Dear Abby: My sister-in-law refuses to believe she is being catfished and I don’t know how to help her
An Arizona man is concerned that his sister-in-law, Carla, is being catfished by an online girlfriend she has never met. Despite multiple red flags, including the inability to communicate via phone or video, Carla continues to send money in the form of gift cards. The advice given suggests that she should cease contact with this person and report the situation to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- ▪Carla has been communicating with an online 'girlfriend' named Susan for a year without ever meeting her.
- ▪She has repeatedly postponed plans to meet Susan and has not spoken to her on the phone.
- ▪The advice warns that sending money via gift cards is a common tactic used by scammers.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Dear Abby Lifestyle Dear Abby: My sister-in-law refuses to believe she is being catfished and I don’t know how to help her By Dear Abby Published May 18, 2026, 3:00 a.m. ET An Arizona man fears his sister-in-law, Carla, is being catfished by an online 'girlfriend' she's never met. Iona - stock.adobe.com See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google DEAR ABBY: My sister-in-law, “Carla,” has had a “girlfriend,” “Susan,” for the past year who she has never met or spoken to. They only text. Carla says they plan to be married when they meet, which is canceled repeatedly. When I have asked, Carla has confusing reasons why they can’t FaceTime or speak on the phone. Carla volunteered to come early for her yearly stay to assist us because I was having surgery.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from New York Post
