Schulman says he thinks Te'o is a victim of a hoax Nev Schulman and Max Joseph have become the experts on "catfishing." The MTV hosts of "Catfish" have followed stories of people who create fake online profiles to pursue romantic relationships, often at the cost of their unsuspecting partner. Schulman help coined the term in a documentary of the same name about his own experience being duped by an online girlfriend.
But "catfishing" became a trending topic on Twitter and the subject of a Notre Dame news conference this week after it was discovered that former Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te'o might have become a victim to this kind of internet hoax.
MORE: Discrepancies in the Manti Te'o 'Catfish' defense
Deadspin first reported on Wednesday that Te'o's girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, never existed. Her death from leukemia was widely reported to have come hours after the death of the linebacker's grandmother in September, an emotional part at the center of Te'o's campaign for the Heisman Trophy.
After the hoax was revealed, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick introduced many to "catfishing" when he explained in a Wednesday night news conference how Te'o had fallen victim to it.
Schulman and Joseph felt the response. Schulman said he has gained approximately 20,000 Twitter followers. Joseph noted that the case of a star linebacker – Heisman runner-up, even – had shone some light on what they think is an increasingly common occurrence.
"My gut feeling is that he's a victim here. I don't think he was in on it from the beginning," said Schulman "I don't think it was some scheme for him to get media attention in an effort to win the Heisman Trophy, and maybe that's because I'm hopeful in believing because that's not the case, because I think that would really be devastating. That's just my gut."
They've played a part in the story, too. After Kekua's death, someone pretending to be her sister joined Twitter using the photos of a woman named Donna Tei. It was Tei who emailed Schulman on Dec. 9 to ask for help, although he didn't know at the time it would become part of a national story.
PHOTOS: Best of Manti Te'o 
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o finished second in the 2012 Heisman Trophy voting to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
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Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, linebacker Manti Te'o and safety Zeke Motta talk to the press after the 2013 BCS Championship game. Alabama won 42-14.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o is escorted by Miss Texas Ali Nugent as he carries the Lombardi Award to an interview room after a ceremony Dec. 5.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te'o leaves the field after his team's defeat to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2013 BCS Championship game. Alabama won 42-14.
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Notre Dame's Manti Te'o reacts in action during the second half of the 2013 BCS Championship game against Alabama.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te'o speaks during a press conference for the 2013 BCS Championship game.
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One thing that has been remarkably steady in a season full of surprises has been the performance of Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, center, taking aim at a Wake Forest ballcarrier Saturday.
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Te'o against Washington as a freshman in 2009.
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If the USA TODAY Sports Media Group survey is any indicator, Notre Dame senior Manti Te'o at the very least will have the highest Heisman Trophy finish ever by a linebacker.
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Notre Dame's Manti Te'o reacts after Notre Dame defeated Michigan 13-6 on Sept. 22, 2012.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o played with a heavy heart against Michigan State after the loss of his girlfriend and grandmother.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te'o (5) celebrates after Notre Dame defeated the Stanford Cardinal 20-13 in overtime at Notre Dame Stadium.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o collars Miami running back Duke Johnson in the Irish's 41-3 win.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o waits for the snap during the second half of Notre Dame's 21-6 win over Boston College in a NCAA college football game in Boston Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, right, trying to slow down Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor in South Bend.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te'o gives a salute as he enters practice at the LaBar Practice Complex in August 2011.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, left, celebrates with defensive end Justin Utupo (53) after a Notre Dame win.
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Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te'o (5) reacts during the second half of a game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o runs the ball after an interception in the first quarter against the BYU Cougars.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o leaves the field after his final game at Notre Dame Stadium, a 38-0 win against Wake Forest that helped propel the Irish to the No. 1 ranking for the first time in 19 years.
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Manti Te'o celebrates Notre Dame's 38-0 win over Wake Forest.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o returns one of five interceptions by the Irish during the first half against Michigan.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o (5) and wide receiver John Goodman (81) celebrate in the fourth quarter against USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Notre Dame won 22-13.
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Manti Te'o, Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish linebacker looks to become the first defensive Heisman winner since Charles Woodson in 1997.
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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o won the Nagurski Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.
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