Catfish: The TV Show (2012–…): Season 5, Episode 17 - Andrea, Alex & Andrea - full transcript
Nev and Max are summoned to help catch a potential stalker who is impersonating the family of a popular online personality.
- How long have you had
your YouTube channel?
- I started YouTube
in sixth grade.
I'’ve had some really
scary run-ins
with people like stalkers.
They know the city
where my dad is from.
They have my brother'’s
high school,
stuff that you have to really be
searching for it to find it.
- That'’s really scary.
This is another fake account.
- Whoever made those
fake accounts for your family
also made a fake account
for your best friend.
- They literally, like, created,
like, a world.
- Your world.
- What the hell
is going on here?
[dramatic music]
I'’ve got some exciting news.
This weekend--
- Yeah.
- I asked
my beautiful girlfriend, Laura,
if she would be
my beautiful wife.
- Oh.
- And she said yes.
I am now engaged to be married.
- That is amazing, Nev.
I'’m proud of you.
You come here.
- And now the Catfish duo
is officially married,
not to each other.
- Well, you'’re not
officially married.
She'’s now your fiancée.
- It'’s the closest she'’ll
ever be to Beyoncé,
which makes her very happy.
All right, now let'’s get
to task at hand.
What do we got?
Ooh, Catfish casting.
Oh, man.
- Oh, it'’s from Casting.
- That means something'’s up.
"Hey, guys, you should
check out this video.
Maybe you can help."
Oh, boy. What
is this video?
Andrea Russett, I know her.
She'’s a YouTuber.
- I follow this--yeah.
I follow her on Twitter.
- So before this video
of craziness.
- She'’s got 3.5
million followers.
- That'’s a lot.
- ♪ Who am I to try
and stop believing? ♪
- Wait, what is she
talking about?
- Let'’s see.
- I'’m sure you guys
are already aware,
there'’s been literally
thousands of profiles
using my pictures online,
and a lot of '’em,
I kind of just brush it off
because they'’re ridiculous.
They can'’t even
spell my name right.
They'’re saying crazy things,
but I recently found these
profiles imitating my family,
and I just feel like
once you involve my family,
it'’s kind of just
taking it too far.
So I'’m here to ask you guys,
how do I handle this?
Leave a comment below.
- Wow, it'’s got
almost 40,000 likes
and hundreds of comments,
a lot of people
tagging me and you.
Her fan base is calling us.
We'’ve been summoned.
The fans have spoken.
This is a crowd-sourced episode
of "Catfish."
Well, I guess we should get
in touch with her.
- All right.
- I think I follow her.
- I follow her.
- And she follows me.
So I'’ll message her.
- All right.
- "Hey, Andrea,
"just saw your post.
"We would love to help.
Hit me up on Skype."
- Okay.
- Now we wait.
- Part of the contract
of being a celebrity
is that you become public
and people can do things
with your image.
- Right.
- But you do not [bleep]
with people'’s families.
- No, that'’s not cool.
She must know the account--
which account.
[computer chiming]
- Oh, here she is.
- Wow, that was fast.
- Really fast.
- Hey, Andrea.
- Hey, Andrea.
- Hello.
- What'’s up?
How are you?
- I'’m good.
- So how long have you had
your YouTube channel?
- I started YouTube in, like,
sixth grade, so like, 2009.
Thank you very much
for the 5,000-plus subscribers.
- How old does that
make you now?
- I'’ll be 21 next month.
- Oh, wow.
- I feel good.
- And when did you start
developing kind of
your following and fame?
- In 2009, I had one video
go viral,
and then from that,
I worked at my radio station
in my hometown,
Fort Wayne, Indiana,
which, like, helped grow
the YouTube stuff.
- And it that where you are now?
- No, I live in LA now.
- Okay.
- Nice.
- Yeah.
- So for the last five years,
you'’ve known sort of
Internet fame,
and I'’m sure all of
the wonderful things
and all of the sort of weird,
creepy things
that come with that.
- Definitely.
I'’ve pretty much been
seeing people use photos
of me as profiles since 2010.
I mean, I'’ve seen the profiles
asking people
to send them nudes.
I'’ve gotten emails from people
that think
they'’re engaged to me.
- Wow.
- These people have been
sending them money,
like, crazy, crazy stuff.
For my family, I just feel
like it makes me worry more,
and it just concerns me a lot.
- How many different
accounts are there?
- There'’s me
and my mom, my dad,
my sister and my brother.
- Are they talking
to you each other?
- Yeah, they'’ll like
each other'’s photos.
They'’ll comment.
- ♪ So many miles to go
- So there'’s a conspiracy.
- For sure.
- When did
the accounts get made?
- My sister'’s account
goes back to 2013.
- Whoa.
- But you only just now saw it?
- Yeah.
- Wow, that'’s creepy.
- I'’ve had some really scary
run-ins with people,
like stalkers,
so it makes me
worry more for my family
that it could really
get out of control.
- We'’ve got to make
the Internet safe
for YouTubers
and civilians alike.
- So you'’re in LA.
That'’s great.
We can come there.
- We'’ll get to the bottom of it,
but are you willing
to go the distance on this?
It'’s gonna get weird.
- Bring it on.
- All right. Bye.
- See you soon.
- All right.
We don'’t know
what they'’re capable of,
so we need to get to her
and help her immediately.
Let'’s do this.
- Let'’s do it.
Going to LA, can'’t say
I'’m not happy about that.
[Prince Rama'’s
"Xtreme Now Energy" playing]
[frenetic pop music]
♪
- All right, sunny Los Angeles.
- If someone were
impersonating my family,
I'’d be pretty on-edge.
- It'’s just not cool.
All right.
- See what this family jeopardy
is all about.
♪
- Cute.
- Really cute.
[knocking at door]
- Welcome.
- Hey.
- Hello.
- Wow.
- Come on in.
- Oh, my goodness.
Why don'’t you just
sort of walk us back
to the beginning
of this situation?
- I started YouTube
in sixth grade.
Like most things, Justin Bieber
inspired my YouTube,
because he held a contest
where if you made
a video to a single,
you could, like, meet him.
I didn'’t win,
but the video went viral.
So after that, I just kind of,
like, kept with it.
- Like, what was that experience
like as a 13-year-old
who wasn'’t a "vlogger"
to all of the sudden just get,
like, thrust into the--
- The world of YouTube.
I loved it.
What'’s up, YouTube?
I thought it was really cool
to have an outlet
for my creativity.
Yo, all right, so this video is
gonna be 25 facts about me.
We should get to know each other
a little bit better.
But within the first year,
when I started doing, like,
YouTube videos, there was tons
of profiles of me.
I thought it was
kind of flattering,
but as, like, the years went by,
and it kind of like,
got worse and worse,
it started to, like,
register that these people
could say something
that I would never say,
like something racist,
homophobic, anything offensive,
and have my face be on it.
So that'’s when I started really
being, like, this is not cool.
- Yeah.
- Within the last two years,
there has been a couple
stalker incidents.
There was one guy
that would show up
at the church my parents go to,
show up at my parents'’
office building.
- Looking for you.
- Yeah, like, asking, like,
"Where'’s Andrea?
We have to find Andrea."
- Really?
- Yeah.
They definitely found me
through social media.
- Wow.
- Do you know him?
Do you know who he was?
- So not so long ago,
this guy was "stalking" you.
- Yeah.
- And do you think that
he is somehow connected
to the fake profiles?
- He very well could be.
- Well, it makes sense
if it'’s the stalker guy.
He knows where
your parents work.
He obviously knows
a lot about your family.
- Yeah. They know the city
where my dad is from.
They have my brother'’s
high school,
stuff that you have to really
be searching for to find it.
- That'’s really scary.
- I just would hate for this
to turn into something bigger.
They could show up
at my parents'’ house.
- That would be bad, right?
- Yeah, very bad.
I feel somewhat responsible,
because it wouldn'’t be happening
if I didn'’t have followers.
- Do you know what they want?
- That'’s the thing.
I can'’t figure out
why they would do this.
Like, I don'’t know
what they expect in the end.
- Well, I kind of want
to see the posts.
- Can we look at them?
- Yeah.
I'’ll show you my sister'’s first.
- So it says where she works
and where she lives,
and it'’s got a lot of photos.
- Like, she Snapchatted
that yesterday almost.
- Oh, but your mom posted this.
- The fake mom.
- The fake mom posted this.
- Oh, my God.
They'’re creating, like,
a whole, like, family narrative.
- That'’s creepy.
- Yeah.
- Your fake brother'’s account
liked this post
by your fake mom'’s account.
- Mm-hmm.
- Weird. Oh, my God.
