Mum who posted her entire life online is left stunned after a stranger stole her pictures and spent SEVEN YEARS pretending to be her
Makaia Carr discovered a woman had been pretending to be her after striking up an online romance with a boxer
A MUM who posted her entire life online was left shocked after discovering that a stranger stole her pictures and spent seven years pretending to be her.
As part of her job as a blogger, Makaia Carr would upload daily updates on her life across Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram to keep her followers updated.
But little did she know that the pictures were being pinched by another woman who was using them to pursue an online relationship with a boxer living half way across the world in America.
And when New Zealand-based Makaia found out about the "catfishing" she was disgusted by the "sick and dirty lie."
Now mum-of-two Makaia is warning others to be careful with what they post on the web by posting screenshots of the moment she found out her pictures had been stolen.
Writing on her open Facebook page, she said: "I was contacted by a guy in America today who thought he was talking to me online for well over a year and forming a relationship.
"He started to suspect something late last year and found out there was a woman in Auckland pretending to be me.
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"She was using photos from my social media channels and making weird stuff up, even pics of my friends, giving them all names etc. I have her email, cell number (given by the guy) and have found her on FB.
"I've shared this and the pics below so people can see just how easily this can be done (my friends are aware of me sharing their pic too) and encourage awareness for not only our children's safety but our own and also highlight that it doesn't just happen to kids but also to adults!"
Makaia did contact the police after her discovery after the boxer who had been duped realised he wasn't speaking to the right woman.
However, they were unable to take any action and Makaia has now tightened security on social media.
She told : "Initially I was absolutely p***ed off she'd chosen me to do this with.
"But then I saw her own pictures on Facebook with her family and thought she must be in a bad place.
"Aside from my public work-related Facebook account, all of my other accounts are on the highest level of security. It's certainly taught me how careful you have to be online."
However, it is not the first time a blogger has been cat fished. An Instagram star found out someone had also been using pictures of her online.
While a a man spent the six years of his life convinced that he was dating Katy Perry… even though she was married during this time.