South Bend Soap Opera: What Does It Mean To "Catfish?' - FOX 35 News Orlando

South Bend Soap Opera: What Does It Mean To "Catfish?'

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PHILADELPHIA -

Former Notre Dame linebacker, Manti Te'o's inspirational story about leading his team to the BCS Championship Game following his girlfriend's death turned out to be a sick joke played on him by people he knew.

As it turns out, the woman never existed. The two never even met in person.

The Deadspin.com report where the hoax was first reported says the fake person was actually created by a man who several sources identified as being close with Te'o.

Some people may wonder how a star football player could get tangled up in something like this. But it's a lot more common than you think.

There's even a term for it called "catfish."

MTV has a show based on the whole idea, with real people who think they are in real relationships.

Nev Schulman is the guy who helps these people get in contact with each other. He started the catfish craze when made a movie about his online relationship that turned out to be a lie.

And, get this: Schulman told MTV News that the woman who is picture was being used as Te'o's girlfriend contacted him to help her solve the mystery back in December.

That was one of our topics of conversation this morning on "Good Day," which you can watch in the video clip above.

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