10 People Revealed Disturbing Stories of Meeting Internet Friends in Real Life

Meeting someone you’ve only known through a screen can feel exciting, harmless, or even overdue. After months or years of talking, it’s easy to believe you truly know the person on the other end. But sometimes, the moment you step into the real world together, everything you thought was familiar twists into something unrecognizable.

1.

I never actually met the guy, but spoke to him on the phone. We’d met on Myspace when I was in college and lived in the same town. I gave him my phone number and made plans for him to call me. When he did, his voice creeped me out.

I started noticing other red flags. Whenever I brought the neighborhood up, he changed the subject. I made up a restaurant that I said was my favorite. He immediately said that was his favorite too and that he especially loved one of their dishes. He went on and on about this wonderful place that didn’t exist. I called him out on that fact and turned out, he didn’t even live in the same state as me.

ScifiGirl1986 / Reddit

2.

He invited me over after three years of talking. I followed the address he sent and knocked. A woman opened the door, eyes puffy like she’d been crying for hours. She studied me for a long second and said quietly, “You’re... here for him too?” I hesitated but told her yes. She stepped aside and let me in like she’d been expecting this.

The living room was a mess of opened envelopes, printed screenshots, and photos of different women spread across the coffee table. My own picture was on top of a stack. The woman rubbed her forehead and said, “He’s been doing this for years. Talking to people, making plans to meet, sending them here.”
I asked where he was, and she gave a tired, bitter laugh. “He doesn’t even live here. I’m his sister. I’m the one who has to explain every time he disappears on someone.”

3.

I matched with a girl on Tinder, and we agreed to meet up at a coffee shop. When I arrived, I noticed only 2 people in the coffee shop, some old guy and a girl who looked similar to the girl I matched with. I texted her that "I'm here." When I did that, the old guy and the girl got their phones out at the same time, and I got a text that said, "I'm inside."

I went inside and went up to the girl and said, "Hey, Melissa, right?" She looked up from her phone, frowned, and said, "No, wrong person." Right after she said that, the old guy tapped me on the shoulder. I turned, he gave me a toothy smile, and casually said, "Howdy". I ran out superfast.

***_crimmity / Reddit

4.

We finally met at his apartment because he insisted on cooking dinner. Everything seemed normal at first — good conversation, good food. Then he pulled out his phone to show me a meme. As he swiped, a photo flashed that froze me in place. It was a picture of me crying in my car from months ago — something I thought I’d experienced alone. I asked him where he got it. He didn’t even flinch. “Oh, I’ve been following you longer than you’ve known me.”

5.

I met my online friend after a year of talking. He invited me to visit his city and I agreed. Once I landed, things felt off. He was waiting at the airport with a sign "Welcome home." When we got to his apartment, my stomach dropped. His living room was covered in pictures of me.

Screenshots from our video calls, photos from my Instagram, even one of me at my high school graduation. I'd never sent him that. My brain screamed at me to leave. I pretended I had a stomach ache and tried to leave. He stood in front of the door and said, “No need for that. Your room’s ready.”

I told him I was exhausted from my flight, so he finally let me go. I got to my hotel, locked the door, and blocked him on everything. I left the city the next morning.

6.

I had a guy profess his love for me over Skype. He wanted to come see me. He lived in the UK. I live in the States. I had a boyfriend, and he knew this. I told him that there was no time to see him, as I had work and school.

He says it’s fine. He’ll wait until I have time to see him. I told him not to come, he says he has his parents’ blessings. He stayed in a hotel for 3 weeks. I hung out with him twice, once with a group of friends and once with my boyfriend.

He got mad because he said that he wanted to hang out with me, alone (in his hotel room) and when I said no, he flipped. He said that because he flew over here, I should at least “hang out” with him. He flew back home and blocked me on all social media.

Unknown author / Reddit

7.

I met this guy who seemed really cool, so I took the train to LA to meet him. When I arrived, he was acting mean, saying he hadn’t slept much after partying all night. We hung out, got ramen, and he asked me to pay (which I didn’t mind).

Then, we met his friends, who were so rude to him. I ended up sitting outside with strangers waiting for him to come back from saying hello to everyone inside. He never did. I told his roommate I was leaving for a motel, but he offered to walk me back instead.

Later, I went to bed at my friend’s place. His roommate woke me up in the middle of the night trying to kiss me. When I said no, he said, “Are you serious? What was the point of you coming here? You’re such a waste of time!” My feelings were really hurt.

Unknown author / Reddit

8.

We planned for months to meet in person. He promised he’d be waiting right at the gate with flowers.
But when I landed — nobody. No texts, no calls.
As I headed toward baggage claim, a janitor waved me over and handed me an envelope with my name. Inside was a photo taken that same day of me stepping off the plane. I froze when on the back I found his handwriting: “Don’t turn around. You’re perfect when you don’t see me.”

9.

I started talking to this really sweet guy for about 2 weeks and things were going well. Then I started getting calls from this girl, who he claimed was his roommate, that was in love with him and kept trying to get him fired from jobs.

Turns out, she wasn’t the one lying, she was actually his live-in girlfriend, and they had moved here together from a different state. Apparently, he wasn’t actually a citizen, and was trying to obtain papers.

RobertBorrelli / Reddit

10.

A buddy of mine hit it off with this girl and after a few days, she invited him over to a house party. He shows up and is introduced to a few of her friends, all guys.

As the night carries on, more and more guys show up and very few girls are actually at the party. After they start talking about how they all know this girl, they find out that she invited them all from Tinder. Every guy was there to populate this chick’s birthday party.

AJTTOTD / Reddit

Most online friendships start with good intentions, and many grow into something real. But these stories are a reminder that the internet can blur the line between who someone claims to be and who they really are.