Fact check
“The To Catch a Predator host's real-world copycats are even more reckless.”
Reasoning
The claim is directly supported by three excerpts from the WIRED article, which describe the copycats as "more reckless" and attribute this to their pursuit of virality and lack of organization. No contradictory evidence was provided.
On confidence: Multiple excerpts from a reputable source (WIRED) explicitly state that copycats of the To Catch a Predator host are more reckless, citing their virality-driven behavior.
Important context
The assessment is based solely on the WIRED article, which references a 2022 Washington Post investigation identifying at least 160 such copycat operations in the US.
Evidence
Supporting (3)
- Tier 1 — Primary source‘Primetime’ Exposes the Ego-Driven Core of Vigilante Pedophile Hunting | WIRED
Manisha Krishnan Culture Sep 25, 2026 6:45 AM Primetime Exposes the Ego-Driven Core of Vigilante Pedophile Hunting Lance Oppenheim’s new film doesn’t paint Chris Hansen as a hero. The To Catch a Predator host's real-world copycats are even…
- Tier 1 — Primary source‘Primetime’ Exposes the Ego-Driven Core of Vigilante Pedophile Hunting | WIRED
the people running these operations are more reckless, in part because they’re driven by virality. One of them, who goes by Skeet Hansen, was featured in the 2025 MTV documentary Predators , about the Dateline show. In the film, directed…
- Tier 1 — Primary source‘Primetime’ Exposes the Ego-Driven Core of Vigilante Pedophile Hunting | WIRED
predators he’s outing, Hansen smiles and admits that what he does by disgracing them on national television is “a little worse.” In real life, Hansen cofounded the streaming service Trublu in November 2022, where he continues his…
Limitations
The evidence is limited to a single media outlet's reporting; no independent verification beyond the article's citations is available.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:12 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
‘Primetime’ Exposes the Ego-Driven Core of Vigilante Pedophile HuntingWired · Manisha Krishnan