Photographs are copied. Videos are downloaded. Names are invented. Stories are fabricated. Relationships are manipulated.
And behind what appears to be one fake social-media profile can be enormous emotional, financial and psychological damage.
REAL focuses on:
- Imposter accounts
- Catfishing
- Identity theft
- Romance scams
- Online manipulation
- Fake military accounts
- Digital deception
- Social-media safety
REAL teaches people how to question what they see online. To verify before trusting. To recognise warning signs. To understand manipulation tactics. And to report suspicious activity.
WHY REAL IS PERSONAL TO TRE
REAL is closely connected to the origin story of TRE.
An imposter account using Sgt. Chris Robello’s identity ultimately led to the real Chris being discovered.
That connection developed into friendship, writing, awareness work and eventually the creation of TRE.
What started with a fake account ultimately helped create something designed to fight the very problem that started it.
It also became part of the inspiration behind the Awareness Thrillers, written by L.A. Motzouris and Sgt. Chris Robello.
The books use fiction and dark thriller storytelling to draw attention to very real online dangers.
REAL therefore represents something fundamental to TRE:
Something harmful can become the beginning of something that protects other people.
TRE supports the work. We never imply that an organisation officially supports, endorses or partners with TRE unless that relationship has specifically been established.