Okay so I never really bothered to look into IP addresses and what not. I know the basis of what they do, that's it.

Any way the story is, my friend posted something on a forum anonymously (Meaning that aside from the user, people don't know anything else about her) and it linked to our other friend's website. He is obviously not very happy about the post that linked to his page, but he obviously have no idea who did it. He found out via a back link to these forums, but he claimed via FB:

"I have the IP. I can easily find out who it is. If this continues I will reveal the mysterious one~~~"

Now my question is, is that even POSSIBLE? For example, me merely posting a link on this forum can allow the owner of the website (say a personal blog) to find out my real IP? I mean, everything goes through the server of the forums does it not, so how does he find out from just a directing link, who that anonymous user is? (He is not an admin from the forums btw)

My friend and I think he is bluffing and that he has no clue. Him and his gf are both claiming that from that IP they can find an address, a phone number, and an email attached to that IP.

This is parts of the convo in which she claims her bf has the IP.
"my bf got the IP just have to process it around and check who it is
hes a hacker hes done it before
give him an email addy or first name nd location hell find ur addy, phone number, and everythin uve posted online
yea theres a way somehow thru coding i think"

The conversation then went on about how her bf is a hacker and that they can easily also hack their passwords and send them porno subscriptions via mail. LOL. She is talking like she can eff someone's life up, so I want to ask people who are more experienced to tell me if this whole story is a bluff or not.