‘His Facebook was a shrine to my face’: the day I caught my catfish

I stumbled on a profile with my picture as the photo. What was this man doing with my identity? I set out to track him down …

It was around 1am when I discovered my impostor was watching me. I was sitting up in bed, scrolling on my phone through the list of people who had viewed my Instagram story. The audience was the same as it always was: friends, family and a smattering of followers I had picked up over the years. But a tug from my subconscious told me, this time, something was wrong. I scrolled back up and there it was: an account I had never seen before. Their profile photo was a selfie I had taken in a bookshop basement years ago.

Have you ever walked by an unexpected mirror and jumped at your own reflection? That’s how it felt as I stared back at myself, unnerved by my sudden appearance.

Topics

'This is my face and I will embrace what I have'

Cancer survivor Robin Fahey is taking part in an art exhibition highlighting facial prosthetics.
Top stories - BBC News - November 10
‘Catfish killer used my photo to trap other girls’

Three victims have spoken to the BBC after one of the world’s most prolific online sex offenders was jailed.
Top stories - BBC News - November 11
'I can't say what my face will do in two hours'

Amy Green, who has Bell's palsy, says seeing Tulisa on TV helps raise awareness of the condition.
Top stories - BBC News - 6 days ago
'I can one day tell my grandkids that I played Rafa': Nadal retires, with an unreachable legacy

Rafael Nadal retires on Tuesday at the Davis Cup, after more than 20 years in pro tennis -- and with a record on clay that might never be surpassed.
Sports - ESPN - November 19
‘I don’t want the government involved in my affairs’: My husband lists me as his beneficiary. We don’t have children. Do we need a will?

“My concern is that there would be some involvement by the state that would cost me.”
Business - MarketWatch - Yesterday
Rufus Wainwright: ‘I had a great party trick, but it once blew up in my face’

The singer-songwriter on his most memorable fan, his love of Chappell Roan, and his close friend and nemesis Jake Shears. Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email If you could have a ...
World - The Guardian - November 23
Nutritionist from Japan: The food I love eating every day—and that robust 90-year-olds in my life swear by

"The most lively and robust elders in my life" eat this food, says Japanese nutritionist and longevity expert Michiko Tomioka. It "makes me feel healthier" too.
Business - CNBC - 5 days ago
You be the judge: should my husband stop smuggling his hip flask into the theatre where I work?

Ellen’s husband Rog loves a crafty swig; she worries he’ll be spotted and embarrass her. Should he put a lid on it or should she enter into the spirit of things? You decide Find out how to get a ...
World - The Guardian - November 1