The court was also told how Ms Lagwinowicz created fake profiles on social media from fictional male admirers and signed up to an explicit dating website pretending to be Miss Wells-Burr.

BBC: Catherine Wells-Burr

Utilizing bots and inactive users, these services are spamming social media websites with fake accounts and junk messages.

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Sheffield Crown Court heard how the pair communicated using Facebook and Pooley even set up two fake accounts on the social media site so the girl's parents would not spot he was talking to their daughter.

BBC: Michael Pooley jailed for affair with 15-year-old pupil

And although dealing with the media can be a treacherous business, as the fake sheikh saga shows, PR seems very often to have its desired result.

BBC: What's the point of PR?

In one case, the suspects made fake mutton from foxes, mink and rats after adding chemicals, state media said.

BBC: China arrests hundreds over fake or tainted meat

If someone opened a fake store in, say, Grand Central Station, the company would be blanketing the media with statements vowing to shut down the offending outlet.

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