- The fact that someone'’s,
like, logging in
and out of each profile
just to keep it looking real--
- Right.
- Is like, alarming
that they'’re that dedicated.
- You have no idea who it is
or where they are?
Why don'’t we go inside and see
if we can sit down
and figure something out?
- Time is ticking.
- Yeah.
- Let'’s do it.
- It could really turn
into something dangerous.
[creepy music]
[upbeat music]
- All right.
Here'’s what I think.
We know there are fake profiles
of you and your mom, dad,
brother and sister Anna--
- Mm-hmm.
- And that they are all friends
with each other.
They'’re posting
to each other'’s walls
and tagging
each other in them.
So there'’s some relationship
between those profiles.
Likely it'’s all one person
behind it all.
- Mm-hmm.
- As far as you know,
that stalker guy
is still totally out there,
and maybe he'’s behind all this.
I think we need
to divide and conquer.
Let'’s just write
a little message
and then copy and paste it
and send it out
to as many of these fake
profiles'’ friends as we can.
- Let'’s do it.
- So "My name is Nev,
"and I make a show called
Catfish on MTV.
"We are doing an episode now
that involves
"your friend Andrea.
How do you know her?
"Have you ever
spoken to her personally?
Let me know.
Thanks."
All right, so I'’m going
to copy and paste that.
- All right and go.
- Cut and paste, cut and paste.
Joe Joe looks like
he might know something.
- Hey, Iris.
- Sending a message to Allie.
- All right, boom, sent to Alex.
- All right, here'’s Kenneth.
Let'’s send him a message.
- All right, done-skees.
- All right.
- Now we wait.
- We'’ve cast our net.
[water splashing]
- So we'’ve reached out to Kevin,
Andy, Beppa, Iram,
Bono, Lynn, Kurt,
Bruno, Zach,
Earl, Axial, Carlos--
[phone ringing]
- Oh. All right.
- And Paige.
- I don'’t know who this is.
Hello.
- Yeah, hi, who'’s this?
- Thanks for getting back to us.
I can'’t remember
who we messaged you about.
- Arden'’s my best friend.
- So you got
a friend request from Arden.
- And have you spoken to her
on the phone or anything?
- Do you still have her number?
- Yeah, that'’d be great.
- Yeah, Yeah.
- Cool.
The Anna profile
that you are friends with
is not really Anna Russett...
- And it doesn'’t look like
the Arden profile
you were talking to is her.
- Well, sorry, man,
thanks for getting back to us.
Another fake account.
- So it looks like whoever made
those fake accounts
for your family
also made a fake account
for your best friend.
- Yeah.
- Oh, my goodness.
- This is another fake account.
Now it feels like one person
might have made a profile
for essentially everybody in
and around you and your life.
- It'’s like, just keeps
getting weirder and weirder.
- Let'’s look up
that phone number.
[dramatic music]
Columbus, Georgia.
- Weird.
Okay, let'’s look up
the other one.
- Another Columbus,
Georgia area code.
Does that say anything to you?
- That'’s weird.
- This is like
a never-ending spiral.
- A lot of fake profiles here.
- It'’s extremely freaky to me.
- Someone is very convincingly
copying your life
and your friends.
- Yeah, and putting a lot
of time and effort into it.
- Let'’s see who else
gets back to us
between now
and tomorrow morning.
Hopefully come up with a plan
and see if we can get
a little closer
to figuring this out.
[creepy music]
[upbeat music]
- All right, look at us.
Here we are, Catfish HQ.
It looks like they'’re having
a yard sale pretty soon.
[phone ringing]
- Hello?
Hello, yes.
This is Catfish HQ.
Yes, hi, I understand
you'’re in a relationship.
Hello, I'’m sorry.
I'’ll get back to you.
No, it'’s probably not real.
You should ask him
to FaceTime, yeah.
Has he sent you a Snapchat?
Sorry, no, we don'’t do pizza.
Hello.
Yeah, no, you should totally
ask him to meet up with you
but take a friend with you.
Okay.
- All right.
- So we did some
research yesterday,
and we sent messages
to these fake profiles'’ friends.
I want to see
if any got back to us.
Let'’s check our messages, Max.
- All right.
- We'’ve got one, at least.
Bing.
- That'’s something.
Alex Gresham, that'’s new.
- Oh, Alex Gresham.
Whoa, here we go.
"Hello, I got your message.
"I used to be close
to the entire family.
I'’ve thought about
contacting you guys myself."
Uh-oh, so this guy sounds
like he knows
all of the Russetts "online."
So Alex sent us his number.
Let'’s give Alex a call.
- He'’s a deejay producer.
[line trilling]
- Yeah, hey, is this Alex?
- Hey, Alex, it'’s Nev and Max
from "Catfish."
We'’re working
on an episode right now
and trying to figure out
what'’s going on.
You say you know
the whole Russett family.
Like, what'’s your relationship
with them?
- Were you, like, dating?
- And where are you?
- Oh, no way.
It would be nice to meet up
if you'’re--
if you'’re available right now
so we can go over
a lot of stuff,
because we'’re dealing
with a big situation here
involving Andrea.
- All right, cool, so we will
see you in a little while.
- All right.
Thanks, Alex.
Cool.
Let'’s go meet Alex.
- All right.
♪
- Well, this should
be interesting.
Sounds like we found someone
who'’s actually being
properly catfished
by these fake profiles.
- He'’s been emotionally
involved.
- Yeah.
I got a lot of questions
for this guy.
All right.
♪
- Hey, what'’s up, man?
- Good to meet you.
- All right, nice to see you.
- Hey.
- I'’m Max.
- Good to meet you.
- So you'’re a deejay?
- Producer.
- Oh, cool.
- Singer, songwriter.
- Cool.
So when did you start
talking to Andrea?
- I was actually playing
a festival, and I got a message.
- Did you know who Andrea was
at the time?
- No, I had no idea.
- No.
- We just started messaging
back and forth.
She just seemed like
a sweet person,
someone I could connect with.
She was my best friend.
- Oh, wow.
- And then potentially more.
They were strong feelings.
I mean, I wrote
an incredible amount
of songs about the situation.
♪ The only thing that'’s left
is me and you ♪
- Was she your girlfriend?
- It was definitely heading
in that direction.
- Wow.
- She started sending me videos.
- Good morning
and happy Thursday.
- Videos
of the YouTube profile.
- Any videos of, like,
her saying,
"Hey, Alex, it'’s me, Andrea"?
- Not that specific,
but it was a constant question
of "Hey, can we FaceTime?"
"Hey, can we Skype?"
She would bring that up to me.
- Really?
- So why didn'’t you FaceTime?
- There was always
a connection issue.
It would pop up.
"Hey, Andrea'’s calling you."
I'’d click Accept,
and then just "There'’s an issue
with your connection."
- Huh, so that'’s weird
and a red flag,
but at least she was
asking you to video chat.
- Were you talking on the phone?
- Constantly.
- Oh, wow.
- It was always
great conversation.
It was always somewhat flirty,
and it was nice.
- But did her voice on the phone
sound like Andrea?
- See, initially that'’s
the first thought
when she started
sending me the videos...
- Right.
- Just her voice sounds
just a little bit off
with what'’s going on.
"Hey, I have a cold right now,"
and I guess
I got used to the voice.
- You probably always
wondered was this Andrea,
the real girl?
- Yeah.
- Did you ever bring it up with
her, like, "Hey, what'’s up?"
- Vaguely.
It was always
"What do you mean?
What are you talking about?"
kind of response.
- Right.
- It just seemed legitimate.
- How does the family
enter into all this?
- It was her sister
that initially messaged me,
and then it was the father,
then it was the mother,
then it was the best friend,
then it was the ex-boyfriend,
then it was the boyfriend
of the best friend,
literally everyone.
- Wow.
- What are they saying to you?
- They were saying "Hey,
Andrea'’s been talking about you.
I'’d love to meet you."
The father talked about
going on trips.
- This is crazy.
You'’re getting
put through the ringer here.
- There was always drama.
There was always an emotional
toll being taken on me.
It initially started
with the sister hitting on me
and then "Oh, wow, I'’m sorry,
"I didn'’t know
that Andrea was talking to you.
I didn'’t know you'’re the guy."
Ex started messaging me saying
"Hey, stay away from Andrea."
- Whoa.
- "She'’s mine."
Whether it be the ex,
whether it be her
staying with her
best friend'’s boyfriend,
and they kissed
or something, like,
it was always something
over the top,
and I just got fed up with it.
I eventually did
just stop responding.
- Right.
So look,
so here'’s what'’s up.
Andrea reached out to us
because she was worried
that someone was making
fake profiles of her family,
and those fake profiles
are the ones
that you have been talking to.
