ADVERTISEMENT

Not everyone is who they seem to be. Someone confident, cunning, and well-versed in psychology has a pretty good chance of successfully impersonating others. And some folks only notice the con only when it’s far too late. That’s where the massively popular ‘Act Like You Belong’ subreddit comes in.

It’s an online community that documents some of the most egregious and hilarious times when people pretended to be someone else, whether to steal, cheat, sneak into a high-profile event, or... just for the heck of it. Scroll down to see why first impressions can sometimes be wrong—even if you spot a uniform and a badge!

#2

The Illusionist

The Illusionist

everyonehasaidsaids Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

“Swindling is really acting, and you play a character who will help you appear legitimate, confident, and successful… even when you are not,” one former con artist told Reader’s Digest.

A lot of con artists rely on the so-called halo effect to reach their nefarious goals. To put it simply, the halo effect means that our overall impression of an individual heavily impacts what we think about their character. So somebody who is beautiful, kind, or social can be seen as good, likable, and intelligent… even if they aren’t. A person who’s out to trick and cheat their way through society can use this to their advantage.

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

Guerrilla Street Safety

Guerrilla Street Safety

SpikeyTaco , x.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lavender Myst
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Prolly made the street safer as people need to slow down and watch for crossers now. .....edited: for typos

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Your physical appearance is a core part of the halo effect and looking the part has a massive on how people perceive you. Someone who is well-groomed, stylishly dressed (or dressed to suit the part they’re playing), and moves and talks with deep confidence is going to give off the impression that they’re (more) reliable.

Building a false sense of trust is essential for con artists. Without it, they have nothing.

#8

Slpt: How To Become A Millionaire

Slpt: How To Become A Millionaire

KyleC83 , i-just-want-to-destroy.tumblr.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
PFD
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, not exactly "made up random bills" but an organised fraud involving phishing, identity theft, fake companies set up in the name of real ones etc. The extent of his personal involvement is unclear: he claimed he was only a minor player in the fraud ring, the US prosecutors said he was ringleader. But either way it wasn't some fun Robin Hood thing, just regular crime. And almost all the money was quickly recovered, so it wasn't even very successful. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/lithuanian-man-sentenced-5-years-prison-theft-over-120-million-fraudulent-business

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Woman Pretends To Be An Extra For The Matrix 4 Filming (Comment On Trailer)

Woman Pretends To Be An Extra For The Matrix 4 Filming (Comment On Trailer)

Zipdox Report

The tagline of the r/ActLikeYouBelong subreddit is that “there is no need for clearance when you have confidence!” And, generally, this speaks volumes about how real life works.

ADVERTISEMENT

First impressions certainly do matter. So when we see someone striding with charisma, possibly with a wide smile or looking super serious, we tend to assume that they belong wherever we are, too.

#11

An Identity Thief Stole The Identity Of A Surgeon And While Aboard A Navy Destroyer Was Tasked With Performing Several Life Saving Surgeries

An Identity Thief Stole The Identity Of A Surgeon And While Aboard A Navy Destroyer Was Tasked With Performing Several Life Saving Surgeries

He proceeded to memorize a medical textbook just before hand and all the patients survived.

Remarkable-Nerve-727 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Luis Hernandez Dauajare
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His name was Ferdinand Waldo Demara, and not ony did he impersonate a navy surgeon and successfully operated on a wounded serviceman from a bullet near the heart. He also impersonated an assistant prison warden and created several reforms that greatly benefited the behavior of convicts. His job at the prison was so impressive that the warden immediatley said that he would rehire Demara if he applied again under his own name. After being caught, he impersonated a monk, founded a chartered college and when questioned about forged checks he faked suicide to get another identity. Then he impersonated a doctor of applied psychology, taught several years at a university and published a booklet on parenting. Later, when impersonating the navy surgeon, his story became so notorious that the authorities discovered him while investigating to give a commendation for heroism. Before that, he had also impersonated a hospital orderly, a civil engineer and a lawyer. When asked for his motivation, he said "Rascality, pure rascality".

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Many of us simply don’t consider that someone might be impersonating another person or worker. We meet so many strangers every single day at work, in cafes, and on the streets.

It would be absolutely exhausting to consider whether everyone is pretending or has ulterior motives. If you’re constantly worrying that someone’s out to get you or con you, you probably won’t get anything done all day.

