Rugby league legend is caught up in a Tinder catfishing scandal after his pictures were used to trick people looking for love on the dating app
- A Tinder profile claiming to be former NRL star Manu Vatuvei has surfaced
- Impostor was grilled by journalist in New Zealand to see if profile was legitimate
- Vatuvei, 33, played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL for 14 seasons
A rugby league star has been caught up in a Tinder catfishing scandal after his pictures were used to deceive others looking for love.
A profile claiming to be former New Zealand Warriors star Manu Vatuvei, 33, surfaced on the dating app and caught the eye of a New Zealand Herald journalist.
The journalist matched with the alleged impostor and questioned whether they really were the NRL legend.
The real Vatuvei (pictured with American singer Dinah Jane) put the dating app rumours to bed
A journalist matched with the alleged impostor and questioned whether they really were this year’s Dancing with the Stars winner Vatuvei (stock image)
The catfish replied: ‘No I’m not and it’s always the first question I get’.
According to the New Zealand Herald, the exchange became ‘halted’ when ‘Vatuvei’ realised they were in cahoots with a journalist.
The real Vatuvei, who is married with children, put the dating app rumours to bed when he was quizzed by the publication.
‘You serious… that’s a crack-up, no I’m not,’ he said.
Vatuvei won Dancing with the Stars with partner Loryn Reynolds in June this year and gave thanks to his ‘beautiful wife and kids at home’.
The NRL veteran holds the New Zealand Warriors try-scoring record, having represented the club for 14 years.
The 33-year-old also played in the Super League in the UK with Salford.
Catfishing is where an individual creates a fake social media presence to lure in a victim. The form of deception is common on dating sites.
A profile claiming to be former New Zealand Warriors star Manu Vatuvei (pictured), 33, surfaced on Tinder