. >> how do we know we are justin tribble, how do we know this is not a hoax? >> you don't. i'm kidding, you do. >> reporter: he sent what he said were the receipts for the go daddy account used to register the phoney domain name, plus correspondence between him and npr and "the huffing post" who connected with him through the e-mail address on the site. he told us he doesn't like the term hoax. >> i would call it a sort of media campaign. a way to get through and have a dialogue with a man who is essentially unacceptable. >> reporter: he claims he's a fan of osteen's but says his message is shallow. >> i didn't want to hurt the guy, i didn't want to defame him, i didn't want it necessarily to get to this level. but now that it is, i want a message to get through to this guy. tone down the cliches and get real. >> it's so easy to propagate a hoax. if you want to throw up a website, it's never been easier. you can start a rumor on twitter with a few key stokes. >> reporter: osteen is not the first, nor will he be the last, victim of an internet hoax. notre dame star linebacke

. >> my name is justin tribble. i'm from minneapolis, st.l. >> reporter: and how do we know this is justin tribble, and how do we know this is not a hoax? >> well, you don't. no, i'm kidding, you do. >> reporter: to prove it, he showed us what he said was the receipt for securing the phony website address. >> i don't agree with the term, "hoax." i think it's a ruse. it is playful. >> you've got what it takes, this is your moment, the promise is in you. >> reporter: he told us he did this because he admires osteen's skills as a preacher. >> we're not supposed to be dragging through life. get your song back. >> reporter: but doesn't like that message. >> father, give them bonuses, raises, inheritances. >> that prosperity gospel i find otiose. his sermons, it's a lot of self-help platitude. >> i really don't think that the person that did it is an enemy. i think they just had too much time on their hands and wanted to create some kind of stir. >> i didn't want to hurt god, i didn't want to defame him. i just wanted a message to get through to t

. >> my name is justin tribble i'm from minneapolis-st. tribble, and how do we know this is not a hoax? >> you don't. i'm kidding, you do. >> reporter: he showed us the receipt for securing the phony address. >> i don't agree with the term "hoax," by the way, i think it is a ruse. it is playful. >> you've got what it takes. this is your moment. the promise is in you. >> reporter: he told us he did this because he admires osteen's skills as a preacher. >> we are not supposed to be dragging through life. get your song back. >> reporter: but doesn't like that message. >> father, give them bonuses, increases, raises, inheritances. >> that prosperity gospel i find a little bit odious. his sermons, it is just a lot of self-help, platitudes. >> i really don't think that the person who did it is an enemy. i think, to me, they just have too much time on their hands and wanted to create some kind of stir. >> i didn't want to hurt the guy or defame him. i want a message to get through to this guy. tone down the cliches and get real. tribble would lik

. >> my name is justin tribble, i'm from the minnesota, st. paul area. >> how do we know you're justin? how do you know it's not a hoax? >> you do. you don't. >> reporter: we were skeptical. but we asked her to show us his driver's license, apparently legit and his connection to the story he shared other items, the godaddy receipt from registering the phony domain name. assuming you did it, why did you do it? >> i'm actually a big fan of joes osteen, i like him, i listen to him, i enjoy his sermons. i didn't want to hurt the guy. i didn't want to defame him. i want a message to get through to this guy calm down the cliches and get real. >> reporter: as for the maze of phoney websites, facebook and twitter accounts that circulated a bogus sort tribble said he doesn't like the word "hoax." >> i would call it sort of a media campaign, a way to get through and have a dialogue for a man essentially inaccessible. >> reporter: he hopes the televangelist will see this as part of god's plan. >> i think it would be nice to have a conversation with him. h