ADVERTISEMENT
#13

Atta, Boy!

Atta, Boy!

bats000 , ravenshelter.tumblr.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
October
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, so when my kid was about seven years old she tried to flirt with a teenaged boy by telling him she was actually an eighteen year old dwarf Luckyly her trick didn't work.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Panda Caretakers In China

Panda Caretakers In China

Xander395 Report

Add photo comments
POST
80 Van
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The real panda looks absolutely terrified. I don’t think the costumes are working.

Josephine Blogs
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't get it, it's just a photo of three pandas. Where are the caretakers?

Two_rolling_black_eyes
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Chinese take the long game. Populations of pandas started falling and they couldn't figure out how to breed them. So they lent out breeding pairs to governments around the world. The US government alone spent millions on research for our pair at the National zoo. Breakthroughs from around the world helped solve the breeding problem sufficiently to bring them back from endangered to threatened. So China has recalled all of their loaned pandas back home now that the world solved the problem.

xolitaire
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly pandas are not smart. That's part of their problems

Green Tree
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw a documentary about this. Those are baby pandas born in captivity that are being conditioned to be released back into the wild. They wear costumes and even put panda urine on themselves so that the baby pandas do not imprint on the human caretakers (make it as much like being raised by pandas as possible)

KieLeaHar
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They should just let the pandas see them. Pandas love bonding with caretakers… and being brats in a cute way 😂

Alecto76
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Watching videos of panda caretakers (not in costume) - it looks like an adorable, but absolutely frustrating job. See the You Tube video of a caretaker trying to rake leaves in an enclosure.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Someone Pretended To Be Tom Cruise In A Small Chicken Shop In North Eastern Thailand And Is Remembered There Forever

Someone Pretended To Be Tom Cruise In A Small Chicken Shop In North Eastern Thailand And Is Remembered There Forever

TooHardToChoosePG Report

It’s not like most of us are top-tier body language experts. While most of us can pick up on some overt clues that someone might not be telling the truth, if someone’s an experienced liar, they’ll be able to hide some of their red flags.

On top of that, when we see a person in a uniform, with a badge, handling a clipboard, we assume that they’re someone of some importance. Why would we not, unless they’re sweating profusely, tripping over themselves, and acting incredibly shifty? 

#16

Look Busy And Leave

Look Busy And Leave

Communist_Toast Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mimi La Souris
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I call these people "chair heaters". how can you get a job without having to do a job ?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#17

The King Of Acting Like You Belong

The King Of Acting Like You Belong

SpaceMyopia Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By far the weirdest James Bond movie this side of Casino Royale. The original with Peter Sellers and David Niven not the new one. In Her Majesty's Secret Service, Bond is MARRIED! Only time ever on film.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

This Is FBI Agent Robert Hanssen

This Is FBI Agent Robert Hanssen

He was tasked to find a mole within the FBI after the FBI's moles in the KGB were caught. Robert Hanssen was the mole and had been working with the KGB since 1979.

darkfishy16 Report

Add photo comments
POST
80 Van
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His face looks like he’s saying, “I can’t believe I’m getting away with this.”

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

The r/ActLikeYouBelong online community has its roots in early 2015. In the years since being founded, the subreddit has grown to have 647k members. The popularity of the group mostly has to do with how incredibly unbelievable most of the stories they post about sound.

And yet, real life is often stranger than fiction. Cons, fraud, and lies—they’re an inseparable part of life. Unfortunately.

#19

When The Doctors Came To Check, Shi Pei Pu Would Tuck His Genitals Inside His Body To Fool Them

When The Doctors Came To Check, Shi Pei Pu Would Tuck His Genitals Inside His Body To Fool Them

reddit.com , x.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
80 Van
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read the Wikipedia article to get answers, and now I only have more questions.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Trying To Blend In

Trying To Blend In

Emms246 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Viktoria Tatarek
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

John French? He must be French for sure. Whats the point of this post?

