Man United fan tricked by Liverpudlian into Facebook love hoax
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Stuart Slann, 39, from Sheffield, thought he had been building a genuine connection with a woman named "Emma" on Facebook.
After weeks of messaging, he set off for Scotland, convinced he was about to begin a new relationship.
Instead, he became the target of a prank that has since gone viral on YouTube and Facebook.
A long journey, a cruel reveal
According to Stuart, the online conversations had lasted for around a month, giving him no reason to suspect deception.I really thought she was genuine. I had no reason to doubt it.After arriving at a remote farm location near Aberdeen, Stuart claims he received a message explaining that Emma was still at work, prompting him to wait for several more hours.
That's what made it worse. Not only had I driven for nine hours, but I had to wait for another three and a half hours.The truth emerged during a phone call later that evening, when two men revealed the entire scenario had been staged.
During the recorded conversation, the pair asked: "Do you recognise our voices, Stuart? It's them Scouse lads who threw you in the pool."
Stuart replied: "Yes, I do mate."
"You've been framed," the men told him before breaking into laughter.
Holiday banter turned viral prank
The prank's origins trace back to a holiday in Cancun, Mexico, last November.Stuart reportedly met the two Liverpool fans whilst abroad, where friendly football rivalry soon escalated into mischief.
The encounter culminated in Stuart being thrown into a swimming pool.
What began as holiday banter later evolved into something far more calculated.
After returning home, the pair allegedly created a fake Facebook account posing as a Scottish woman and maintained contact with Stuart through messages and texts.
Personal fallout
The consequences extended beyond embarrassment.Stuart's wife, Louise, 32, learned of the situation after the prank video and audio recording circulated online.
The couple's marriage has since ended.
Stuart described the prank as unnecessarily harsh.
If they had asked me to drive to Manchester, Leeds or even Liverpool, maybe I'd have seen the funny side. But to drag me all the way to Aberdeen was just cruel.
Online hoaxes and real-world impact
The incident highlights the growing prevalence of online impersonation and social media hoaxes, which can carry serious emotional and personal consequences.Whilst prank culture continues to thrive across video-sharing platforms, cases like Stuart's underline how digital deception can spill into real lives.
As the footage continues to circulate, Stuart has become an unlikely internet figure - though not by choice.
