Infiniti, a 19-year-old dancer based in New York City, sought help from hosts Nev Schulman and Max Joseph regarding her six-month online relationship with "Dave". Despite living in the same city, Dave consistently avoided meeting Infiniti, citing work commitments or travel. The investigation initially flagged several "red flags," including:

Dave used multiple phone numbers and claimed to be in California for extended periods.

The psychological motivation behind the deception was rooted in . Nelly confessed that while catfishing, she learned things about Infiniti that Infiniti had never shared with her in person. This "alternate channel" of communication made Nelly feel closer to her friend, even as she maintained the lie. Aftermath and Analysis