Ample evidence has been brought to my attention that there is an individual masquerading as multiple people on our forums. Images of “Allie” are of real life models Allisa Harkin and Samantha Lightfoot, and “Shannon”/“Kenzie” is actually real life models Mihola Terzik and Hunter Reilly, all of whom are very much alive and well. I do not believe these models are aware of this duplicity active on our forums. The person in charge of these accounts also controls aka_Patrice and aka_Sam. There may very well be others.

It has long been SETI’s policy that multiple accounts are not against forum rules, and that policy has not changed in light of this revelation. I think it is important to remember that he (or she) gave generously of their time and gave excellent advice to many. This person was exemplary as a model member of the SETI@home Volunteer Forum Moderation Team. Even after the announcement of Shannon’s supposed death, funeral donations were redirected to local cancer charities instead of being pocketed.

However, as Shannon/Kenzie, she (or he) was in a position of trust when they were a Forum Moderator, and earned the trust enough of others to carry the title of friend to many. The announcement of Shannon/Kenzie’s death impacted many people on the forums, causing many to wish to pay their last respects to someone they thought they knew and loved. This action stepped over a very fragile line, hurting the many good SETIzens that frequent our corner of the internet. Because of this, we should always be aware that the people we’re talking to may not necessarily be who they seem. Be cognizant that the person presenting himself as a member of Justin Timberlake’s posse, or a Padawan Learner under the tutelage of Jedi Master Yoda may not really be the person he’s claiming to be.

In light of these facts, I am bringing this to our forum members’ attention so they can be made aware that Allie and kenzieb are not real people, but are fictions of someone’s very creative imagination. I am therefore opening the floor to allow you, our SETIzens, an opportunity to openly discuss this situation in a civilized manner. The normal forum rules will apply, and no flame wars, swearing, threats or spam-bombing will be allowed.


-Fred
SETI Forums Admin
setiforums at ssl.berkeley.edu

I knew it, no really I did but I would have been crucified if I showed the slightest doubt.

---

Fred-

This is infuriating especially because I have based my Relay for Life fundraising on honoring the memory of "KenzieB". People have also donated money in "her" honor.

That money was donated to the American Cancer Society-I can't return the donations

I think all accounts related to this situation should be shut down/banned and an exception to the multiple account rule be made here.

I also think the models should be made aware of the improper use of their images. I would be willing to reach out to them personally.

This is a disgusting betrayal of trust and action should be taken.

---

I'm HIGHLY disgusted. All those accounts should be permanently shut down/banned.

Very VERY disappointing.

---

TimeLord04
Have TARDIS, will travel...
Come along K-9!
Join Calm Chaos

This is infuriating especially because I have based my Relay for Life fundraising on honoring the memory of "KenzieB". People have also donated money in "her" honor.

You meant well. That is truly the sad part, good people have been taken advantage of by the lowest of the low.

---

Wow!
Welcome to the internet folks.....

---

Oh. :( Why?

Goodness... I wish this hadn't been the first board I popped my head through. Was looking forward to a smile before bedtime and now I'm all... splintered and well... knackered really... :( and I only expended a few words and thoughts over a handful of weeks.

I'm so sorry for everyone who invested more than that... in, well... someone else's fantasy life/death I suppose :(

Wow... fingers have lost all their oomph. Think I might just say night night now. Night everyone. :( Tomorrow I shall mostly be being sadder and wiser :(

The kenzieb character was a good person in public and in private. I do not believe that a truly "bad" person could masquerade as such a kind and noble person for so long, without having some innate kindness and nobleness himself. I hope that person will join us again, and be comfortable being himself.

So it isn't true if a Canadian dies in the winter they don't bury then until May? aka_Sam said;

Not sure of the date yet but as I understand it over-winter deaths are usually buried in May.

I just noticed aka_Sam and Allie in Vancouver both joined in 2007, almost 7 years ago. I applaud whoever found out they were using fake pictures; they looked a bit professional but I got no hits on TinEye or Google.

The kenzieb character was a good person in public and in private. I do not believe that a truly "bad" person could masquerade as such a kind and noble person for so long, without having some innate kindness and nobleness himself. I hope that person will join us again, and be comfortable being himself.

I notice you joined in 2007 too. Interesting.

---

I notice you joined in 2007 too. Interesting.

Yes. 2007 was when Eric got bored and invented us all...

