Woman Says ‘No’ To Man For Years, Faces Fallout When Cheating Accusations Hit Their Fake Romance

Breakups can be messy and sometimes, the less mature or more entitled party will do some reputational sabotage in revenge. But, as it turns out, sometimes you don’t even have to date someone before they start making insane claims about you.

A woman asked the internet for advice after she posted her boyfriend on Instagram, only to get angry messages from people who thought she was cheating. As it turns out, a guy she rejected had been pretending to date her. We reached out to the woman who posted the story via private message and will update the article when she gets back to us.

Discovering that someone has been falsely stringing you along in a completely fictional relationship is pretty disturbing, no matter how you look at it. You might feel a whirlwind of emotions, confusion, anger, embarrassment, all of which are perfectly okay when your privacy and reputation have been invaded. The first step is to allow yourself to feel those things without judgment. Only after allowing yourself time to process are you ready to go on with a clear head. As this story shows, despite the relationship being fiction, it’s still important to take some steps to prevent further lies.

To start with, gather as much evidence as you can gather, social-media posts that you screen-shotted, texts, emails, or witness statements who heard the rumor. Having a clear narrative of what was said, when it was said, and where it was said will help you provide adequate explanation to whoever needs to be informed and serve as evidence if the problem needs to be escalated. One thing to keep in mind at all times, this behavior isn’t normal, this sort of man is a certified creep.

If you can do so, let the person responsible know in a polite (or less polite if you feel like stirring the pot) direct message: tell them that the accusations are untrue, that their behavior is upsetting, and that you need any false posts or statements to be removed as soon as possible. At times a simple, courteous request suffices to stop the lies. While that is happening, mobilize your own network. Call all of the friends, family, and coworkers, anyone who might have encountered the rumor, so that they know before it spreads further. A couple of sentences indicating, "I've seen folks putting up that we're going out. That is not so, and I thought you needed to be made aware," can derail gossip. It’s sort of an embarrassing situation, but, unfortunately, creeps like this have to be dealt with proactively.

You have recourse online as well, where you can report the phony account or fake posts. All sites have clear policies against threatening or misleading posts, and reporting the posts as "impersonation" or "defamation" tends to have them deleted immediately. Meanwhile, lock down your own account, change passwords, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and review your privacy settings so you make it harder for strangers to peddle false news in your name. While this might sound extreme, the fact is that someone creepy and obsessed enough to make up and maintain a lie like this could go further..

If the impersonation persists in spite of your polite requests and platform complaints, you might prepare a formal cease-and-desist letter. You can do this on your own or with the help of an attorney, and sometimes the threat of potential legal action will stop the impersonator. Only in extreme situations does mimicking being in a relationship constitute stalking or harassment, as some commenters suggested. If you ever feel threatened or in danger, don't hesitate to contact law enforcement or file a protective order. Your safety and well-being are more important than anything else. If you think you might be going through something similar, look for resources online.

Finally, let this experience cement your boundaries. Be more selective in issuing friend invitations, more careful about what you share about yourself on the Internet, and more considerate of how you're projecting yourself to the public. Turn to friends, relatives, or a counselor to go over what happened, speaking your experience out alleviates some of the emotional weight and reminds you that you're not isolated from this.". By taking strong, intentional action, you can reclaim your story, restore your privacy, and end the charade once and for all.