WAUSAU (WAOW) -
The story of Manti Te'o's
fake girlfriend has brought a relatively term "catfish" into water
cooler conversations across the country.
The term catfish hit the mainstream after a MTV show. In the
show people in an online relationship meet the real person they're dating. And
often it's not who they said they were.
Dating website Match.com says 1 in 5 new relationships
starts on the internet. But as Diane London found out dating online comes with
its risks. She became close with a man online several years ago who wasn't who
he said he was.
"Well we met and it was very disappointing," said London
"And you know I think it shifted how I look at the whole
deal."
Despite her bad experience, she says she hasn't given up. In
fact she even works as a counselor in Schofield helping couples work through
their problems.
"Oh there is a teeny bit of me that's a hopeless
romantic," said London.
"And what's the harm. Once in a while I go out and meet
someone. It might be a good connection."
But as many new people look for their partner online, others
say the risk just isn't worth it.
"Because of that whole catfish thing," said Jason Busha. "People
say they're one person but they are really somebody else. It just doesn't seem
like a straight forward way to be."
London says if you are looking for love online, you need to be
cautious.
"I'm always very careful to meet at a neutral place. I
usually don't give out my phone number. I block it if I choose to talk to them.
I give very little personal details."
Good advice for navigating the risky
field of internet romance.
