UNC student working to take back her online identity

It is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill junior’s call for help to the Internet.

Shotwell is searching for the person who is using pictures of her for an online dating profile she did not create.

"They probably obtained them from my Facebook profile because I did not have my profile pictures on private then," she said.

The phony account was listed under the name Kim.

Shotwell decided to search for the culprit by using the same tool that caused the problem - the Internet.

Her story and a call for help were posted on a blog and has been seen tens of thousands of times.

"I know this is a long shot, but if we could find the imposter, I could salvage my virtual identity," she said.

Many have responded. Most have recounted similar happenings.

"All of social media has been very, very receptive of my story," she said.

Shotwell, who is studying mass communication and journalism, has turned her journey into a paper.

"I do want to know who is behind the account," she said. "We have talked about it a lot in class."