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A television actor has told how his identity was used to deceive and manipulate a woman, who later took her own life.
Former Home and Away star Lincoln Lewis made the shocking discovery in 2011 when he received a call from an unknown woman, who claimed they were dating.
Lydia Abdelmalek, 32, had impersonated the star, under other aliases, including English actor Danny Mac in a vicious four-year-old catfish trick, which involved three victims.
Lewis said the stranger contacted him asking, “Have you and I been in a relationship in the past few months?”
He was surprised, but said that’s when he realized he was being used in a catfish plan.
He then told her that he had never met her.
Lewis (pictured, with his girlfriend Pandora Bonsor) was surprised, but said that’s when he realized he was being used in a catfish scheme
The actor said she sounded “rattling” and “panic” when she told him she had sent him who she thought he was, intimate photos and videos of herself.
The woman thought they had been dating for the past few months.
“She said, ‘Linc, I don’t know who this is now,'” Lewis recalled.
‘Linc this person has pictures and videos of me. I thought I was going out with you. I thought you were the one asking for these things. I thought you were the one I sent all this stuff to.”
Lydia Abdelmalek, 32, (pictured) now has to serve two years and eight months to qualify for parole, an increase from her previous minimum term of one year and nine months
Abdelmalek had used those images to blackmail her and harass her family and friends.
The woman later ended her life in 2018.
Abdelmalek had also cheated on two others with the Lewis alias, approaching him on two separate occasions.
A second female victim contacted Lewis “many months later”, who told him that someone he did not know had created Facebook accounts in his name, edited his existing social media and provided his home address.
A false license was also made with his image and name on it.
“(She) told me a very similar story where someone I didn’t know pretended to be me and started or had online relationships with these girls,” he said in a police statement.
“(She) told me that the person was creating Facebook accounts on my behalf, editing my existing social media channels, and passing on my actual home address.”
Lewis said he remembered telling the “very confused” woman that he hoped she was “OK.”
A third was a man, who thought they were friends, who approached him at a sports bar in Bali.
“I looked at him and all my friends were a little confused, and he said, ‘Brother, it’s me,’ Lewis said.
“I wasn’t sure what to do, I’d never seen him in my life.”
The actor had to pull him aside and tell him they weren’t friends before the man became very embarrassed, apologized and left.
“Mate, I’m sorry. I do not know who you are. I’ve never met you. I’m sorry, but I’ve never spoken to you in my life,” Mr Lewis recalled saying.
Lewis told the court some of the methods Abdelmalek may have used to trick her victims into believing she was the well-known actor, including inaccuracies with a fake Queensland driver’s license.
The revelations came to light when Abdelmalek lost her early release from prison.
Lewis had to take a victim aside and tell him they weren’t friends, before the man was very embarrassed, apologized and left (pictured, fake license with Lewis’s name that was made)
“What may start off lighthearted can quickly escalate and have significant implications for the psychological well-being of those targeted at risk,” said Judge Claire Quin (pictured, Abdelmalek leaves County Court of Victoria in Melbourne in 2020)
She appeared in Melbourne County Court on Tuesday, where she was again sentenced to four years in prison after a lengthy appeal against her 2019 verdict.
She failed to overturn her conviction on six charges of stalking earlier this year and subsequently appealed her two-year, eight-month sentence.
Lewis took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, moments after Abdelmalek’s grudge, to express his relief that the catfish ordeal was “finally over.”
“It is difficult to find the right words or to express the feeling of relief that the cruel and horrific actions this person committed more than a decade ago have finally ended with justice triumphing,” he wrote.
Lewis posted online after the re-conviction that “social media is great, but always make sure you know who you’re talking to and most importantly, always look out for each other. Lots of love.’
“I hope the sentence provides the victims, their families and those affected with a closure that can now help everyone heal and move forward.
Finally, I hope all of this sparks conversations when you talk to friends or between parents and their kids about staying safe online. Social media is great, but always make sure you know who you’re talking to and most importantly, always pay attention to each other. Lots of love.’
Abdelmalek now has to serve two years and eight months before she is eligible for parole, an increase from her previous minimum term of one year and nine months.
Abdelmalek’s victims and their families appeared in court for the sentencing, while Judge Claire Quin led their calls for an extended sentence.
Judge Claire Quin described Abdelmalek’s offense as “persistent and malicious” as she said she spent thousands of hours secretly pursuing her victims online (pictured, Abdelmalek out of court in 2020)
She said she warned Abdelmalek and her lawyers “a number of times” that she could face a heavier jail sentence if they continued the appeal.
“This case went ahead despite an overwhelming prosecution case and full knowledge of the added stress that will be placed on the victims as a result,” Judge Quin told the court.
She described Abdelmalek’s offense as “persistent and malicious” as she said she spent thousands of hours chasing her victims online.
“The appellant created a web of false identities and characters,” Judge Quin said.
“Despite the content of some of the material being reminiscent of a soap opera, it wasn’t fantasy – it was real and had an impact on real people.
“What may start off lightly can quickly escalate and have significant impacts on the psychological well-being of those targeted at risk.”
Abdelmalek has already served more than four months of her sentence.
Home and Away star Lincoln Lewis (pictured, with girlfriend Pandora Bonsor) made the shocking discovery in 2011 when he received a phone call from an unknown woman, who claimed they were dating