Wow, I am completely shocked! this women is still messing with innocent people. My sister was recently a victim. although he weant by the name max with her, but the same pictures and stories.Thankfully she realized early that something wasn't right. I will neve understand sick people like this who pray on others emotions.

Hi!
Just now found your reply to my post! I don't visit Dr Phil's website like I used to. The past two seasons just haven't held my interest like the earlier ones did. It's not surprising that you and your first boyfriend grew apart. Dr Phil used to think that the brain quits growing at age 18, but has revized his position, since new research suggests that the brain keeps growing until we're 25 or 26. I think your brain outgrew him! LOL!
Am glad you're one of the fortunate ones who had success online and found someone who can look beyond the superficial!

I've had someone basically say I was a catfish scammer when I wasn't. Didn't have a clue about what the scam was until recently. I did what you are supposed to do, not give out your date of birth, phone number, etc. People looked into my background and found I didn't give my exact info on posts on a forum. They didn't confront and ask me about it, instead they hired a PI (at least I hope that's what they were) and proceeded to hack into my cellphone (they tracked me via my phone's GPS to a gas station 1 and a half hours' drive from my house and 'met' me at a gas station while I was visiting with my brother who lived nearby. I say 'met' but I didn't know I was having a meeting at the time. A person was there in front of me at the line at the cash register. She asked seemingly random questions of me, the type you'd get with really weird friendly banter, but knew things about me like eye color and my exact height without needing to ask, which I did post on that online forum. Then left. It was only later that I put two and two together), my PC (my online activities are and have been monitored for quite some time now aparently), and tried to hack into a Gmail email account I had using spam emails from a Russian account. That online forum has since been hacked and taken offline.

I do not know the full extent of how much they've hacked into or what they've done, but they've managed to get info on my parents (they mistook some online activity they did for mine, I think, but I'm not sure as I don't really know what's going on) and may have even hacked into my brother and sister's PC's (whose wifi I use when I visit them sometimes) and God knows what else.

This has been going on for several years apparently without my knowledge.

I have a thing about not posting images of myself online. I'm not that attractive and take horrible pictures. I also don't go on websites that require personal info unless I absolutely have to for fear that the website itself might get hacked and my info stolen. That means no dating websites, no banking websites, no Facebook profile to stay connected to family and friends. I thank God for those two fears otherwise I'd probably be the victim of far worse than having my reputation trashed by being falsely accused of catfish scamming.

People need to always be vigilant online. You also need to be aware that even if you are and do stuff to thwart scammers (like give out false or misleading personal info on sites that don't require you to give your personal info out), you can have the same thing happen to you that happened to me.

It feels almost like having your identity stolen, but you can't track it and if your stalker is particularly good at what they do, there's nothing you can do to stop it (short of suicide). :(

Todays show is so typical and Anyone can fall prey to these Scammers..Dr Phil is exposing the Scum of the Earth and hope he continues to do so. I am 68 years old and back several years ago i met a man online from Incline Village Ca. He did have his picture on site,said he was 65, i was 62 he was a professional,former Assistant DA in Reno,now retired Attorney and Protemp Judge in Incline Village,lake Tahoe area. I thought he was very interesting and emailed back and forth,he started sending me love letters right off,long story short, we met,dated a short time,he was very secretive and Wined & Dined me then proposed.He even set up a Wedding and trip on a Hawaiian Cruise,he said he didnt want to get married in Nevada. Lots of things did add up but thought he was a good guy,well we married on beach in Maui, he started acting strange right after that,we got home to his house i was getting ready to move my things there until i got an email from a lady who said she is also engaged to him and told me she now found out he is a Bigamist and is still married to another woman. He also told the other engaged woman that he was going on a cruise by himself to get some rest. there is so much more,but i got it annuled but then he had the guts to file some papers,remember he is an attorney,that said I CORHERSED HIM into marriage,later i found out he was 76 not 65 and had more.






with 

The issue isn't whether or not others pass judgement on these women for falling "prey" to some online scam...because they themselves went on a NATIONAL TV SHOW in order to somehow bring about "awareness" of this type of scenario occurring.  Look, scams have been going on for centuries amongst mankind, and that doesn't mean any of us who are believing these women to be gullible think that what happened isn't WRONG!  What this show brought to awareness is that people will continue to be duped in any number of ways, not just the internet, as long as there are people out there who take the "bait".  I really dislike using these terms, because there are so many resources online, hundreds and thousands of sites that can be googled on how to protect yourself from identity theft, and scams of all kinds. Educate yourself, before you venture into unknown territory!!  And THAT is just common sense!

Why didn't any of these women research this before engaging online with ANYONE???  I heard the telephone voice of this "man" (woman) who duped them, and it sounded like a freaking teenage boy's voice.  When asked by Dr. Phil why this didn't seem odd to her, all she did was shrug her shoulders and say, "I dunno...".....shouldn't that be a major issue in this as well??  Why didn't she know what her motivations for continuing on with this, when the whole thing is layed out and it sounds ridiculous?   And why are they sending naked pictues of theirselves??  To someone they've never met?  Come on now, I find that just a bit incredible that anyone would feel the need to send nakies on their phone or pc cam and not have a second thought about doing that.  SHEESH!!!

And as Dr. Phil has said before, you never blame the "victim", but you also don't want to encourage or bring about scenarios that can leave you open to being molested in some way either.  Most women now days know, that awareness is key to avoiding trouble, and statistics have shown that a high percentage of women who are attacked are distracted in some way, not paying attention, unaware of their surroundings  when it occurs - studies have shown that criminals often target those who are not attentive to their surroundings.  I am not laying blame with this statement, but merely pointing out that having one's wits about them at all times, is a wise choice in today's world, including using the internet.