Those are not really
the Russett family profiles.
[dramatic music]
You seem to know whoever is
behind all of this pretty well.
- Mm-hmm.
- And would be very helpful,
I think,
in our continued investigation.
We are going to actually
go see actual Andrea right now.
So if you want,
why don'’t you come with us,
so you can meet her.
You deserve and need
some kind of resolution.
- I feel like that would
definitely...
♪
Put a lot to rest.
I need to know what happened.
[creepy music]
- We are going to see
actual Andrea right now.
- It'’s kind of weird
to meet the person
that I thought that
I was talking to for so long.
Part of me doesn'’t
even believe it.
- Try not to fall in love
with the real Andrea.
All right, are you ready
to do this?
- I hope so.
- No turning back now.
[dramatic music]
♪
- Super bizarre.
♪
[doorbell rings]
♪
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Welcome back.
- What'’s up?
- How are you?
- Good to see you.
- You, too.
- You remember this guy?
- I do. Hi.
- Hi, how are you?
- Good. How are you?
- Good.
- Hello.
- Hey, I'’m Alex.
- Andrea.
- This is Alex.
- It'’s good to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
- So Alex dated Andrea Russett.
- What?
- He thought he was
dating you for a while.
- That'’s crazy.
- Yeah. Pretty odd.
- That was just a big moment
that just happened, yeah.
- Oh, my God,
I'’m sorry that happened.
- Yeah, me, too.
- Maybe you should
give him a hug.
- Aw.
- Give me a hug, bring it in.
- Nice to meet you.
- It'’s good to meet you, too.
- Come on in.
- Why don'’t you kind of
explain to Andrea
how you got mixed up
in all this to begin with.
- Well, I was playing
a festival,
and then I got a message
from the Andrea Russett page.
I just thought it was a sweet,
nice girl trying to talk to me.
And so the conversation
just kept on going
until the point that the family
started talking to me...
- Oh, my God.
- And friends,
an ex-boyfriend.
- There was a fake profile
for your ex-boyfriend.
- They literally, like,
created, like, a world.
- Your world.
- Well, your world.
They re-created
your entire world
and your best friend...
- Arden.
- Which we knew about, Arden--
- Yeah.
- And Arden'’s boyfriend.
- She messaged him,
and her boyfriend messaged him.
- Arden messaged you, too?
- Yeah.
- This is, like,
mind-blowing to me. Why?
- But what we need to do
is start figuring out
who'’s actually
behind these profiles.
We could keep scrambling around,
or we can start calling--
- Why not call the number?
- Yeah.
- Let'’s find her.
♪
[line trilling]
- The text mail subscriber you
are trying to reach
is not available.
- There were the other
ones, right?
- The 706 numbers.
- Oh, right, okay.
[line trilling]
- The text mail subscriber you
are trying to reach is not--
- Text mail again.
- So two text mail numbers.
The same person probably.
- Let'’s try this one too.
[line trilling]
- Hi, is this Andrea?
- Um, my name is Nev,
and I make a show
called "Catfish."
- I'’m not sure
if you'’ve heard of it or not,
but we were just trying
to get in touch.
- Oh, okay, great.
We'’re doing an episode now.
We'’re helping a young man
who for a while was--
was, I believe, talking to you,
and you know, I probably
don'’t have to tell you
that you'’re not Andrea Russett,
because I'’m sitting next
to Andrea Russett.
So we'’re dealing
with a situation now
where I need to know
if you'’re involved with this
because we'’re trying to,
you know, figure some things out
and make some sense
out of what
is an otherwise
very confusing scenario,
and I think you hold
a lot of the answers
that we'’re looking for.
- Okay, so--so--
and what is your name,
right person?
- You don'’t have to tell me
your whole name,
but--but what should I call you?
Okay, Zoie, we were hoping
we could connect with you,
because we'’d love
to meet up with you
and find out
what'’s been going on
and how you'’re involved
in all of this...
- And see if we can
sort of, you know,
get to the bottom
of the situation
and find some kind
of happy resolution.
- Yeah, I understand.
- I know it'’s probably
overwhelming,
and it'’s, you know,
a little intimidating
to try and deal
with all of that right now,
but if we could
meet up with you,
and if you could try to explain
some of the stuff
and answer
some of these questions,
I think that would be
really helpful
and very appreciated
by not just us but probably
a lot of other people.
- Okay.
Where are you?
Are you in California?
- You'’re in Atlanta.
All right, well,
so I will text with you
and figure out,
you know, time and place,
but we'’re going to fly
out there tomorrow
and probably meet up
with you either
tomorrow or the day after.
- We will, I guess,
see you soon.
- All right.
Bye.
[line beeping]
- I have so many questions.
- There are a lot
of questions now.
Did this start as wanting
to impersonate you?
Did this start--
- She'’s crazy in love with you?
How involved is this woman
with your life?
Is she super obsessed with you?
- Who has this much time?
- For multiple years.
- What the hell
is going on here?
♪
[Ash Gale'’s "Sing My Way"
playing]
[upbeat pop music]
- Are you ready to,
like, figure out
who'’s behind your whole
family'’s profiles?
- And friends and exes, yes.
- Bye, LA.
♪
- ♪ Oh
- We'’re landing.
- ♪ I'’m singing my way ♪
♪ Out of this one
♪ Oh
- ♪ Singing my way
♪ Out of this one
♪
- Hey.
- Hey, whoa.
- Look at this guy.
He'’s got a guitar with him.
- I actually woke up
around 4:00 a.m.
and wrote a whole song.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- About this whole situation?
- Yeah.
- Can we hear it?
- Yeah.
- So this is brand-new,
fresh off the dome.
- Yeah.
♪ I saw her face
at the front door ♪
♪ And lost every trace
♪ Of the contour of her
♪ I don'’t even know ♪
♪ If I ever knew you
♪ But I'’m finding the real you ♪
[acoustic guitar]
♪ The real you
♪ Oh
♪
[both applauding]
- [laughs]
- That was great.
- That was really good.
Obviously meeting
Andrea stirred up.
- Sort of, yeah.
- So who'’s finding the real you?
Is that Zoie?
- It'’s Zoie.
- Well, let'’s go pick up Andrea.
- Yeah.
- And go meet Zoie
before she changes her mind.
- Yeah.
- Well, let'’s do it.
[dramatic music]
[knocking at door]
- Oh, my God.
- Boom.
- Hello.
- Are you ready?
- We'’re moving.
♪
I'’m trying to think of
everything I want to ask her.
I'’m trying to like, remember it,
because there'’s a lot.
Do you know what you
want to ask her?
- Um, of course, why?
Is it really worth it?
- Bringing the person'’s
she'’s been trying to be
for six or seven years
and Alex has got
to have her freaked out.
It'’s like...
- Overwhelming.
♪
- Okay, so this is it.
Are you guys ready for this?
- I mean, I have to be.
- Yeah.
- I just hate not knowing
what'’s, like, about to happen.
- I know.
- I hate, like, not knowing
what I'’m going into.
- Well, get your mind together,
and let'’s do this.
[suspenseful music]
♪
[knocking at door]
♪
- Hi.
Zoie, right?
- Yeah.
[suspenseful music]
♪
[doorbell rings]
[knocking at door]
♪
- Hi. Zoie, right?
- I'’m Zoie.
Yeah.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
I'’m Nev.
How are you doing?
Why don'’t you come on out?
♪
Some people
I'’m sure you recognize.
- Yeah.
Can I start by saying,
to you especially,
like, I'’m really sorry
for using your pictures,
not only of you, but like,
of your family?
It was never anything personal.
At the time, I was being
really selfish, like,
that'’s the best excuse
I can say.
- You didn'’t stop
to think, like,
maybe this is a really bad idea?
- It did cross my mind,
but like I said,
I was being selfish,
and I didn'’t care.
[dramatic music]
- So you didn'’t stop to think
about the multiple people
that you were messing with.
You didn'’t think
about any of that?
- It wasn'’t ever to seriously
be vindictive
or anything like that.
That'’s not what I wanted to do.
- But that is what you did.
- It is what I did,
but that was never my intention.
- Well, what was your intention?
- Yeah.
- To find something
that I didn'’t have,
put on a mask and be able
to connect with people.
- And how and why
did you choose Andrea?
- Honestly, I Googled
"pretty Tumblr girl"
and she popped up,
and I was like, okay,
but then, like,
people would bring it
to my attention,
like, oh, this account'’s fake.
Why aren'’t people tagging you?
Why don'’t you have
family members?
So I decided to create
other profiles
so people wouldn'’t,
you know, suspect.
♪
- You said you didn'’t want
to be vindictive,
but, like, I'’ve seen the things
you said to other people.
