Manti Te’o is a former American football player, a standout linebacker for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In 2012, he was a Heisman Trophy finalist and the emotional core of the team’s undefeated regular season. His catfishing case is one of the most infamous and emotionally charged examples of online deception and digital identity fraud. It gained global attention due to the high profile of the victim and the bizarre nature of the hoax. Netflix documented it in “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist.”
Here’s what happened.
What is catfishing?
- Catfishing is when someone creates a fake online profile to deceive others, often by pretending to be someone they are not, usually in order to form a romantic or close relationship, or for financial gain. The "catfish" may steal someone else's identity or create a completely fabricated one, using stolen photos and information.
The core of catfishing is the creation and maintenance of a fake online identity. This can involve stealing someone else’s photos, personal details, and even fabricating a whole background story.
23% of social media users have experienced catfishing at least once. 78% of catfishing victims are women, though one study notes men may be more frequently targeted. Victims most often fall in the 30–49 or 40–69 age range.
The Manti Te'o heartbreaking story
Manti Te’o used to be a national figure in the US American football scene, not just for his athleticism, but for his story of perseverance after supposedly losing both his grandmother and his girlfriend within hours of each other.
In September 2012, Te’o announced on social media that his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, had died of leukemia. He claimed they met online, had a long-distance relationship, and spoke on the phone nightly. Kekua’s story inspired fans and elevated Te’o’s status as a dedicated, grieving student-athlete.
The truth behind Lennay Kekua
Lennay Kekua never existed. The woman Te’o believed he was dating was a fake persona created by Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, a childhood acquaintance of Te’o. Tuiasosopo used stolen photos of a real woman (Diane O’Meara, who had no knowledge of the scam) to build the fake profile.
The deception included dozens of fake social media profiles, real-time phone calls with a disguised voice, faked car accidents and hospitalizations, a staged death and even a “resurrection” (she later claimed to be alive again).
The investigation
In January 2013, the sports website Deadspin published an explosive investigation titled “Manti Te’o’s Dead Girlfriend, The Most Heartbreaking and Inspirational Story of the College Football Season, Is a Hoax.”
It revealed that Lennay Kekua never existed and the entire narrative was fabricated. Te’o claimed he was the victim of a hoax, not a co-conspirator.
Te’o was widely ridiculed, mocked in memes and on late-night comedy. As a result, his NFL draft stock plummeted, possibly costing him millions. In 2022, Netflix released the documentary “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist,” which reframed the narrative with Te’o sharing his side and Tuiasosopo (now living as a transgender woman named Naya) explaining her motives.
Psychological effects of catfishing
Catfishing uses a range of dynamics to “hook” its victims:
- Long distance relationships: relationships are carried out through multiple social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and even involving phone calls. The relationship never evolves to meet in person.
- Social proof: the fake persona created on social medias is credible because of the network of friends and online interactions (fake as well) that provide a belieavable story and image to the profile.
- Digital grooming: the relationship develops through emotional dependency, with late-night calls, often involving shared grief.
In this case, the catfisher exploited Te’o’s emotional vulnerability and religious background to gain his trust and then leveraged public pressure and hero storytelling to prevent scrutiny. Tuiasosopo eventually admitted the hoax on Dr. Phil show in 2013.
The legacy of the case
The Manti Te’o case raised awareness about catfishing, emotional manipulation, and the risks connected to online relationships. It also sparked national discussions about digital identity fraud.
However, it wasn’t the only one. Another Netflix documentary portrays a similar case to the Sweet Bobby case in the UK. Like these, there are several podcasts and documented cases of social media romance scams and fake influencer profiles.
Today, the Manti Te’o case is a case study in digital OSINT failure. It’s an example of how emotional narratives can overpower fact-checking. Major outlets accepted the story without verification and were complicit in shaming the victim: initially, Te’o was indeed mocked more than the perpetrator. After the Netflix documentary was released, the public’s perception eventually shifted in his favour.
Globally, catfishing cases increased by ~50% from 2019 to 2020. In the UK only, a 189% rise in catfishing cases was noted in late 2024.
Getting help
Have you been catfished? Here are some resources you can use:
- Psychological support: Victims may experience depression, PTSD, or suicidal thoughts. National mental health lines and professional psychologists can help. There are also online forums and Facebook groups for scam victims (e.g., Scam Survivors, RomanceScamsNow.com).
- Financial help: first of all, report the scam to your local anti fraud centre. If money was sent to your catfisher, file a police report and contact your bank.
- Crypto scam investigations: if crypto currencies are involved, use blockchain tracing services and freeze your assets.
- Legal support: filing a police report is the first step to obntaining legal support. If your images or identity were used to scam others, consult a lawyer. Victims of identity theft may file takedown requests and cease-and-desist letters. Some countries offer free legal services to scam victims.