I know many people are very, very, very upset about this situation, but the way I see it, we may as well all at least try to laugh at ourselves a bit. This is not the first fictitious person to haunt the internet. This is not the first death faked on the internet. We all got fooled by a very creative author. Authors tend to be undervalued in our culture. I hope this one comes out of hiding because I, for one, wish to compliment him on his work.

I notice you joined in 2007 too. Interesting.

Yes. 2007 was when Eric got bored and invented us all...

I know many people are very, very, very upset about this situation, but the way I see it, we may as well all at least try to laugh at ourselves a bit. This is not the first fictitious person to haunt the internet. This is not the first death faked on the internet. We all got fooled by a very creative author. Authors tend to be undervalued in our culture. I hope this one comes out of hiding because I, for one, wish to compliment him on his work.

When KenzieB first appeared on the scene I first speculated the person was male based on choice of words, phrases, 'enunciation', etc. Just ignore the pic/desc and I would always come up with male. (Someone research my past posts!) Nonetheless it wasn't the first fake acct I discovered. HE was never made BOTD so my conscience is clear.

The kenzieb character was a good person in public and in private. I do not believe that a truly "bad" person could masquerade as such a kind and noble person for so long, without having some innate kindness and nobleness himself. I hope that person will join us again, and be comfortable being himself.

But he was comfortable enough on his personal, and spied upon, forum website.

BTW, speaking of 2007 I've always said that you and Fred write an awful lot alike. Not too many people use words like 'cognizant' in such a clinical context. I admire your (plural) professionalism.

---

me@rescam.org

We all got fooled by a very creative author.

Not all, the "author" got caught.
It's only the Interweb why are you so upset about this individual being exposed? He is obviously a very sick person and needs help.

---

What sick person would keep this up for so long?

Quite sick I'd say but as Ian so clearly states: 'Welcome to the internet Folks!' Real sad it is...

---

rOZZ
Music
Pictures

I'm HIGHLY disgusted. All those accounts should be permanently shut down/banned.

Very VERY disappointing.

+1

---

Sure fooled me. I have mixed emotions about this. Think I'll sleep on it before commenting further.

@Blurf - no misrepresentation on your part, and I'll be donating to other Relays For Life here in the Big Valley. Both my mother, paternal grandfather, and too damn many of my friends have died of cancer, that's reason enough to give.

---

Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

WOW, Is all I can say. To say we have been taken in would be a gross understatement. I was truly saddend to hear that she had died. And now to find it was just someones cruel joke to make chumps out of us ticks me off.

They should be perma banned.

---

[/quote]

Old James

The kenzieb character was a good person in public and in private. I do not believe that a truly "bad" person could masquerade as such a kind and noble person for so long, without having some innate kindness and nobleness himself. I hope that person will join us again, and be comfortable being himself.

I second this.

Its upsetting that Kenzie felt the need to hide his true nature from us. I was not as involved with Kenzie as some people so her "death" was not as deeply felt to me as I know it was to plenty of others here. I was sad to see people here suffering and I feel for the people that got hurt but this, I really do.

What I hope is that we can be told the motive behind the charade and decide if any real harm was done.

---

Reality Internet Personality

Ladies and Gentleman

I am going to be 100% honest here and say I was one of the people who approached Fred and I have prepared a full report on what I found.

Fred has a copy however I do not believe it would be a good idea to publish it here.

I also think the models should be made aware of the improper use of their images. I would be willing to reach out to them personally.

Blurf, one of the things I did discover is that in the model/photographer world, models will often sign away the rights to their photos, just in the hope that some will be published. This means that it is quite likely that Allissa Harkin, Samantha Lightfoot, Mihola Terzic, and Hunter Reilly signed away the rights to their pictures. The person behind this was a professional photographer and knows what he can and can't do. If he paid the models the copyright is 100% his to do as he pleases,

Please be aware that no criminal activity had taken place here, morally, well that is a different story.

I will accept questions by PM if you need to.

---

What I hope is that we can be told the motive behind the charade and decide if any real harm was done.

We will never grasp the motive I'm afraid. No real harm has been done over here as far as we know but quite a few people are really shocked, including me, because Kenzie seemed like such a nice person.

---

rOZZ
Music
Pictures

I am going to be 100% honest here and say I was one of the people who approached Fred and I have prepared a full report on what I found.
I will accept questions by PM if you need to.

100% honest?
Bernie Vine, why did you perpetuated the fraud by posting a picture of the supposed dead Shannon/kenzieb. A picture that was not posted on any other site so it is an exclusive. What is up with you Raccoons?

I love the Mona Lisa smile BTW.

---