A project member using an obvious pseudonym and "nonsensical character photograph" is a far cry from a completely fictitious team member that is presented as a 'real' person by using proper names and stock photos in an attempt to give the project an air of legitimacy.
You simply cannot compare "Monkey Nuts" from "Vivid Coin" using a cartoon profile pic... with say, a certain "Griff Peterson" from "PatenTTX", using a fake profile picture from a stock photo and try to claim that this is the same thing.
The former is hiding their identity, but doing so in a very obvious manner. You know you don't know who this person really is.
The latter is hiding their identity in a highly deceptive manner. You don't know that you don't know who this person really is... because they're tricking you into believing they are someone else!