View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Because There’s No Actual Laws About What A Press Badge Is, I Use This Spider-Man 2002 Promo Badge To Gain Access To Shoot Pics

Because There’s No Actual Laws About What A Press Badge Is, I Use This Spider-Man 2002 Promo Badge To Gain Access To Shoot Pics

Thelokianator1 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tucker Cahooter
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of one of the Three Stooges movies. They nick the labels off fixtures and flash them as credentials when challenged. Moe: "Press!" Larry "Press!" Curly: "Pull!"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda

The moderators running the subreddit have some strict rules that everyone needs to follow. Despite the fact that the group is all about people pretending like they belong somewhere where they don’t, nobody should be impersonating the mods themselves. This is very frowned upon.

Moreover, the members of r/ActLikeYouBelong are asked to be very careful about posting any identifying information about themselves or other people. And remember to flair your post! If you don’t, it might end up getting removed.

#22

This Is Dion Rich The World's Greatest Gate Crasher. He Snuck Into 35 Super Bowls, The World Series, The Oscars, The Olympics And More

This Is Dion Rich The World's Greatest Gate Crasher. He Snuck Into 35 Super Bowls, The World Series, The Oscars, The Olympics And More

skulldude360 Report

#23

Student Had Been Lecturing At A University

Student Had Been Lecturing At A University

20poolja Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mark
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The 'Remain vigilant' at the end got me. It's like Alastor Moody is the head of school

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Reader’s Digest points out that con artists tend to target the most vulnerable people. It does not mean that you’re dumb, simply that you’re down on your luck. For instance, someone who’s dealing with a hard situation at work or in their personal lives is ripe for being taken advantage of.

ADVERTISEMENT

The more emotionally and financially vulnerable someone is, the more naive and trusting they are, the more they’ll appeal to fraudsters hoping to earn a quick buck.

#25

29-Year-Old Scientist Enrolled In High School And Pretended To Be A Teenager Because She Was Lonely And “Wanted To Return To A Place Of Safety”

29-Year-Old Scientist Enrolled In High School And Pretended To Be A Teenager Because She Was Lonely And “Wanted To Return To A Place Of Safety”

crystalrose27 Report

#26

Man Convinces Convenience Store Clerk He's There To Take Over

Man Convinces Convenience Store Clerk He's There To Take Over

Felonious_Slug Report

#27

How To Hack A Bus Stop Advertising Space

How To Hack A Bus Stop Advertising Space

son_bakazaru Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mark
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Skills. How kind of them to leave a how-to guide, #Adhack manifesto

View more commentsArrow down menu

Con artists try to get you talking as much as possible to weasel out important information. They can then use it to deepen their connection with you. Others copy your body language to create a sense that there’s a bond between you. Hustlers also refer to you by name and can even pretend to know you.

The general rule of thumb is that if someone offers you a deal that you feel is too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your gut, don't get greedy.

ADVERTISEMENT
#28

A Bridge Too Far

A Bridge Too Far

hydrogen_alpha Report

#29

Mexican Man Tries To Illegally Enter The Us By Disguising Himself As A Car Seat

Mexican Man Tries To Illegally Enter The Us By Disguising Himself As A Car Seat

bats000 Report

#30

A True Wikipedia Scholar

A True Wikipedia Scholar

ylno83 , x.com Report

Have you ever caught anyone pretending to be someone else, dear Pandas? Have you ever been targetted by swindlers, con artists, or scammers? Which of the posts, as featured on r/ActLikeYouBelong, did you find the most amusing? We’d love to hear from you, so feel free to scroll down to the comment section to share your thoughts. And remember… just because someone’s supremely confident doesn’t always mean they’re fully trustworthy.

In the meantime, for some more people who like pretending like they belong somewhere they should be, take a look through Bored Panda's earlier feature.

#31

That Time A Random Dude Became A Tsar Of Montenegro

That Time A Random Dude Became A Tsar Of Montenegro

Chief_Nub_Nub99 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#32

Spotted In The UK

Spotted In The UK

jasilucy Report

Add photo comments
POST
TopCat
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blue lights on the roof would have been illegal in the UK hence the amber ones.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

College Student

College Student

FiggyPoofin Report

Add photo comments
POST
David
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You'd think if you were squatting in a college dorm you'd try to keep a low profile.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

Guy Got A Job At A Food Kiosk And Ran Off To Watch The Football Match Where The Kiosk Was. Legend!

Guy Got A Job At A Food Kiosk And Ran Off To Watch The Football Match Where The Kiosk Was. Legend!

McOnePot , x.com Report

#35

Seats In A Swedish Train

Seats In A Swedish Train

zhaocaimao Report