- Yeah.
- It wasn'’t, like,
polite all the time.
- I understand, yeah.
- So that'’s pretty vindictive
to say stuff like that
and to manipulate people.
- Yeah, I know.
♪
- We picked Alex out of a hat.
Are we to understand
that he'’s the only person
that you had
an emotional relationship with
as Andrea or as any one
of these fake profiles?
- Emotionally, yes, but I did
talk to other people.
- How many?
- I--honestly,
maybe three other people.
- Three other guys
that you were flirtatious with
and who thought that they
were moving towards
some kind of a relationship
with Andrea.
- And are somewhere out there
thinking they talked to me
and thinking
that I'’m this person
that you portrayed me
to be that I'’m probably not?
- Yeah.
♪
- I'’ve heard you
when you'’re sincere.
This doesn'’t seem sincere.
Here'’s the thing.
You know me well.
You know me very well
at this point,
and you know that I'’m
a caring person in general
and I like to help people,
and you know that,
and you had every opportunity
to turn that around
and just say,
"Hey, I'’m gonna
be honest with you
"because you'’re
a really good person,
and I'’d like to show you
that I am too."
- I agree.
It was really wrong.
♪
I'’m sincerely sorry,
but that'’s what happened.
I can'’t change it,
but I am sorry.
- What scares me a little bit
is how resolved you seem
about all this.
- It seems rehearsed.
- It seems a little canned.
Yeah.
- I don'’t--I mean,
I don'’t know how else to say it.
♪
- Okay, look, I feel like
there'’s still a barrier
that we'’re trying
to kind of get around
or see over to understand...
- Yeah.
- How you really felt
about all this.
- Why don'’t we
just, like,
collect ourselves
for a second?
- That'’s fine.
- She really doesn'’t get it.
- I don'’t know.
- She has no grasp of--
I mean, like,
I'’ve heard her emotional.
There'’s no emotion in this.
- You don'’t think it'’s just
'’cause she'’s nervous?
- I don'’t think so.
- She does seem pretty
sort of stone cold.
- Well, she'’s just got a
rationalization for everything.
- Right away, like, without
thinking, she just had it ready.
- Let me go in there quickly
and just check it out
and see if we can get
a little deeper.
And I'’ll come back out
in a second.
Zoie?
- [sobbing]
- What'’s going on?
- Zoie, are you all right?
[dramatic music]
- Zoie?
- [sobbing]
- Zoie, are you all right?
What'’s going on?
- Okay, sorry.
- Are you all right?
- Just like, with us
being here or...
I'’m so sorry.
- It'’s all right.
- Trying to calm down.
I guess seeing Alex face-to-face
and seeing
what I'’ve actually done--
it hurts, and I'’ve hurt him.
I'’m not really good
at talking about my emotions,
so I try and like,
straight face, you know?
- This is an opportunity
to, like,
actually show them how you feel
so that they can feel
a little bit better about it.
- Yeah.
- Do you think you want to try
and have a conversation?
It won'’t be easy.
It will be emotional.
- Yeah.
♪
- Just have a seat.
- Okay.
- And I'’ll bring them in.
♪
All right, so clearly,
we'’ve got one version...
- Yeah.
- Of Zoie outside,
and I get the sense
there'’s a very different version
of Zoie inside.
- It actually really scared me
outside
how emotionless
you were about the situation.
- It'’s hard for me
to open up to people.
- What just sort of clicked
for you?
- I guess the realization
of it all,
seeing everybody here,
seriously thinking
about what I did.
♪
It'’s bad.
[sniffs]
♪
You know, I definitely
could have gone
about things differently.
I'’m not gonna lie, but...
at the end of the day, Alex,
you changed my life,
like, so much,
and I know
that I probably hurt you,
and it kills me.
- How did Alex change your life?
- All I had ever known
from, like,
a relationship with a guy
was, like, abuse.
My relationship with my ex,
it wasn'’t good.
It wasn'’t healthy.
He started drinking
and getting abusive.
But I stayed,
and then I got pregnant,
and then I miscarried.
[crying]
♪
- It'’s awful that you struggled
the way that you did.
- That'’s when the Andrea profile
kind of came into play,
because...
people seemed to care online.
So Alex and I started talking.
I really do want
to say thank you,
because I'’m not
in that relationship anymore.
I actually have respect
for myself because of you,
and it means so much,
and it just made me, like,
see that it wasn'’t an act.
This is how people
can really be.
So slowly by each conversation
we would have,
it would give me confidence
and self-respect
to sit there and be like,
you can get better than this.
No one deserves
to live this way.
- I still feel like you could
have talked to me
just being you.
- Yeah, I was just
really scared of,
you know, the off chance
that you would be like,
"You'’re a liar," you know?
"We were supposed to be honest
with each other.
Don'’t talk to me."
- I mean...
it may take
a little while for me,
but I...
I still feel like
you can come talk to me
if you need to.
- Well, thank you.
That does mean the world to me.
And I'’m sorry to you, Andrea,
because it definitely
was not fair,
I mean, not only to you,
but your family.
I never thought I would,
you know, see you in person.
I never thought any of this
would ever have
an effect on you.
- I think that'’s what
a lot of people think, like,
a lot of people post stuff
or take photos of someone
without thinking
that this person will see it.
- Yeah.
- But I mean,
just because somebody
has followers
or just because somebody'’s
in a different state,
they see just as much on
the Internet as anyone else.
- Yeah.
And I guess it never really
clicked for me
until you'’re right here,
you know?
- Are there aspects
about Andrea and her life
that you like or admire?
- I kind of liked that Andrea
was so bubbly and stuff,
because it kind of made me,
when I pretended to be her,
kind of get
that kind of personality going.
- So you used
the Andrea profile...
to pretend to be somebody happy.
- Yeah, overall.
- I do think you'’re brave
and strong for coming to, like,
the realization
and knowing that, like,
you deserve better
than where you were.
You have standards now
and you have self-respect,
and I'’m really glad
we got to figure all this out.
- Yeah.
I'’m sure it was scary.
- Yeah.
I just really hope
that we can trust
that you won'’t go back to it.
- Right.
- So it sounds like
there is sort of
only one last thing to do here,
which is to delete the profiles
and put all this behind us.
- Okay, it'’s Anthony'’s profile.
Deactivate the account.
So one down.
- Eight to go.
- Honestly, it feels like
a really big relief.
Okay.
- All right, well,
then I guess that'’s it.
So it'’s just you now
and your page, right?
- Yes.
- All right.
[soft instrumental music]
♪
- Life goes on.
♪
- Bring it in.
- I'’m not sure
if I made it clear,
but I do forgive you.
- Thank you.
- ♪ Then the planet
moves us from under ♪
- All right.
- ♪ And we can
remember the reasons ♪
- Bye.
- Take care.
How do you guys feel?
- Relieved.
- I really didn'’t expect
to feel this much better.
- Without even realizing it,
you may have saved
that girl'’s life.
- ♪ I'’m staying right here ♪
- I kind of feel
like you both did.
I mean, her even being you,
Andrea,
was like a lifeline
in and of itself.
♪
[line trilling]
all: Hey.
- Look, she'’s blonde.
- Wow. You look so old.
- Yeah, 21, oh, my God.
- Oh, it'’s big stuff.
- So what'’s been going
on regarding
all of your family'’s
fake profiles since we left?
- That'’s right.
- They'’re all still gone.
- They'’re gone?
- Yeah.
There'’s definitely a bunch
of me still out there,
but of my family,
I think we'’ve handled that.
- Andrea saves her family.
- I'’m a superhero.
- There you go.
- All right, Andrea.
- Good-bye.
- Bye.
- Have fun.
You'’re 21.
- [exclaims]
[line trills]
both: Hey.
- Zoie, what'’s up?
- Hey.
- How are you?
- I'’m really good.
I haven'’t been
catfishing people.
- Whoo!
- Yay.
Well, you look great.
How are you feeling?
- I'’m a lot better
since you last saw me.
It'’s all in the past now,
so I can, like,
finally move on.
- Have you had any contact
with Alex or Andrea?
- No, I haven'’t.
I don'’t really want
to reach out to them.
I feel like that chapter
is kind of closed,
and I'’m okay with it.
- Do you miss talking
to Alex at all?
- I do.
He'’ll always have
a special place in my heart.
- Well, this is the best
we could hope for.
- Yeah, we'’re thrilled to see
that you'’re doing so well.
- Thank you for your help.
I wouldn'’t have done it
without you guys.
- Well, I'’m glad it worked out.
- All right, bye.
- Bye.
- I hashtag countryboy
on Instagram.
- She goes on Instagram
and who does she find?
Graham. Potential true love.
