A Tale Of Catfishing

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Thanks to the art of catfishing, anyone can be anyone online. For one woman, the man she had fallen in love with after months of online romance may not have been her Prince Charming, but his deception led her to find her one true love.
Looking For Love

Emma Perrier, a French woman living in England, hadn’t been very lucky in love. After a bad break up, she decided to try her hand at online dating. She chose Zoosk, since that seemed a little more serious than other apps, like Tinder.
Love At First Click

One of the first profiles she saw was Ronnie. His dark, handsome looks instantly attracted her. The attraction seemed mutual since he sent a message calling her beautiful. She replied back and their romance blossomed.
A Romantic Correspondence

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They spoke every morning during Emma’s commute, either through the app or on the phone. The French girl loved listening to Ronnie’s lilting English accent. Soon, the two online lovers had their own jokes and pet names.
Doubt Sets In

Before she knew it, six months had passed and Emma still hadn’t met Ronnie in person, even though they lived only 100 miles apart. Even more perplexing was Ronnie’s refusal to FaceTime with Emma so they could talk face to face.
A Love Intervention

Other people began to try and convince Emma cut ties with her internet beau, including her twin sister and other family members, but Emma still had hopes of meeting him. She had fallen in love with her mystery man.
Collecting The Evidencee

After talking with a coworker about Ronnie, he advised her to download an app that would allow her to reverse image search his photos. She did so and came across a Turkish model by the name of Adem Guzel.
Excuses, Excuses

Emma confronted Ronnie, asking him about the name discrepancy, but Ronnie brushed it off, explaining that he once went by a different name while he modeled. Soon, though, his mask would slip once again and Emma would discover the truth.
The Real Ronnie

You see, “Ronnie” never really existed. His real name was Alan Stanley, a man who was 20 years older than he told Emma he was. Alan had just gone through a tough divorce and had turned to catfishing to stroke his self-esteem.
The Final Straw

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Alan’s final slip up proved to be his downfall. When he got a new computer, he accidentally used his personal email that contained his real name to message Emma. She googled his email and realized she’d been duped.
Seeking Closure

Seeking more closure, Emma messaged the actual person in the photos she’d fallen in love with, Adem Guzel. She simply stated that someone else had used his pictures and tricked her into falling in love with him.
Meeting The Real Deal

He almost didn’t answer the message, since his image had been used in similar catfishing situations, but something told him to take a look. The two messaged back and forth. Adem was furious about how Emma had been tricked.
The Emotional Call

She asked to video chat and he agreed. When she saw him, Emma burst into tears, “You are so real. You really exist!” The conversation flowed like water. After the video call ended, the two continued to text each other.
Long Distance Just Isn’t Her Deal

For months, Emma and Adem continued to message and call one another, but Emma’s previous experiences with long-distance relationships had soured her on them, quite understandably. So she asked Adem to come meet her in London.
The Long Fated Meeting

Adem eagerly agreed immediately. When they met at the airport, it was like a scene out of a movie. Her hands shook when she saw them and, later, as he ate the sandwich she’d brought him to snack on, she saw that his hands shook too.
A Breathless Kiss

As they waited outside for their Uber to arrive, Emma stood on the curb as Adem stood on the street and Emma couldn’t help but kiss him. It felt as if they had known each other forever. They explored the city together, acting like lovestruck teens.
Happily Ever After

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Six months later, Emma and Adem were living together in London, happily in love. Adem is starting his dream career as an actor and auditioned for Aladdin. Alan also moved on with his life, finding love as his real self.
A Happy Ending For All

Even though the months of deception caused Emma a lot of heartaches, it was all worth it in the end. Emma has her experience being catfished to thank for helping her find true love. If it hadn’t been for Alan, who knows if she and Adem would have ever found each other.