6 documentaries to watch if you were hooked on Netflix's Sweet Bobby

Netflix's true crime documentary Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is a disturbing watch that unravels British radio presenter Kirat Assi's devastating ordeal of being catfished by her cousin Simran Bhogal.

Simran enveloped her into a 10-year relationship that went from platonic to romantic where she posed as Bobby Jandu.

Sweet Bobby drills into the emotional and psychological manipulation Kirat suffered throughout this shocking experience and picks through the untold damage of online deception.

If Sweet Bobby had you hooked, then our curated list of Sweet Bobby-esque documentaries will definitely do the same.

The Tinder Swindler

Watch now: Netflix

The Tinder Swindler was the Sweet Bobby of its time. Released on Netflix in 2022, the docuseries had viewers gripped owing to the insane lengths conman Shimon Yehuda Hayut (aka Simon Leviev) went to in order to romance women out of their money.

Shimon changed his name to Leviev to sell the illusion that he was connected to 'King of Diamonds' billionaire, Lev Leviev. Shimon used this billionaire persona to target women on Tinder where he would sell this notion of wealth by capturing them in a whirlwind romance of extravagance.

After forming meaningful connections with these women he would fabricate a story, telling them he was under threat because of the dangerous nature of the diamond industry. The only solution? That the women provide him with a credit card in their name that would allow him to stay off his pursuers radar.

He sold the tale that they were saving his life, when all the while he was robbing them blind.

Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist

Watch now: Netflix

Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist is a six-part docuseries that sheds light on the catfishing scam that nearly ruined the career of the young American Football player Manti Te'o.

Starting with a friend request, Manti Te'o formed a bond with the 22-year-old Stanford University student Lennay Kekua who later became his girlfriend. Things took a tragic turn when Manti learned Lennay had died the same night as his beloved grandmother.

The heartbreak garnered attention nationwide after he dedicated his football season to them both until he discovered his relationship with the 'late' "love of his life," was a cruel hoax.

Related: 37 of the best true-crime documentaries available to watch right now

The Man with 1000 Kids

Watch now: Netflix

This is not a cat-fishing tale in the traditional sense but families, desperate for children, tell their story of how prolific sperm donor Jonathan Meijer charmed them into choosing him as a donor only to be misled by the number of children he'd already biologically fathered.

Some were told he had only biologically fathered two or three children, only to discover a much graver truth that resulted in their donor children potentially having thousands of siblings.

Jonathan washed, rinsed and repeated the same behaviour, fathering children all over the globe from Australia to France, Mexico to Kenya. The Man with 1000 Kids tells these families' attempts at seeking justice.

Love Cheats

Watch now: Channel 4

A collection of shocking stories make up this four-part documentary series. Each episode shares an account from a victim who has had their lives changed by fraudsters who have scammed, manipulated and hurt their victims all through the guise of romance.

Love Cheats kicks things off with serial fraudster 'Bertie' who impersonated a member of nobility in order to groom his lovers both online and offline. Bertie was meticulously detailed with his lies, weaving believable stories that would ensnare his victims.

Escaping Twin Flames

Watch now: Netflix

'Everyone has a soulmate' – this is the ideal that spiritual group leaders Jeff and Shaleia Divine would use to draw in interests.

Founders of a group known as the Twin Flames Universe, Jeff and Shaleia ran an online website where they promoted the idea of a romantic, spiritual connection called a 'twin flame union'.

Their websites, YouTube and social media pages promised a healthy, divine love fronted by their seemingly perfect marriage. They sold books, classes and coaching that were designed to aid people on their journey to true love, but the experience of those recounting their time with Twin Flames Universe tells another story.

While the Divines have denied any wrongdoing, Escaping Twin Flames showcases testimonials from former members and family members of existing members who have described the group as a cult.

Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult

Watch now: Netflix

Dancing for the Devil has a similar tone to Escaping Twin Flames except instead of love being offered, the allure was a successful career.

The docuseries accuses a dance management company known as 7M and the Shekinah Church of being a cult.

Robert Shinn, founder and pastor for both, is said to have helped his clients amass millions of social media followers while using religion to isolate them from their families and coerce them out of money.

The focus of the docuseries centres heavily on dancer and 7M member Miranda Derrick whose family believe she has been brainwashed and were desperately trying to get her home.

Though Miranda has denied being manipulated and Robert has rejected all allegations, testimonials from former members on the documentary paint a much more insidious and harrowing picture.

Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is now available to watch on Netflix.

TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since.  For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing.  She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.