Yeah this sounds purely like grand standing and cope over the fact the don't have shit but a grainy hostel security cam picture that might not even be him.
the "handsome" photo looks very different from the one where he's looking down, he also has totally diff eyebrows in it, diff backpack, maybe also lack of hoodie? face looks diff, but I also don't care so I haven't looked into it much
oh yeah I am skeptical of that photo and of course if it is not him and I were that guy I sure as shit wouldn't be coming forward to correct the record lol