"Despite the efforts of major news organisations, bloggers and enterprising individuals on the internet and Twitter, no one – journalist, activist, friend or Facebook contact – has been identified who has ever spoken to Araf face to face. Sandra Bagaria, a French Canadian had exchanged more than 500 emails with her, but on the one occasion she had tried to speak to her in person she got no answer. A reporter from NPR would later call the number and reach a pharmacy in Damascus. They had never heard of Araf. ... But if the Gay Girl in Damascus is indeed a hoax, it is a fantastically elaborate one. Cached pages on social media and dating websites suggest "Amina Araf" has an internet identity dating back at least to 2007."