I don't really think we need to check ourselves Osiris, I think this is just another facet of what web sites like these are about, one minute there are loads of threads about one thing, then next week something else is in the spotlight.
I've made posts in the past saying everyone should make some attempt to post, photos are after all a big part of the site, but I've also said that any kind of photo will do for me. There are many people who don't post who I'm perfectly happy to chat my little head off, it comes down to whether you post or whether you chose not to what is important is honesty, these threads aren't about pics, quite rightly as you said it's about deception. As a group people on the net are quite astute in spotting fakes, fakes always get found out sooner or later if they hang around for any length of time, and I'm sure the people who are watching are quite aware that it's only the fakes who get the pitchforks, on the rare occasions someone real is accused of being a fake it's easily enough sorted. I've rarely been accused of being a fake, but the first few nights I was in the chat room one of the regular members was convinced I was a man because I'm very assertive, in a chat room the first night there I'm chatting away with everyone as if I've always been there - it took very little to convince him I was a woman, the woman I present myself to be. It's only the big fat fibbers who need to be scared, and why should we tolerate being lied to?
There aren't many people on this site who've admitted being fakes, but on the two occasions I know of where someone did it they were treated with generosity and kindness by the majority of people here.
Maybe the threads about fakers are becoming more prevalent are because they seem to be becoming less your average faker - they're either setting up elaborate fakes or setting up ones that are so transparent they're an insult to anyone's intelligence.
I might be paraphrasing but I think Chaucer said 'murder and truth will out', some other dead guy said 'the truth will set you free'.
If they don't want to be mentioned in threads like this the solution is simple isn't it - don't come on here and lie to and manipulate people.