We have warned our children about online predators and bullying.  These are grown women...what would they have to say to a 13 child who told them the very same story they tell us on Dr. Phil?  I would hope they'd have the sense to warn that child away from the situation and contact the parents.  If you're an adult, no one can use you or abuse you, unless you allow them to.  This is what should be addressed on the show - why did any of these women have such a burning need for a man that they would tolerate this kind of "relationship"?  This world is full of abusers and scammers...get a clue.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh.  But to me, it is a harsh reality - and a lesson learned about their lack of self protection that these women were ignorant of, or possibly too blinded by their own emotions to recognise in themselves.

I so agree that people need to wise up about what they share online.  I would never be dumb enough to share any real life info about myself online; no DOB, name, age- NOTHING!!!!  If you do, then you have to be incredibly naive', or you're looking for something or someone that you're not being truthful about yourself.  Fine, people can do or search for whatever they want online, but it had better be with the realization of "buyer beware".

I find it very difficult to believe that this woman who cut herself over a "man" she'd never met, didn't have some kind of other issues or problems she was dealing with that go far beyond being a "victim" online.

I have made a fake profile of myself online as a man, because when I went to online games or chat rooms to listen to online streaming music as being a woman, I was very annoyed with being harrassed by men who cruise chat rooms looking for women.  I did it to protect myself and my own identity and enjoy online gaming or chats unmolested.  What I discovered being a "man" was shocking, as I was immediately im'ed by many women, who either wanted sex, or to "chat", and many shared intimate details of their lives with me, unsolicited. 

So, I am very sorry, but if you're an adult, and find yourself in the position of being some kind of online "victim", you have either naively, or inadvertantly put yourself into that scenario in some way.  I know this for a fact, because I've been on both sides of the coin....I didn't blame some anonomous person for "victimising" me, but took resposibility for my own actions and decided to not be so gullible. 

Remember, whatever you put on the www can be shared with the entire interwebs, unless you take the logical steps to protect yourself!

I so agree with what you say.  I too, have messed around with making "fake" profiles, as I'm not about to be dumb enough to put anything real life about myself online!!!!!  Whoever would not know that what is put online is for the rest of the www to share with the internet world has got to be incredibly naive' or looking for something that they're not really being truthful about themselves.  I made my fake profile because when using info that I'm a woman, I'd be bugged by men on games or internet chats where I listened to live streaming music.  I decided to make myself be a man to protect my own identity and self, and to not be annoyed by chat cruising men.  What I discovered was incredibly surprising to me, as I was constantly being im'ed by women, women wanting sex or to "chat" and often many who shared intimate details with me about their lives that was totally totally unsolicited by me.  I don't fault these women for doing whatever they decide they want to do online, but PLEASE!!!!!  Do not make yourself out to be some kind of victim of a solicitor who has "groomed" you!!!!!!  I find this concept ludicrous, and esp. agree with the commentor who said about the guest cutting herself over a "man" whom she's never met must have some other problem or desperation to begin with that has nothing whatsoever to do with being a victim of a "catfish". 

Please people, -men and women- wise up!!!!!!!!!! Be careful what you share with anyone, ANYWHERE, online and in real life, unless that is what you want or are looking for!  Be prepared for any possibility to occur, and think about this:  what would someone who is successful and amibitious, more than likely leading a very busy life style be doing online dating women or men???  Odds would most likely be that that "attractive" man or woman would be out living their life and not have time to be messing with people on the PC.  Use your heads!!!  I don't feel sorry for any of these women other than that they have to be incredibly desperate or suffering from an esteem problem, and that I do feel bad for them for, that they would seek to validate this with someone anonomous character online.  If a person is serious about an online romance, there are plenty of reputable dating sites where people's credentials are verified in order to be members.  Granted, you may pay fees for this, but beyond that, any online activity should be treated as a "buyer beware" situation.

They didn't just want "someone" in their lives, they wanted a very good looking rich young multi-tasking man in a band in their lives. "Someone" is too broad a term when you want Mr Perfect (to show off) that the movies tell you to want and you eat up with a spoon. No wonder the gay guy whose picture was used was laughing, I couldn't help it either. I really hope their stories stop other women from expecting too much from "someone" and not enough from themselves. Grow up women, life isn't a Disney movie.

Those women seemed desperate and made out they were helpless kids (because they (adult women) got suckered and it was partially their own fault). Truthfully, they each wanted a sexy looking young man in a band (and businesses etc on the side) plus money and the thrill of competing with groupies for him- not a regular looking guy with a regular job and no drama attached. They were not groomed like children by a pedophile since they are adults, they each approached the other talking about a relationship and carried it on for up to 3yrs (what the?). If they really saw the woman in a picture they would not have approached her for a date, they would have not even looked at her because she wasn't a young attractive man in a band that they wanted 'to catch' or "win" like a prize over all the competing women in his fake audiences. I wonder what the pictures of all the men they wanted nothing to do with looked like (where are their stories?). If catfish = thriving on drama, then those women must be catfish too.

So if you've seen him and met him and still think he's a catfish? Well.....

 1. At least you know there's an actual person to compare to his posted online photo's which gives you some sort of clue if they aren't the same as the photo. Which is mainly the most important thing. Catfish DON'T meet people because they AREN'T the person in all the photo's.
 
 2. if you don't like THAT person or think that person is lying to you and/or scamming and jerking around other's you can call him on it and tell him to get lost. And of course you're superficial we ALL are. You wouldn't of even met him if he was a poor jobless UNATTRACTIVE man because his personality is so great.

All of the episodes of the Catfish TV show are basically of unattractive people posing as attractive people to get more attention. It wasn't about scamming money.