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This person pretended to be a millionaire mobile app developer on the internet (specifically on Reddit's "Ask Me Anything" community) by creating fake social me
by k1ns 9y ago
This person pretended to be a millionaire mobile app developer on the internet (specifically on Reddit's "Ask Me Anything" community) by creating fake social media accounts, doing interviews with online news companies, and living out this persona of a rich tech mogul. He played the long con by amassing his followers organically and getting verified by major social media platforms (Twitter and Facebook specifically mentioned). He has apparently written a book about his app development ventures (which were not confirmed to be real or fake), been invited to speak at Harvard, and produces believable content that his followers consume despite it being a hoax.
He has used his stolen fame for good, however, by instructing his followers to donate to a charity concerned with clean water initiatives. He has motivated and inspired many people to make changes in their lives (including, but not limited to, becoming successful app developers themselves). Meanwhile, he's just an average joe who faked his way to the top.
My $0.02: if it's true that he is indeed a phony confessing to the world (which has yet to be confirmed), good on him. He has become what he originally faked. Maybe he isn't a successful app developer like he pretended to be, but he is a successful community figure no matter how small his circle may be. He has motivated, inspired, and helped the people he duped into believing his story. If this is all true, I've never seen a better use of being a conman (and probably never will). He's happy for the people he's inspired to become successful which seems to have made him genuinely happy himself. But, who knows, maybe the hoax is a hoax and we're the ones being duped.