- The park is right up here.
- Here comes the battered up
old truck.
- It'’s, like, pulling in hot.
1016
00:41:03.
your YouTube channel?
- I started YouTube
in sixth grade.
I'’ve had some really
scary run-ins
with people like stalkers.
They know the city
where my dad is from.
They have my brother'’s
high school,
stuff that you have to really be
searching for it to find it.
- That'’s really scary.
This is another fake account.
- Whoever made those
fake accounts for your family
also made a fake account
for your best friend.
- They literally, like, created,
like, a world.
- Your world.
- What the hell
is going on here?
[dramatic music]
I'’ve got some exciting news.
This weekend--
- Yeah.
- I asked
my beautiful girlfriend, Laura,
if she would be
my beautiful wife.
- Oh.
- And she said yes.
I am now engaged to be married.
- That is amazing, Nev.
I'’m proud of you.
You come here.
- And now the Catfish duo
is officially married,
not to each other.
- Well, you'’re not
officially married.
She'’s now your fiancée.
- It'’s the closest she'’ll
ever be to Beyoncé,
which makes her very happy.
All right, now let'’s get
to task at hand.
What do we got?
Ooh, Catfish casting.
Oh, man.
- Oh, it'’s from Casting.
- That means something'’s up.
"Hey, guys, you should
check out this video.
Maybe you can help."
Oh, boy. What
is this video?
Andrea Russett, I know her.
She'’s a YouTuber.
- I follow this--yeah.
I follow her on Twitter.
- So before this video
of craziness.
- She'’s got 3.5
million followers.
- That'’s a lot.
- ♪ Who am I to try
and stop believing? ♪
- Wait, what is she
talking about?
- Let'’s see.
- I'’m sure you guys
are already aware,
there'’s been literally
thousands of profiles
using my pictures online,
and a lot of '’em,
I kind of just brush it off
because they'’re ridiculous.
They can'’t even
spell my name right.
They'’re saying crazy things,
but I recently found these
profiles imitating my family,
and I just feel like
once you involve my family,
it'’s kind of just
taking it too far.
So I'’m here to ask you guys,
how do I handle this?
Leave a comment below.
- Wow, it'’s got
almost 40,000 likes
and hundreds of comments,
a lot of people
tagging me and you.
Her fan base is calling us.
We'’ve been summoned.
The fans have spoken.
This is a crowd-sourced episode
of "Catfish."
Well, I guess we should get
in touch with her.
- All right.
- I think I follow her.
- I follow her.
- And she follows me.
So I'’ll message her.
- All right.
- "Hey, Andrea,
"just saw your post.
"We would love to help.
Hit me up on Skype."
- Okay.
- Now we wait.
- Part of the contract
of being a celebrity
is that you become public
and people can do things
with your image.
- Right.
- But you do not [bleep]
with people'’s families.
- No, that'’s not cool.
She must know the account--
which account.
[computer chiming]
- Oh, here she is.
- Wow, that was fast.
- Really fast.
- Hey, Andrea.
- Hey, Andrea.
- Hello.
- What'’s up?
How are you?
- I'’m good.
- So how long have you had
your YouTube channel?
- I started YouTube in, like,
sixth grade, so like, 2009.
Thank you very much
for the 5,000-plus subscribers.
- How old does that
make you now?
- I'’ll be 21 next month.
- Oh, wow.
- I feel good.
- And when did you start
developing kind of
your following and fame?
- In 2009, I had one video
go viral,
and then from that,
I worked at my radio station
in my hometown,
Fort Wayne, Indiana,
which, like, helped grow
the YouTube stuff.
- And it that where you are now?
- No, I live in LA now.
- Okay.
- Nice.
- Yeah.
- So for the last five years,
you'’ve known sort of
Internet fame,
and I'’m sure all of
the wonderful things
and all of the sort of weird,
creepy things
that come with that.
- Definitely.
I'’ve pretty much been
seeing people use photos
of me as profiles since 2010.
I mean, I'’ve seen the profiles
asking people
to send them nudes.
I'’ve gotten emails from people
that think
they'’re engaged to me.
- Wow.
- These people have been
sending them money,
like, crazy, crazy stuff.
For my family, I just feel
like it makes me worry more,
and it just concerns me a lot.
- How many different
accounts are there?
- There'’s me
and my mom, my dad,
my sister and my brother.
- Are they talking
to you each other?
- Yeah, they'’ll like
each other'’s photos.
They'’ll comment.
- ♪ So many miles to go
- So there'’s a conspiracy.
- For sure.
- When did
the accounts get made?
- My sister'’s account
goes back to 2013.
- Whoa.
- But you only just now saw it?
- Yeah.
- Wow, that'’s creepy.
- I'’ve had some really scary
run-ins with people,
like stalkers,
so it makes me
worry more for my family
that it could really
get out of control.
- We'’ve got to make
the Internet safe
for YouTubers
and civilians alike.
- So you'’re in LA.
That'’s great.
We can come there.
- We'’ll get to the bottom of it,
but are you willing
to go the distance on this?
It'’s gonna get weird.
- Bring it on.
- All right. Bye.
- See you soon.
- All right.
We don'’t know
what they'’re capable of,
so we need to get to her
and help her immediately.
Let'’s do this.
- Let'’s do it.
Going to LA, can'’t say
I'’m not happy about that.
[Prince Rama'’s
"Xtreme Now Energy" playing]
[frenetic pop music]
♪
- All right, sunny Los Angeles.
- If someone were
impersonating my family,
I'’d be pretty on-edge.
- It'’s just not cool.
All right.
- See what this family jeopardy
is all about.
♪
- Cute.
- Really cute.
[knocking at door]
- Welcome.
- Hey.
- Hello.
- Wow.
- Come on in.
- Oh, my goodness.
Why don'’t you just
sort of walk us back
to the beginning
of this situation?
- I started YouTube
in sixth grade.
Like most things, Justin Bieber
inspired my YouTube,
because he held a contest
where if you made
a video to a single,
you could, like, meet him.
I didn'’t win,
but the video went viral.
So after that, I just kind of,
like, kept with it.
- Like, what was that experience
like as a 13-year-old
who wasn'’t a "vlogger"
to all of the sudden just get,
like, thrust into the--
- The world of YouTube.
I loved it.
What'’s up, YouTube?
I thought it was really cool
to have an outlet
for my creativity.
Yo, all right, so this video is
gonna be 25 facts about me.
We should get to know each other
a little bit better.
But within the first year,
when I started doing, like,
YouTube videos, there was tons
of profiles of me.
I thought it was
kind of flattering,
but as, like, the years went by,
and it kind of like,
got worse and worse,
it started to, like,
register that these people
could say something
that I would never say,
like something racist,
homophobic, anything offensive,
and have my face be on it.
So that'’s when I started really
being, like, this is not cool.
- Yeah.
- Within the last two years,
there has been a couple
stalker incidents.
There was one guy
that would show up
at the church my parents go to,
show up at my parents'’
office building.
- Looking for you.
- Yeah, like, asking, like,
"Where'’s Andrea?
We have to find Andrea."
- Really?
- Yeah.
They definitely found me
through social media.
- Wow.
- Do you know him?
Do you know who he was?
- So not so long ago,
this guy was "stalking" you.
- Yeah.
- And do you think that
he is somehow connected
to the fake profiles?
- He very well could be.
- Well, it makes sense
if it'’s the stalker guy.
He knows where
your parents work.
He obviously knows
a lot about your family.
- Yeah. They know the city
where my dad is from.
They have my brother'’s
high school,
stuff that you have to really
be searching for to find it.
- That'’s really scary.
- I just would hate for this
to turn into something bigger.
They could show up
at my parents'’ house.
- That would be bad, right?
- Yeah, very bad.
I feel somewhat responsible,
because it wouldn'’t be happening
if I didn'’t have followers.
- Do you know what they want?
- That'’s the thing.
I can'’t figure out
why they would do this.
Like, I don'’t know
what they expect in the end.
- Well, I kind of want
to see the posts.
- Can we look at them?
- Yeah.
I'’ll show you my sister'’s first.
- So it says where she works
and where she lives,
and it'’s got a lot of photos.
- Like, she Snapchatted
that yesterday almost.
- Oh, but your mom posted this.
- The fake mom.
- The fake mom posted this.
- Oh, my God.
They'’re creating, like,
a whole, like, family narrative.
- That'’s creepy.
- Yeah.
- Your fake brother'’s account
liked this post
by your fake mom'’s account.
- Mm-hmm.
- Weird. Oh, my God.
- The fact that someone'’s,
like, logging in
and out of each profile
just to keep it looking real--
- Right.
- Is like, alarming
that they'’re that dedicated.
