Catfishing is an unfortunate, but all too real, part of online dating. If you’re an active online dater and you haven’t been catfished, studies say it’s only a matter of time. Around 40% of people on dating apps, like Hinge, report being catfished, with some calling the problem a contributing factor to their dating app fatigue.
Still, if you move to a new city, getting on the apps can be a fun way to meet people. That said, there’s always a chance that these apps connect you to someone with bad intentions.
Recently, TikTok user Kacey (@kslicee05) got the internet talking after sharing her own dating app disaster. According to Kacey, a mysterious man tried to use artificial intelligence to trick her.
What Happened With This Woman’s Hinge Match?
In a video with over 24,000 views, Kacey explains that she recently moved to Austin, Texas, and downloaded Hinge.
While using the app, she matched with a man named Christian—though things immediately didn’t seem right.
“I think the flag number one, right off the bat, when we’re texting, his messages are green,” she recalls. “So I asked, ‘Why don’t you have an iPhone?’ And he’s just like, ‘Oh, you can do more things on Android. I just like it more.’”
In a comment, Kacey explains why this was suspicious, “Because typically when you use fake number apps, the messages are green. Also, you obviously can’t FaceTime without an iPhone.”
Still not seeing it as that big of an issue, Kacey continued chatting with the man. Soon, however, things got weird.
The Red Flags Keep Coming
That day, Kacey says she and Christian talked three times on the phone—but that “his voice did not match his face.”
Then, she reveals that the two exchanged normal, non risque photos. The reason? He said he didn’t have social media. While Kacey says it’s something she can “look past” under normal circumstances, this, paired with other behavior, struck her as another red flag.
Then, the following day, Christian sent her a photo of a different variety—one that made her incredibly uncomfortable.
He Starts Sending Photos And Videos
Upon receiving this inappropriate photo, Kacey’s reaction was largely one of confusion.
First, she says the photo feels like it came out of nowhere, as their conversation leading up to that was about how he was with his family. Second, he followed the photo up with several explicit videos—and Kacey quickly realized that the body in the videos did not match his photos.
“It looks similar, but there’s a few things that you really have to pay attention to to notice,” she explains.
Kacey Confronts Her Hinge Match
After trying to confront him, Christian insists that the videos are of him. To make matters stranger, Kacey notes that the videos had his voice over them—meaning that the video was either AI-generated with an added voiceover, or that the man had taken someone else’s videos and added his own commentary on top.
“I’m, like, sick to my stomach that this person thinks that’s appropriate to send to somebody, especially somebody who he doesn’t know,” she explains. “Of course I don’t want that.”
The last straw was when she says he sent her a picture of “himself” holding an iPhone—a phone he previously denied owning.
“And I’m just like, ‘Dude, how stupid do you have to be?’” Kacey recounts.
In response, she says she blocked him and attempted to report him on Hinge, though he had already unmatched her by that time. Now, she’s simply advising daters in the Austin area to be on the lookout for this man.
Why Would Someone Do This?
There are a few reasons why someone might try to catfish using someone else’s or AI-generated photos.
The first is relatively innocent: trying to improve their odds. A study from June 2025 found that around half of the Gen Z population on dating apps admitted to using AI while using a dating app, either to enhance their profile or to improve their messages.
However, another reason is significantly more sinister. In short, the person could have been a scammer attempting to get illicit photos from Kacey to use as blackmail.
@kslicee05 Hinge horror story ! Ladies be careful for this creeper “Christian” 6’2 30y.o. on hinge. #austin #hinge #horror #catfish #fyp ♬ original sound – Yecak05
Here’s How The Scheme Works
While this may sound far-fetched, there are numerous cases of “sex-tortion” happening via dating apps. Here’s how this scheme typically works: first, the scammer meets a victim online, either through social media or a dating app. Then, they convince them to send racy photos. This can be done by either asking or, as may be the case in Kacey’s situation, sending some edited photos or videos of their own.
Once the victim has sent the explicit photos or videos, the person behind the scheme can begin threatening to expose the victim’s photos to the world. Sometimes, they will demand money; other times, they will simply demand more photos.
Regardless of what they demand, experts say that one should not give in to these demands, as they frequently do not stop the blackmail. Instead, one should begin preserving evidence, cut off all contact, and reach out to the police, though their ability to help may be limited.
In short, Kacey was correct not to send any more information and block the man.
The Mary Sue reached out to Kacey via TikTok direct message and comment, and Hinge via email.
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