Catfished by IT? Why Your Next Tech Partner Might Be More Fiction Than Function

We’ve all heard the horror stories. A lonely heart meets someone online—charming, attractive, and just mysterious enough to be intriguing. They chat for weeks, maybe months. Then comes the big reveal: the “person” they fell for is actually a 47-year-old guy named Carl who lives in his mom’s basement and used a decade-old photo of a Swedish underwear model. Classic catfish.

But what if I told you this kind of deception isn’t just for dating apps anymore? What if your business could get catfished—by an IT company?

When the IT Dreamboat Turns Out to Be a Dinghy

Imagine this: You’re a business owner looking for a reliable Managed Services Provider (MSP). You do your due diligence—check out websites, browse Google Business profiles, and look at team photos. You see a sleek office, a smiling team of engineers, and a vibe that screams “we’ve got your back.”

But then reality hits. That “team” photo? It was taken at a franchise headquarters 1,200 miles away, and only one of those people actually works at the local office. The rest? Corporate staff who were roped into a photo shoot during their lunch break. The local branch? It’s just one guy with a laptop working out of a coworking space next to a vape shop.

This, my friends, is catfishing—business edition.

The Many Faces of MSP Fakery

Let’s break down the most common ways IT companies are faking it until they (hopefully) make it:

1. The Franchise Photo Op
   One local MSP didn’t have enough staff to look “legit,” so they borrowed some corporate employees for a photo shoot. The result? A team photo that looks impressive—until you realize it’s basically a stock image with a logo slapped on it. It’s like renting a Ferrari for your Tinder profile pic. Technically true, but deeply misleading.
2. The Ghost Staff
   Another company proudly displays photos of their engineers—real people, real smiles. The catch? Most of them left the company months ago. After a mass exodus, the company never updated their site. So while the photos were once accurate, they now serve as a digital ghost town of talent that’s long gone. It’s not lying, exactly… but it’s definitely not honest.
3. The Imaginary Office
   Some MSPs list a local office that doesn’t actually exist. They might use a virtual address or a shared workspace they haven’t visited since the Empire still had a Death Star. If you showed up looking for help, you’d find an empty suite and a confused receptionist wondering why you’re asking about firewalls.

Don’t Swipe Right on the Wrong MSP

So how do you avoid getting catfished by your next IT provider? Start by doing what any savvy online dater would do: verify. Ask for a video call with the team. Request a tour of the office. Look for recent, authentic photos on social media. And most importantly, trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

In the world of IT Consulting, appearances can be deceiving. But with a little skepticism and a lot of questions, you can find a partner who’s the real deal—not just a pretty picture with a fake backstory.

Because when it comes to your San Antonio business’s tech, you deserve more than a catfish. You deserve a Jedi.