- You have no idea who it is
or where they are?
Why don'’t we go inside and see
if we can sit down
and figure something out?
- Time is ticking.
- Yeah.
- Let'’s do it.
- It could really turn
into something dangerous.
[creepy music]
[upbeat music]
- All right.
Here'’s what I think.
We know there are fake profiles
of you and your mom, dad,
brother and sister Anna--
- Mm-hmm.
- And that they are all friends
with each other.
They'’re posting
to each other'’s walls
and tagging
each other in them.
So there'’s some relationship
between those profiles.
Likely it'’s all one person
behind it all.
- Mm-hmm.
- As far as you know,
that stalker guy
is still totally out there,
and maybe he'’s behind all this.
I think we need
to divide and conquer.
Let'’s just write
a little message
and then copy and paste it
and send it out
to as many of these fake
profiles'’ friends as we can.
- Let'’s do it.
- So "My name is Nev,
"and I make a show called
Catfish on MTV.
"We are doing an episode now
that involves
"your friend Andrea.
How do you know her?
"Have you ever
spoken to her personally?
Let me know.
Thanks."
All right, so I'’m going
to copy and paste that.
- All right and go.
- Cut and paste, cut and paste.
Joe Joe looks like
he might know something.
- Hey, Iris.
- Sending a message to Allie.
- All right, boom, sent to Alex.
- All right, here'’s Kenneth.
Let'’s send him a message.
- All right, done-skees.
- All right.
- Now we wait.
- We'’ve cast our net.
[water splashing]
- So we'’ve reached out to Kevin,
Andy, Beppa, Iram,
Bono, Lynn, Kurt,
Bruno, Zach,
Earl, Axial, Carlos--
[phone ringing]
- Oh. All right.
- And Paige.
- I don'’t know who this is.
Hello.
- Yeah, hi, who'’s this?
- Thanks for getting back to us.
I can'’t remember
who we messaged you about.
- Arden'’s my best friend.
- So you got
a friend request from Arden.
- And have you spoken to her
on the phone or anything?
- Do you still have her number?
- Yeah, that'’d be great.
- Yeah, Yeah.
- Cool.
The Anna profile
that you are friends with
is not really Anna Russett...
- And it doesn'’t look like
the Arden profile
you were talking to is her.
- Well, sorry, man,
thanks for getting back to us.
Another fake account.
- So it looks like whoever made
those fake accounts
for your family
also made a fake account
for your best friend.
- Yeah.
- Oh, my goodness.
- This is another fake account.
Now it feels like one person
might have made a profile
for essentially everybody in
and around you and your life.
- It'’s like, just keeps
getting weirder and weirder.
- Let'’s look up
that phone number.
[dramatic music]
Columbus, Georgia.
- Weird.
Okay, let'’s look up
the other one.
- Another Columbus,
Georgia area code.
Does that say anything to you?
- That'’s weird.
- This is like
a never-ending spiral.
- A lot of fake profiles here.
- It'’s extremely freaky to me.
- Someone is very convincingly
copying your life
and your friends.
- Yeah, and putting a lot
of time and effort into it.
- Let'’s see who else
gets back to us
between now
and tomorrow morning.
Hopefully come up with a plan
and see if we can get
a little closer
to figuring this out.
[creepy music]
[upbeat music]
- All right, look at us.
Here we are, Catfish HQ.
It looks like they'’re having
a yard sale pretty soon.
[phone ringing]
- Hello?
Hello, yes.
This is Catfish HQ.
Yes, hi, I understand
you'’re in a relationship.
Hello, I'’m sorry.
I'’ll get back to you.
No, it'’s probably not real.
You should ask him
to FaceTime, yeah.
Has he sent you a Snapchat?
Sorry, no, we don'’t do pizza.
Hello.
Yeah, no, you should totally
ask him to meet up with you
but take a friend with you.
Okay.
- All right.
- So we did some
research yesterday,
and we sent messages
to these fake profiles'’ friends.
I want to see
if any got back to us.
Let'’s check our messages, Max.
- All right.
- We'’ve got one, at least.
Bing.
- That'’s something.
Alex Gresham, that'’s new.
- Oh, Alex Gresham.
Whoa, here we go.
"Hello, I got your message.
"I used to be close
to the entire family.
I'’ve thought about
contacting you guys myself."
Uh-oh, so this guy sounds
like he knows
all of the Russetts "online."
So Alex sent us his number.
Let'’s give Alex a call.
- He'’s a deejay producer.
[line trilling]
- Yeah, hey, is this Alex?
- Hey, Alex, it'’s Nev and Max
from "Catfish."
We'’re working
on an episode right now
and trying to figure out
what'’s going on.
You say you know
the whole Russett family.
Like, what'’s your relationship
with them?
- Were you, like, dating?
- And where are you?
- Oh, no way.
It would be nice to meet up
if you'’re--
if you'’re available right now
so we can go over
a lot of stuff,
because we'’re dealing
with a big situation here
involving Andrea.
- All right, cool, so we will
see you in a little while.
- All right.
Thanks, Alex.
Cool.
Let'’s go meet Alex.
- All right.
♪
- Well, this should
be interesting.
Sounds like we found someone
who'’s actually being
properly catfished
by these fake profiles.
- He'’s been emotionally
involved.
- Yeah.
I got a lot of questions
for this guy.
All right.
♪
- Hey, what'’s up, man?
- Good to meet you.
- All right, nice to see you.
- Hey.
- I'’m Max.
- Good to meet you.
- So you'’re a deejay?
- Producer.
- Oh, cool.
- Singer, songwriter.
- Cool.
So when did you start
talking to Andrea?
- I was actually playing
a festival, and I got a message.
- Did you know who Andrea was
at the time?
- No, I had no idea.
- No.
- We just started messaging
back and forth.
She just seemed like
a sweet person,
someone I could connect with.
She was my best friend.
- Oh, wow.
- And then potentially more.
They were strong feelings.
I mean, I wrote
an incredible amount
of songs about the situation.
♪ The only thing that'’s left
is me and you ♪
- Was she your girlfriend?
- It was definitely heading
in that direction.
- Wow.
- She started sending me videos.
- Good morning
and happy Thursday.
- Videos
of the YouTube profile.
- Any videos of, like,
her saying,
"Hey, Alex, it'’s me, Andrea"?
- Not that specific,
but it was a constant question
of "Hey, can we FaceTime?"
"Hey, can we Skype?"
She would bring that up to me.
- Really?
- So why didn'’t you FaceTime?
- There was always
a connection issue.
It would pop up.
"Hey, Andrea'’s calling you."
I'’d click Accept,
and then just "There'’s an issue
with your connection."
- Huh, so that'’s weird
and a red flag,
but at least she was
asking you to video chat.
- Were you talking on the phone?
- Constantly.
- Oh, wow.
- It was always
great conversation.
It was always somewhat flirty,
and it was nice.
- But did her voice on the phone
sound like Andrea?
- See, initially that'’s
the first thought
when she started
sending me the videos...
- Right.
- Just her voice sounds
just a little bit off
with what'’s going on.
"Hey, I have a cold right now,"
and I guess
I got used to the voice.
- You probably always
wondered was this Andrea,
the real girl?
- Yeah.
- Did you ever bring it up with
her, like, "Hey, what'’s up?"
- Vaguely.
It was always
"What do you mean?
What are you talking about?"
kind of response.
- Right.
- It just seemed legitimate.
- How does the family
enter into all this?
- It was her sister
that initially messaged me,
and then it was the father,
then it was the mother,
then it was the best friend,
then it was the ex-boyfriend,
then it was the boyfriend
of the best friend,
literally everyone.
- Wow.
- What are they saying to you?
- They were saying "Hey,
Andrea'’s been talking about you.
I'’d love to meet you."
The father talked about
going on trips.
- This is crazy.
You'’re getting
put through the ringer here.
- There was always drama.
There was always an emotional
toll being taken on me.
It initially started
with the sister hitting on me
and then "Oh, wow, I'’m sorry,
"I didn'’t know
that Andrea was talking to you.
I didn'’t know you'’re the guy."
Ex started messaging me saying
"Hey, stay away from Andrea."
- Whoa.
- "She'’s mine."
Whether it be the ex,
whether it be her
staying with her
best friend'’s boyfriend,
and they kissed
or something, like,
it was always something
over the top,
and I just got fed up with it.
I eventually did
just stop responding.
- Right.
So look,
so here'’s what'’s up.
Andrea reached out to us
because she was worried
that someone was making
fake profiles of her family,
and those fake profiles
are the ones
that you have been talking to.
Those are not really
the Russett family profiles.
[dramatic music]
You seem to know whoever is
behind all of this pretty well.
