With last Thursday being the NFL draft and Manti Te’o going sixth in the second round (after the Fighting Irish got stomped by Alabama in the National Championship this year), I thought it would be a great time to reflect back on the HUGE prank that rocked our nation. If you have been living under a rock and haven’t heard all the crazy news, Manti was victim to a “catfish” scam when he fell in love with a person that didn’t even exist. While football fans knew of Te’o from his fantastic season as Notre Dame’s star, he won the hearts of many when his story of, “my grandmother and girlfriend died within 24 hours of each other”. But after the season was over it came out that Te’o’s girlfriend never actually exsisted, that the woman that he had fallen in love with over the internet, was in fact just some guy named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. The Better Business Bureau reports, “‘Catfishing’ scams occur when a scammer assumes a persona on a social networking site and then creates an entire false identity using the pictures, hobbies, interests and even friends of someone else. While the purpose for doing so varies, the most common progression of this scam is the development of a relationship.”
Image from Examiner.com
So what can we all learn from Te’o? First of all, be safe online. While online dating is a completely legitimate way to meet someone, you never truly know who you’re talking to until you’re face to face with them. That being said, how can you avoid being “catfished” online? Well, USA Today suggests, “The biggest red flag is generally serious accidents or grave illness that either befall the catfish themselves or people close to them,” Joseph said. “Because serious illness or accidents provide the perfect excuse to not meet up and to basically tell the other person to back off and stop asking questions.”
Another suggestion would be to Google anyone you connect with online. Online searches are like your own personal private detectives so make sure you use it properly! Also, tell your friends and family about the people you’re meeting online. Moms and sisters tend to have “gut instincts” when it comes to things like this and while it might be embarrassing to relay the entire story, it gives fresh perspective on things! Lastly, before meeting up in person, have a Skype date! You can see the person and talk face-to-face, but it is a lot safer!
Image from video.glamour.com