An Illinois creator named Dina found herself in what started as a surprisingly refreshing dating situation only for it to spiral into something that left her seriously questioning the whole thing. Instead of the usual “hey” or awkward pickup line sliding into her DMs, Dina got something a little different: a complete stranger messaging her to recommend his friend as a potential match. And not in a casual way.
This guy came prepared, offering up a list of traits and reasons why his buddy would be perfect for her. Now, to be fair, that’s kind of bold. In a world where dating apps can feel repetitive and low-effort, a curated recommendation almost sounds appealing. And for a moment, it was.
Dina decided to give it a shot and started talking to the guy. According to her, things were going really well. She and the guy interacted for five straight days, and things seemed to be fine. But then came the plot twist.
Illinois Woman Shares Bizarre Dating Experience
While catching up with her best friend during a workout, Dina casually mentioned the situation. That’s when everything unraveled. Her friend revealed that she had received the exact same message from the same guy with the same pitch, same recommendation, same everything.
Even though her friend had deleted the message, she recognized the name immediately. That’s when Dina started putting the pieces together and what she realized didn’t sit right at all. Instead of this being a one-off “wingman” moment, it appeared the guy had been systematically reaching out to multiple women within her social circle.
Basically, he wasn’t just helping his friend, he was casting a wide net, using Dina’s profile and connections as a roadmap. The whole situation introduced a concept that’s becoming more talked about in the social media age: “friend-hunting.” It’s essentially when someone combs through your followers, tags, or photos to find other potential matches without anyone really knowing it’s happening.
And for Dina, that realization crossed a line. She admitted the situation “rubs me the wrong way,” which feels like a pretty understated way to describe finding out your dating life has accidentally turned into a group project.
This Is So Weird
What makes this even more complicated is that the guy she was actually talking to may not have even known the full extent of what his friend was doing. So now Dina is stuck in that all-too-familiar gray area: do you cut things off immediately, or give someone a chance to explain something they might not even be responsible for?
She also shared that she’s typically quick to “cut one off” when something feels off. However, this situation has her second-guessing that instinct, simply because everything else had been going so well. And that’s what makes this story so interesting.
Naturally, the internet had thoughts. And while reactions varied, one thing was clear: people are starting to rethink what’s acceptable when it comes to modern matchmaking tactics. “It sounds like his friend is the problem. I would give him a chance if no other red flags,” said one person. “The stupidity of men is truly incomprehensible,” another commented.
And if nothing else, this Illinois dating story might make you double-check your DMs and openly asking your friends about potential suitors.
Emma Taylor 
Hunter Spears 
