I Got Catfished on Match and Discovered the Truth

My name is Samantha. I am a doctor living in Cedar Springs. Last year was difficult for me. I ended a relationship with my boyfriend. He was also a doctor at my hospital. I discovered he was having an affair with a nurse there. The betrayal hurt me deeply.

I entered a period of depression. I took a one-week leave from work. My family and friends were worried. They encouraged me to start dating again. I still had feelings for my ex. The idea of meeting someone new felt impossible. But I knew I had to try.

A friend suggested Match.com. She helped me create a profile. I was new to online dating. The app was confusing at first. Within two days, I understood how it worked.

A Welcome Distraction

A man liked my profile. I liked his back. His photos were handsome. He listed his job as a software engineer in New York. I liked that he was not a doctor. I wanted to avoid that world. The distance did not bother me. I needed a friend more than anything.

We started chatting every day. Our conversations lasted for two weeks. He was funny and seemed kind. I noticed something strange. He never asked for my phone number. He never suggested we meet. I found this unusual.

I was the one who brought it up. I asked if we could have a video call. He said he wanted to wait a little longer. He needed more time to feel comfortable. I tried to understand.

The First Request

Two days later, he called me through the app. His voice was panicked. He said he was in the hospital. His mother had been in a car accident. He needed $5,000 for her medical bills. He had $3,000 but was short $2,000. He claimed his bank’s server was down. He could not access his money. He promised to repay me as soon as the bank fixed the problem.

He seemed genuine. I was in a vulnerable state. I sent him the $2,000.

The next day, I tried to message him. I saw he was logged out of his account. I felt a knot form in my stomach. Two days later, he reappeared. He had a new story. He said his bank account was not just down. It was hacked. A thief had stolen all his money. He had filed a police report. But the process would take time. He said he needed another $2,000 right away.

My suspicion grew. This felt wrong. I told him I needed time to arrange the money. I said I did not have it readily available. He pressured me. He said it was an emergency.

Finding the Truth

I decided to search online. I went to Reddit and Google. I typed "scams on Match." I found many threads with stories like mine. Other users described the same pattern. A connection forms. Then a sudden crisis demands money. The person disappears after payment.

I knew I was likely being catfished. But I needed proof. The Reddit discussions mentioned people search sites. They listed Spokeo, Truthfinder, and BeenVerified. I read reviews for all of them.

I chose Spokeo because it offered a trial search for ninety-five cents. I entered the name and details he gave me. The report loaded quickly. The results were clear. The man in the photos did not match the name. He was using a stolen identity. The photos belonged to a real person with an Instagram account. The scammer had taken them.

I contacted the real person. He confirmed he was not on Match.com. He was not a software engineer in New York. He had no idea his photos were being used this way.

The Hard Lesson

I had my proof. I was catfished. I sent messages demanding my money back. He never replied. He simply vanished.

This experience taught me painful lessons. Do not send money to someone you have never met. Be wary if a person avoids phone calls or meetings. Always trust your gut feeling. If a situation feels wrong, it probably is.

You can use online tools to verify a person's identity. A small investment in a background check can save you from heartache and financial loss. My journey back to dating will be slower now. But I will be much smarter.

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