- Mm-hmm.
- And would be very helpful,
I think,
in our continued investigation.
We are going to actually
go see actual Andrea right now.
So if you want,
why don'’t you come with us,
so you can meet her.
You deserve and need
some kind of resolution.
- I feel like that would
definitely...
♪
Put a lot to rest.
I need to know what happened.
[creepy music]
- We are going to see
actual Andrea right now.
- It'’s kind of weird
to meet the person
that I thought that
I was talking to for so long.
Part of me doesn'’t
even believe it.
- Try not to fall in love
with the real Andrea.
All right, are you ready
to do this?
- I hope so.
- No turning back now.
[dramatic music]
♪
- Super bizarre.
♪
[doorbell rings]
♪
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Welcome back.
- What'’s up?
- How are you?
- Good to see you.
- You, too.
- You remember this guy?
- I do. Hi.
- Hi, how are you?
- Good. How are you?
- Good.
- Hello.
- Hey, I'’m Alex.
- Andrea.
- This is Alex.
- It'’s good to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
- So Alex dated Andrea Russett.
- What?
- He thought he was
dating you for a while.
- That'’s crazy.
- Yeah. Pretty odd.
- That was just a big moment
that just happened, yeah.
- Oh, my God,
I'’m sorry that happened.
- Yeah, me, too.
- Maybe you should
give him a hug.
- Aw.
- Give me a hug, bring it in.
- Nice to meet you.
- It'’s good to meet you, too.
- Come on in.
- Why don'’t you kind of
explain to Andrea
how you got mixed up
in all this to begin with.
- Well, I was playing
a festival,
and then I got a message
from the Andrea Russett page.
I just thought it was a sweet,
nice girl trying to talk to me.
And so the conversation
just kept on going
until the point that the family
started talking to me...
- Oh, my God.
- And friends,
an ex-boyfriend.
- There was a fake profile
for your ex-boyfriend.
- They literally, like,
created, like, a world.
- Your world.
- Well, your world.
They re-created
your entire world
and your best friend...
- Arden.
- Which we knew about, Arden--
- Yeah.
- And Arden'’s boyfriend.
- She messaged him,
and her boyfriend messaged him.
- Arden messaged you, too?
- Yeah.
- This is, like,
mind-blowing to me. Why?
- But what we need to do
is start figuring out
who'’s actually
behind these profiles.
We could keep scrambling around,
or we can start calling--
- Why not call the number?
- Yeah.
- Let'’s find her.
♪
[line trilling]
- The text mail subscriber you
are trying to reach
is not available.
- There were the other
ones, right?
- The 706 numbers.
- Oh, right, okay.
[line trilling]
- The text mail subscriber you
are trying to reach is not--
- Text mail again.
- So two text mail numbers.
The same person probably.
- Let'’s try this one too.
[line trilling]
- Hi, is this Andrea?
- Um, my name is Nev,
and I make a show
called "Catfish."
- I'’m not sure
if you'’ve heard of it or not,
but we were just trying
to get in touch.
- Oh, okay, great.
We'’re doing an episode now.
We'’re helping a young man
who for a while was--
was, I believe, talking to you,
and you know, I probably
don'’t have to tell you
that you'’re not Andrea Russett,
because I'’m sitting next
to Andrea Russett.
So we'’re dealing
with a situation now
where I need to know
if you'’re involved with this
because we'’re trying to,
you know, figure some things out
and make some sense
out of what
is an otherwise
very confusing scenario,
and I think you hold
a lot of the answers
that we'’re looking for.
- Okay, so--so--
and what is your name,
right person?
- You don'’t have to tell me
your whole name,
but--but what should I call you?
Okay, Zoie, we were hoping
we could connect with you,
because we'’d love
to meet up with you
and find out
what'’s been going on
and how you'’re involved
in all of this...
- And see if we can
sort of, you know,
get to the bottom
of the situation
and find some kind
of happy resolution.
- Yeah, I understand.
- I know it'’s probably
overwhelming,
and it'’s, you know,
a little intimidating
to try and deal
with all of that right now,
but if we could
meet up with you,
and if you could try to explain
some of the stuff
and answer
some of these questions,
I think that would be
really helpful
and very appreciated
by not just us but probably
a lot of other people.
- Okay.
Where are you?
Are you in California?
- You'’re in Atlanta.
All right, well,
so I will text with you
and figure out,
you know, time and place,
but we'’re going to fly
out there tomorrow
and probably meet up
with you either
tomorrow or the day after.
- We will, I guess,
see you soon.
- All right.
Bye.
[line beeping]
- I have so many questions.
- There are a lot
of questions now.
Did this start as wanting
to impersonate you?
Did this start--
- She'’s crazy in love with you?
How involved is this woman
with your life?
Is she super obsessed with you?
- Who has this much time?
- For multiple years.
- What the hell
is going on here?
♪
[Ash Gale'’s "Sing My Way"
playing]
[upbeat pop music]
- Are you ready to,
like, figure out
who'’s behind your whole
family'’s profiles?
- And friends and exes, yes.
- Bye, LA.
♪
- ♪ Oh
- We'’re landing.
- ♪ I'’m singing my way ♪
♪ Out of this one
♪ Oh
- ♪ Singing my way
♪ Out of this one
♪
- Hey.
- Hey, whoa.
- Look at this guy.
He'’s got a guitar with him.
- I actually woke up
around 4:00 a.m.
and wrote a whole song.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- About this whole situation?
- Yeah.
- Can we hear it?
- Yeah.
- So this is brand-new,
fresh off the dome.
- Yeah.
♪ I saw her face
at the front door ♪
♪ And lost every trace
♪ Of the contour of her
♪ I don'’t even know ♪
♪ If I ever knew you
♪ But I'’m finding the real you ♪
[acoustic guitar]
♪ The real you
♪ Oh
♪
[both applauding]
- [laughs]
- That was great.
- That was really good.
Obviously meeting
Andrea stirred up.
- Sort of, yeah.
- So who'’s finding the real you?
Is that Zoie?
- It'’s Zoie.
- Well, let'’s go pick up Andrea.
- Yeah.
- And go meet Zoie
before she changes her mind.
- Yeah.
- Well, let'’s do it.
[dramatic music]
[knocking at door]
- Oh, my God.
- Boom.
- Hello.
- Are you ready?
- We'’re moving.
♪
I'’m trying to think of
everything I want to ask her.
I'’m trying to like, remember it,
because there'’s a lot.
Do you know what you
want to ask her?
- Um, of course, why?
Is it really worth it?
- Bringing the person'’s
she'’s been trying to be
for six or seven years
and Alex has got
to have her freaked out.
It'’s like...
- Overwhelming.
♪
- Okay, so this is it.
Are you guys ready for this?
- I mean, I have to be.
- Yeah.
- I just hate not knowing
what'’s, like, about to happen.
- I know.
- I hate, like, not knowing
what I'’m going into.
- Well, get your mind together,
and let'’s do this.
[suspenseful music]
♪
[knocking at door]
♪
- Hi.
Zoie, right?
- Yeah.
[suspenseful music]
♪
[doorbell rings]
[knocking at door]
♪
- Hi. Zoie, right?
- I'’m Zoie.
Yeah.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
I'’m Nev.
How are you doing?
Why don'’t you come on out?
♪
Some people
I'’m sure you recognize.
- Yeah.
Can I start by saying,
to you especially,
like, I'’m really sorry
for using your pictures,
not only of you, but like,
of your family?
It was never anything personal.
At the time, I was being
really selfish, like,
that'’s the best excuse
I can say.
- You didn'’t stop
to think, like,
maybe this is a really bad idea?
- It did cross my mind,
but like I said,
I was being selfish,
and I didn'’t care.
[dramatic music]
- So you didn'’t stop to think
about the multiple people
that you were messing with.
You didn'’t think
about any of that?
- It wasn'’t ever to seriously
be vindictive
or anything like that.
That'’s not what I wanted to do.
- But that is what you did.
- It is what I did,
but that was never my intention.
- Well, what was your intention?
- Yeah.
- To find something
that I didn'’t have,
put on a mask and be able
to connect with people.
- And how and why
did you choose Andrea?
- Honestly, I Googled
"pretty Tumblr girl"
and she popped up,
and I was like, okay,
but then, like,
people would bring it
to my attention,
like, oh, this account'’s fake.
Why aren'’t people tagging you?
Why don'’t you have
family members?
So I decided to create
other profiles
so people wouldn'’t,
you know, suspect.
♪
- You said you didn'’t want
to be vindictive,
but, like, I'’ve seen the things
you said to other people.
- Yeah.
- It wasn'’t, like,
polite all the time.
- I understand, yeah.
