Woman uncovers 'catfish' after online encounter
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VANCOUVER, Wash. – While Notre Dame football player Manti Te’o’s story is unusual, it’s not the first time someone’s been duped into a fake online relationship.
The practice has been going on long enough that there’s actually a term for it. It’s called catfishing.
The 2010 film, “Catfish”, documented a case of a man falling for a fictitious woman. The person behind the scheme used a Vancouver woman’s photo as if it were her own, and fabricated an entire back story to go with it.
The documentary explains that when shipping cod overseas, catfish are placed in the tank to keep the cod moving and prevent their meat from becoming soft. The film refers to the people who keep you on your toes and keep you guessing in life as catfish.
Katie Laughton says she sympathizes with Manti Te’o, if he is indeed a victim of a catfish. Laughton said she was reeled in by someone posing as a man named Stephano, who turned out to be a woman named Stephanie.
“We were talking. Some things were off,” said Laughton. “When I hung up, I did some research. She had posted a picture of her brother on her web page.”
Laughton said it’s embarrassing to admit that the great catch you’ve been telling everyone about doesn’t actually exist.
“I basically made a phone call… ‘I know who you are,’” she said. “Your identity is nothing to be ashamed of. You shouldn’t have to pretend to be someone else.”
She said if Te’o is the victim of a catfish, as he claims, she understands his reluctance to disclose the truth. She hopes others can learn from her story.
“I don’t think they intend to hurt people,” she said. “That’s really what ends up happening.”
Fyi... The Catfish movie has evolved into an MTV Reality show by the same name. Very interesting. They have a FB page too.
The only thing I have a problem with Manti Teâo's case is: He said "he knew about it by Dec.6 2012". But still talked about her for another 2 weeks after this date. You would think he would have came out when he found out it was a hoax?. I think he needs to explain this part.
There's always risk in meeting people online. The best way to minimize the risk and avoid getting involved with a "catfish" is to communicate only with local people, and insist on meeting in person within a week or so. If they're unwilling to meet in person for any reason, don't waste your time. If they agree to meet face-to-face, always meet the person in a public area -- a coffee shop or bookstore for example -- to see if you really hit it off or if the other person is some sort of psycho. Catfish and psycho scenarios are pretty avoidable with just a little common sense..
Hmm my fiance and I have to See "Catfish".
 @lee986321 have you met your fiance face to face yet ? (wink)
 In the movie Catfish (which is very good, btw) the fellow gets suspicious when he keeps getting excuse after excuse about why he can't meet his "girlfriend".Â
Wouldn't MT have been the same...wanting desperately to meet her in person---especially if she had leukemia!!?? I mean, come on. It just makes very little sense. I think he had to be in on it.
He did say "that she was the love of his life." But yet he did not go to the funerals. He said "he had the chance but did not go". This is the other part that stumped me.
but, it's on the internet.... so, it HAS to be true, right?
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I must admit a bit of disbelief at the gullibility of some people. I also have to admit that I'm a bit 'old school' in respect to what I consider to be a 'girl/boy friend'. The idea that I can exchange nothing but emails with someone and feel that I have some 'connection' to them seems pretty odd to me.Â
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Reminds me of an old cautionary that I've head attributed to many different groups;
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Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see.Â
 @MarkKpic What ever happened to meeting people in bars or other social situations? They may not have ended up being a "catch" but at least they were real! ~:-D
 @leapfrogger Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen!
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It's significantly more difficult to keep up a persona in person than over the internet. Between photoshopping, and cold reading, 'catfish' can (and typically will) be exactly what you want.Â
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I guess I, at some level, miss the 'good old days' where you knew that internet trolls were after your money, and pervs were after pictures of your privates.... I don't get the gratification that 'catfish' receive for their actions....Â
I knew a person who had a Online affair for 6months before he actually met the person. The picture did NOT match the person who he was to meet. Instead of a women it was a transexual. Needless to say the meeting did not go as planned. How do you know who is on the other side of the keyboard?
Poor woman!!! the media should introduce her to Te'o so they can talk and heal together.
Pathetic gullibility, now I have to get back to emailing a banker in nigeria my bank account number so I.........
 @sargerator Hey, wait a minute -- that Nigerian banker is for real.  He's holding $20 million left to me by the Queen of Nigeria's uncle's brother's cousin's mother-in-law's sister's son's wife.  I know it's for real because just as soon as I send the banker another cashier's check for $7,500 to cover vault security, he's meeting me at Tad's ChickDump in Troutdale to hand over my money.  Life is good.  =)
I think some people on Face book have too much time on their hands. Â Kind of like making comments on KATU LOL.
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Maybe someone should set up a hobby web site.
 @Leinenkugle's What? You think this site's serious?
"I laugh in your general direction!"
 @Mikey  @Leinenkugle's Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!
Looking forward to Manti's cinematic biography..."You Got Male"