separate all assets and have your own rooms and the ability to lead separate lives outside your chilren's home.

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 05:53

I will if it was more to this. Its the lying part. If he is playing it down and was more of online affair, than random chats, then that changes things.

OP posts:
lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 05:55

He said he never told me as he was scared to loose me. He was trying to confide in a guy friend to help him get rid of the habit.

OP posts:
LizandDerekGoals · 25/07/2026 05:59

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 05:55

He said he never told me as he was scared to loose me. He was trying to confide in a guy friend to help him get rid of the habit.

How do you try to confide in someone?

PersephoneParlormaid · 25/07/2026 06:00

You don’t trust him, end it and save your sanity.
You’re not the only one to have no family left, it’s not an excuse to sacrifice your life for something not good enough.

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 06:02

LizandDerekGoals · 25/07/2026 05:59

How do you try to confide in someone?

He said his friend seemed so busy with their own family life and things going on, so didnt in the end.

OP posts:
LizandDerekGoals · 25/07/2026 06:06

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 06:02

He said his friend seemed so busy with their own family life and things going on, so didnt in the end.

So he made no attempt to stop. And there was no point mentioning his friend as he didnt actually speak to him.

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 06:11

Do you think he is lying ? Im so emotionally exhausted, but i cant make sense how he would he know to add these women on a new account unless its women he spoke to regularly

OP posts:
2026letsgo · 25/07/2026 06:21

The actual problem is intimacy. You are his wife and therefore always too close to his problem. He relies on the lack of any proper investment in these women even if he does make more effort with some. He won’t really feel its cheating or disrespectful because you can’t have or help with his sexual issues.

Someone on here once said it’s the thing that annoys you most in the beginning that breaks the relationship in the end.

FairyMaclary · 25/07/2026 06:22

He has a secret sexual basement - read Minwallas work.

Have you been on the surviving infidelity website?

There is often trickle truth - they tell you tye minimum they can get away with. Cheats are liars at the end of the day. One of their values is ‘I’m okay with lying to my loved ones in some circumstances even if it would hurt them’.

You may find his personality traits mean he is unable to reconcile. Okay with lying, poor self esteem, unable to self soothe, avoids confrontation, poor self control etc etc. These are not traits conducive to rebuilding a marriage on the ashes of the one he destroyed.

What counselling, resources has he accessed?

Are you both aware that on these sex chat websites lots of the ‘women’ are dudes getting off on the fact they are pretending they are women? Photos can be sent by screenshotting porn online. It could well be your husbands photos have been sent to men. I’ve not met many women who like having a picture of a strangers penis sent to them. Maybe from a man they are dating but they don’t tend to get off on a strangers. Men do get off on sending pics of their penis to people - hence so many unsolicited pics are mentioned even on here.

Have you had counselling - cheating causes a form of ptsd - EMDR could help you. I suggest your next step is individual counselling with a person who can do EMDR. Heal yourself then make a decision.

I am sorry you find yourself in this situation. It isn’t and was never your fault (I think you know that but just in case).

FairyMaclary · 25/07/2026 06:44

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-62230304

https://www.jezebel.com/man-poses-as-woman-on-online-dating-site-barely-lasts-1500707724

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jw0s

The last link is a documentary on pig butchering - a sophisticated scam.

You could also check to see if he has paid for anything. Often money is sent via PayPal or Crypto. A credit file will show you if he has another bank account.

Now it may be they lose interest when they realise he isnt going off the website onto private chats via WhatsApp etc where they can continue grooming him until he’s ready to scam. This can take months.

You can get 6 years of statements from his online bank account. Pick a year, print off 12 statements, cross out any transactions you know are genuine. So DD (direct debit) to A bank or BT or Energy. That leaves you with ones to analyse.

It depends if you want to know or want to try and fix it regardless. The other thing you could do is build your own life, detach, remain friendly and divorce when the kids are adults. You don’t need to tell him ofc - he removed the need for honesty in your marriage. Or you could leave him to his basement habits and build a new life. I believe some people can create a new marriage but sadly his traits make it hard.

Women ask for pictures of faces, men ask for pictures of penises. Now he may be okay with this, he may get off on the act of sending his pictures. He may be naive. But I would be surprised if some of the ‘ladies’ weren’t male pig butchers there to blow smoke up his arse in the hope of a windfall.

A stock image showing xxx

The fake sex chats fuelled by an elaborate scam

The erotic messages supposedly sent from women on some adult websites are often actually from men.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-62230304

FairyMaclary · 25/07/2026 06:46

Ah my links have made my post be hidden.

I linked to a bbc article. A bbc documentary. Also a website where a man details his experience of going onto a website as a woman and how many men contacted him and how quickly the sexual comments came.

Hopefully it will be approved as the documentary is certainly worth watching.

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 06:48

The screenshot of the usernames on his friendlist sounded like local women. Like EastYorkGirl. One weird one called breastfeedingblonde

OP posts:
lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 06:50

FairyMaclary · 25/07/2026 06:46

Ah my links have made my post be hidden.

I linked to a bbc article. A bbc documentary. Also a website where a man details his experience of going onto a website as a woman and how many men contacted him and how quickly the sexual comments came.

Hopefully it will be approved as the documentary is certainly worth watching.

Edited

What? Why do these men go on there pretending to be women??

OP posts:
FairyMaclary · 25/07/2026 06:56

To scam gullible men. It’s a common scam. Romance scam - even your bank warns about them. Also some men know very few women are on these sites so they do it to get off on it. Gay men. Bisexual men. Men who just get off on the act of sending the picture.

The names means very little. I have never used ‘girl’ in my user name. Beeastfeedingblonde I misread as breastfeeding blonde.

If you were a dude wanting attention surely you would make it ‘obvious’ you are a women.

In my experience women ask for face pics men ask for dick pics. Women moan about dick pics being sent. Erotic stories yes. A random cock from a stranger?

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 07:00

I thought it was websites so both women and men got off talking sexual fantasy? He said he ended up doing most of the talking, and they did not say much. He did send a few face pics too.

sorry typo, breastfeeding blonde

OP posts:
FairyMaclary · 25/07/2026 07:02

Scams - that may be why he’s only getting two or three chats - they may realise he’s not prepared to leave the site.

If my post reappears you will get the bbc link

it’s on iplayer. Maybe type this in on google as I think it’s the title that may be the issue.

Investigation into a highly sophisticated scam involving criminal gangs, modern-day slavery and victims around the world who have lost millions of dollars.

Hes a fool sending face pics and penis pics to a stranger - opening himself up to blackmail if they can find him online. Reverse image search for example.

lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 07:08

Scam in what way? Financially? Oh god this scares me. I was/am still angry he sent his face pic.

OP posts:
lifespiralling · 25/07/2026 07:09

Whats the documentary called?

OP posts:
FairyMaclary · 25/07/2026 07:12

Yes on my previous (hidden) post I suggested checking bank statements. I am not trying to scare you in any way but you may want to know if money changed hands. It’s often done via PayPal or Cryptocurrency. It could be buying pictures. Buying live sessions. Some men just pay random
women - they appear to get a thrill from
paying. Or buying them crap - shoes etc.

Breastfeedingblonde - I am
not sure many women would use that as a user name. A man with a breastfeeding fetish - I can imagine that. Do you think many woman would go onto a chat room and call herself Breastfeedingblonde? Or do you think it’s more likely a bloke with a breastfeeding fetish who wants to hear what another man would do to him?

How has he been with you this past year? What has he done to fix this?

FairyMaclary · 25/07/2026 07:12

Pig butchering on iplayer

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