I rarely talk about personnal things but I kinda need to. It happened a few years ago but it's still very fresh to me. I was 12 and my "best friend" stole my identity. I have very little memories of him because what he did really broke me. He was a "relative" and I seriously enjoyed his company. I was not in love with him but he was seriously someone I could rely on. He had an history of psychotic episodes and he had dissociation too top it with a chronic liar. He was still sweet. I even went as far as calling him my "brother". Fast forward, he discovered my identity over the internet (ie games I joined, facebook, Tumblr etc) and since I was young and naive, he stole my identity. I never realized the issue until I hit 17 I think? But either way, I discovered that he had been dating several people online using my information. He had his own identity but he used mine on the side, saying I was lesbian and looking for girls. He went as far as stealing pictures, conversation and such. He even gave me gifts he had received from these people. I had to quit this friendship when I discovered several proof of him deceiving me from the start (was around 17 I think). We lost contact long ago but the people he dated ARE STILL following me around and it's an absolute nightmare. I cannot have a Facebook or any type of social media and I'm being followed elsewhere (and hopefully not irl). A part of me really want to apologize to these people because I meant no harm to them. It was as painful to them as it was to me. I already have my own past relationship issues and I want to move on but I can't. I tried to reach out to different police officers but they had "no proof" or they weren't a danger to me. I contacted these people MYSELF but they told me I was lying. Now, when they are reaching out to me, I reply: Who are you? I'm sorry but you might have the wrong person. However, they insist.

I'm just wondering ... How does one move on? Obviously these strangers didn't but I don't want to stay at their mercy. I'm paying for something I didn't do ... Often, I find myself afraid of going outside in case they find me and whatnot.

Wow... first of all, I'm so so sorry that happened to you. It is terrible that he treated you this way and what he did is wrong in every sense of the word. I have no idea what your situation is like, but is there any chance you could just once and for all explain what had happened in the past (I don't know if you still have any suitable evidence that proves he was stealing your identity?) to show these people as a sort of last ditch effort to help them understand what had happened before cutting them off completely? Is there any way you can block these people from all the websites that they are reaching you on? :o Just sorta cut them out completely. I also don't know if maybe screenshots that these people having been reaching out to you on multiple different websites despite your wishes is enough proof to count as harassment?

I really understand your feelings on apologizing, but at the same time I feel that you shouldn't need to because you were a victim as much as they were. But of course I'd say do go with whatever makes you feel better? (Like if you think apologizing will help but again- you don't need to)

I'm really sorry I cannot give any better advice 😭 You absolutely do not deserve this and I really hope those other people can just move on for everyone's sake. I know we normally talk about CWs and meme shit but if you ever feel the need to talk about something more serious I'm here for you :) Please take care!

This is fucking wild and I'm sorry this happened to you. What a nightmare.

If the misled dating prospects keep bothering you and don't listen to the fact someone else was posing as you or don't get the explanation of what a 'catfish' is, it's probably time to start blocking and ignoring. If they keep harassing you and contacting you after you told them to stop, that might be enough grounds to file a restraining order. Screenshots and chatlogs if this situation crops up are a good idea.

Crafting a new online ID is probably the next step. Think up new usernames and handles, use a nickname on facebook instead of your real name (just tweaking the first name should suffice and not violate FB's policy on fake names), avoid selfies and personal info that these people know until things have had some time to calm down and fall off. Change all your passwords just in case too. Drop/delete all the ways that the hanger-ons have contacted and known you up to this point. Rather than mourn losing your usernames and contacts, think of it as an opportunity to start fresh.

Get the sites who he was catfishing on involved too. Contact their staff and let them know your situation and see if they can help in getting everything pulled down, should there be any remnants of it left out there. Contacting staff on sites where you're being harassed by spurned lovers might be a good option too.

Also, it should go without saying and it sounds like you've already gone this route, but do not let the guy who started all this back into your life under any circumstances.

I've blocked these people but some of them find ways to find me and/or contact me for a short period of time. I've already went to a police facility to explain the situation but to them, it's cyber stalking and since there hasn't been any form of attempt to contact me/find me irl, they aren't going to interfere since giving a restraining order to a computer is kinda hard ... As for having contact with him, we haven't talked for a solid 5-6 years now. He may have talked to the others but I'm not aware of anything and he doesn't have any accounts belonging to me (mostly deleted them all and started fresh). The most terrifying thing is that he has given them pictures of me and my real name. That's just utterfly creepy. I've involved several staff members so I really don't see what I can do anymore.

Uggghhh. Yeah, you've done everything exactly right so far. At this point too, if any more keep coming after you, they should just be block on sight; don't even bother trying to talk to them or explain to them. The fact that they keep coming even after you've told them it's a lie and you're not interested is disgustingly persistent. Like, damn. Even if it WAS you all along, you're clearly not interested anymore. Move on, creepers.

Do they think you owe them something because you ("you") got gifts from them? If you any of said gifts are still laying around, dunk 'em in the trash. Purge this entire ordeal in every possible way.

Could you lock this please? Thank you.