- So that'’s pretty vindictive
to say stuff like that
and to manipulate people.
- Yeah, I know.
♪
- We picked Alex out of a hat.
Are we to understand
that he'’s the only person
that you had
an emotional relationship with
as Andrea or as any one
of these fake profiles?
- Emotionally, yes, but I did
talk to other people.
- How many?
- I--honestly,
maybe three other people.
- Three other guys
that you were flirtatious with
and who thought that they
were moving towards
some kind of a relationship
with Andrea.
- And are somewhere out there
thinking they talked to me
and thinking
that I'’m this person
that you portrayed me
to be that I'’m probably not?
- Yeah.
♪
- I'’ve heard you
when you'’re sincere.
This doesn'’t seem sincere.
Here'’s the thing.
You know me well.
You know me very well
at this point,
and you know that I'’m
a caring person in general
and I like to help people,
and you know that,
and you had every opportunity
to turn that around
and just say,
"Hey, I'’m gonna
be honest with you
"because you'’re
a really good person,
and I'’d like to show you
that I am too."
- I agree.
It was really wrong.
♪
I'’m sincerely sorry,
but that'’s what happened.
I can'’t change it,
but I am sorry.
- What scares me a little bit
is how resolved you seem
about all this.
- It seems rehearsed.
- It seems a little canned.
Yeah.
- I don'’t--I mean,
I don'’t know how else to say it.
♪
- Okay, look, I feel like
there'’s still a barrier
that we'’re trying
to kind of get around
or see over to understand...
- Yeah.
- How you really felt
about all this.
- Why don'’t we
just, like,
collect ourselves
for a second?
- That'’s fine.
- She really doesn'’t get it.
- I don'’t know.
- She has no grasp of--
I mean, like,
I'’ve heard her emotional.
There'’s no emotion in this.
- You don'’t think it'’s just
'’cause she'’s nervous?
- I don'’t think so.
- She does seem pretty
sort of stone cold.
- Well, she'’s just got a
rationalization for everything.
- Right away, like, without
thinking, she just had it ready.
- Let me go in there quickly
and just check it out
and see if we can get
a little deeper.
And I'’ll come back out
in a second.
Zoie?
- [sobbing]
- What'’s going on?
- Zoie, are you all right?
[dramatic music]
- Zoie?
- [sobbing]
- Zoie, are you all right?
What'’s going on?
- Okay, sorry.
- Are you all right?
- Just like, with us
being here or...
I'’m so sorry.
- It'’s all right.
- Trying to calm down.
I guess seeing Alex face-to-face
and seeing
what I'’ve actually done--
it hurts, and I'’ve hurt him.
I'’m not really good
at talking about my emotions,
so I try and like,
straight face, you know?
- This is an opportunity
to, like,
actually show them how you feel
so that they can feel
a little bit better about it.
- Yeah.
- Do you think you want to try
and have a conversation?
It won'’t be easy.
It will be emotional.
- Yeah.
♪
- Just have a seat.
- Okay.
- And I'’ll bring them in.
♪
All right, so clearly,
we'’ve got one version...
- Yeah.
- Of Zoie outside,
and I get the sense
there'’s a very different version
of Zoie inside.
- It actually really scared me
outside
how emotionless
you were about the situation.
- It'’s hard for me
to open up to people.
- What just sort of clicked
for you?
- I guess the realization
of it all,
seeing everybody here,
seriously thinking
about what I did.
♪
It'’s bad.
[sniffs]
♪
You know, I definitely
could have gone
about things differently.
I'’m not gonna lie, but...
at the end of the day, Alex,
you changed my life,
like, so much,
and I know
that I probably hurt you,
and it kills me.
- How did Alex change your life?
- All I had ever known
from, like,
a relationship with a guy
was, like, abuse.
My relationship with my ex,
it wasn'’t good.
It wasn'’t healthy.
He started drinking
and getting abusive.
But I stayed,
and then I got pregnant,
and then I miscarried.
[crying]
♪
- It'’s awful that you struggled
the way that you did.
- That'’s when the Andrea profile
kind of came into play,
because...
people seemed to care online.
So Alex and I started talking.
I really do want
to say thank you,
because I'’m not
in that relationship anymore.
I actually have respect
for myself because of you,
and it means so much,
and it just made me, like,
see that it wasn'’t an act.
This is how people
can really be.
So slowly by each conversation
we would have,
it would give me confidence
and self-respect
to sit there and be like,
you can get better than this.
No one deserves
to live this way.
- I still feel like you could
have talked to me
just being you.
- Yeah, I was just
really scared of,
you know, the off chance
that you would be like,
"You'’re a liar," you know?
"We were supposed to be honest
with each other.
Don'’t talk to me."
- I mean...
it may take
a little while for me,
but I...
I still feel like
you can come talk to me
if you need to.
- Well, thank you.
That does mean the world to me.
And I'’m sorry to you, Andrea,
because it definitely
was not fair,
I mean, not only to you,
but your family.
I never thought I would,
you know, see you in person.
I never thought any of this
would ever have
an effect on you.
- I think that'’s what
a lot of people think, like,
a lot of people post stuff
or take photos of someone
without thinking
that this person will see it.
- Yeah.
- But I mean,
just because somebody
has followers
or just because somebody'’s
in a different state,
they see just as much on
the Internet as anyone else.
- Yeah.
And I guess it never really
clicked for me
until you'’re right here,
you know?
- Are there aspects
about Andrea and her life
that you like or admire?
- I kind of liked that Andrea
was so bubbly and stuff,
because it kind of made me,
when I pretended to be her,
kind of get
that kind of personality going.
- So you used
the Andrea profile...
to pretend to be somebody happy.
- Yeah, overall.
- I do think you'’re brave
and strong for coming to, like,
the realization
and knowing that, like,
you deserve better
than where you were.
You have standards now
and you have self-respect,
and I'’m really glad
we got to figure all this out.
- Yeah.
I'’m sure it was scary.
- Yeah.
I just really hope
that we can trust
that you won'’t go back to it.
- Right.
- So it sounds like
there is sort of
only one last thing to do here,
which is to delete the profiles
and put all this behind us.
- Okay, it'’s Anthony'’s profile.
Deactivate the account.
So one down.
- Eight to go.
- Honestly, it feels like
a really big relief.
Okay.
- All right, well,
then I guess that'’s it.
So it'’s just you now
and your page, right?
- Yes.
- All right.
[soft instrumental music]
♪
- Life goes on.
♪
- Bring it in.
- I'’m not sure
if I made it clear,
but I do forgive you.
- Thank you.
- ♪ Then the planet
moves us from under ♪
- All right.
- ♪ And we can
remember the reasons ♪
- Bye.
- Take care.
How do you guys feel?
- Relieved.
- I really didn'’t expect
to feel this much better.
- Without even realizing it,
you may have saved
that girl'’s life.
- ♪ I'’m staying right here ♪
- I kind of feel
like you both did.
I mean, her even being you,
Andrea,
was like a lifeline
in and of itself.
♪
[line trilling]
all: Hey.
- Look, she'’s blonde.
- Wow. You look so old.
- Yeah, 21, oh, my God.
- Oh, it'’s big stuff.
- So what'’s been going
on regarding
all of your family'’s
fake profiles since we left?
- That'’s right.
- They'’re all still gone.
- They'’re gone?
- Yeah.
There'’s definitely a bunch
of me still out there,
but of my family,
I think we'’ve handled that.
- Andrea saves her family.
- I'’m a superhero.
- There you go.
- All right, Andrea.
- Good-bye.
- Bye.
- Have fun.
You'’re 21.
- [exclaims]
[line trills]
both: Hey.
- Zoie, what'’s up?
- Hey.
- How are you?
- I'’m really good.
I haven'’t been
catfishing people.
- Whoo!
- Yay.
Well, you look great.
How are you feeling?
- I'’m a lot better
since you last saw me.
It'’s all in the past now,
so I can, like,
finally move on.
- Have you had any contact
with Alex or Andrea?
- No, I haven'’t.
I don'’t really want
to reach out to them.
I feel like that chapter
is kind of closed,
and I'’m okay with it.
- Do you miss talking
to Alex at all?
- I do.
He'’ll always have
a special place in my heart.
- Well, this is the best
we could hope for.
- Yeah, we'’re thrilled to see
that you'’re doing so well.
- Thank you for your help.
I wouldn'’t have done it
without you guys.
- Well, I'’m glad it worked out.
- All right, bye.
- Bye.
- I hashtag countryboy
on Instagram.
- She goes on Instagram
and who does she find?
Graham. Potential true love.
- The park is right up here.
- Here comes the battered up
old truck.
- It'’s, like, pulling in hot.
1016
00:41:03.