This is the most insane Grindr story. I wish I took screengrabs because it could be a reality TV show.
So last week this super attractive guy hits me up. Guys who do usually are spammers or hookers so I don't give them any credence.
But this guy was being pretty chatty and engaging. He says he's new to Grindr = red flag. He's never done anything with guys = another red flag. He says he's 18 and just out of high school = super massive red flag.
I was suspicious but he shared a lot about himself, his family, and his feelings. He gave me his full name etc. He wanted to meet and for me to be his first = super duper massive red flag. I told him no but was happy to give him advice for having sex for the first time etc.
So we chat a lot more over the next few nights. He shows me photos of guys who he says want to have sex with him. These are other super hot guys (insta model types) which only makes me wonder why he's even engaging with me. I'm happy to give him advice but I'm wary.
So I Google the real name he gave me. Nothing. But he's just 18 so I figure he has a minimal web presence. But then I realize that his school had a virtual graduation due to the pandemic. It's a public video, so I check it out. All the seniors names are read in alphabetical order. He's not among them. I scan all the faces. There are some guys who resemble him, but none are him.
Keep in mind he's offering all this info on him. He says he played a specific sport. He's not on the roster. However, when I ask him about one of the star players, he seems to know who he is. I throw out the principal's name. He is able to identify him quickly but maybe he did a quick Google search.
More days pass. We're still chatting and I'm giving him advice. I know he's talking to other guys, and I warn him that some are liars and some are even fake profiles. But he seems hung up on one guy, let's call him D, and even sends me D's profile. D seems normal and attractive (not insanely hot like the probably fake insta models). He has researched D and says he's legit.
So the next day we continue our conversation. But now the 18 yo reveals that he had sex with D. He's in really bad shape physically and mentally; things got out of hand and he was assaulted. I am concerned. I offer my support as we walk through his physical injuries and what to do with them. Then I walk through his feelings (I'm not a therapist but I've had training). He shows me texts D has sent him. They're alarming. Ultimately we agree he should go to the hospital and not see D, even though D is trying to get with him using all these lures that ironically, I warned him about early on.
The next day I check in. He's better, thankfully. He apologizes to me, saying he wishes he listened to me more. I'm admittedly invested now. He's gone from seeking advice to seeking help. But I can't shake the feeling that something isn't right. I believe the whole incident with D happened. But technically, this 18yo doesn't exist. He wasn't in the commencement, he wasn't on the sports team he says he was. He's not real, but he's telling me about real situations.
So I ask point blank are you real? He says yes, but all signs point to no. I then present him evidence and he ghosts. Disappears.
I just don't understand why he came for me. At several points I thought I was being catfished but he never asked for pics etc. But he doesn't exist (I further confirmed this). I just don't get it. Why craft such an elaborate lie and get nothing out of it except advice.
I'm still perplexed.