Image copyright 'Phuc Dat Bich' Image caption The man had thanked people who were supportive of "certain names that populate in different cultures" 
 
 An Australian who made global headlines after saying he was fighting to use his real name on Facebook, admits it was hoax. 
 
 The man had claimed Facebook would not allow his real name as it could be considered offensive. 
 
 But he later said on Facebook his real name was "Joe Carr" (or perhaps joker). 
 
 He said what had started as a joke between friends "became a prank that made a fool out of the media". 
 
 But he said it also brought out the best in people and gave encouragement to people with "truly interesting and idiosyncratic names". 
 
 The hoaxer is of Vietnamese origin. His name was given as Phuc Dat Bich - when properly pronounced in Vietnamese, which is a tonal language, it sounds like "Phoo Da Bi". 
 
 Facebook have not responded to BBC requests for comment. 
 
 Phooled by a Joe Carr - Nga Pham, BBC Vietnamese 
 
 I have to admit I fell for the prank by Mr Bich Phuc Joe, or whoever he is. 
 
 In the newsroom, dealing day-in-day-out with news that's often about disasters, both natural and man-made, the story of an unfortunately named person who thanked the community for their support seemed appealing. 
 
 Being Vietnamese, I knew that Bich was not a common surname (but not impossible) in Vietnam, but many immigrants change their names or get them in the wrong order when registering in their new countries. Vietnamese names are highly confusing to say the least. 
 
 After the story came out on the BBC News website, I received many emails from readers saying it had made them laugh - I hope they are still laughing now, even though we've all been hoaxed. 
 
 Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Nga Pham explained how the name is really pronounced in Vietnamese 
 
 The Facebook user, whose profile still shows him as Phuc Dat Bich, had said back in January that he found it "highly irritating the fact that nobody seems to believe me when I say that my full legal name is how you see it". 
 
 He posted a picture of his passport showing his name, and said he had had his Facebook account "shut down multiple times". Posts under that name date back to at least 2014. 
 
 'Levity and humanity' 
 
 The story was picked up last week - first by social media then by the world's media, including by the BBC. 
 
 Earlier this week, he even went as far as thanking his supporters, saying he hoped he had "played a part in brightening your days". 
 
 But in a surprise on Wednesday he said: "Do you remember the story; The boy who cried wolf? 
 
 "Imagine that boy grew up into a mischievous man with 21st Century technology at his finger tips. 
 
 "What started as a joke between friends, became a prank that made a fool out of the media. 
 
 Image copyright Facebook Image caption Mr Phuc received thousands of new followers over the weekend 
 
 But he also said Facebook "needs to understand that it is utterly impossible to legitimise a place where there will always be pranksters and tricksters". 
 
 Mr Bich/Carr said his "ordeal" had taught him "not to trust the credibility of the media" and that it "goes to show that an average joe like myself can con the biggest news sources with ease". 
 
 But he also praised the response to his prank saying it "didn't bring out the anger and darkness that we often see on the internet, but it brought a levity and humanity in a time we need it most." 
 
 It is not clear if he photoshopped his passport. Physically altering a valid passport would be illegal. 
 
 Update 27 November 2015: This story has been amended to remove references to the man's name from the headline. 

 UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 8:07 p.m.: Phuc Dat Bich's real name has been revealed to Mashable by a former school friend. 
 
 The Australian-Vietnamese man known globally as "Phuc Dat Bich" has admitted on Facebook his story is a hoax. 
 
 Following this, a schoolmate from Deer Park Secondary College in Melbourne contacted Mashable with a school photo and proof that Phuc Dat Bich's real name is Thien Nguyen. 
 
 This corroborates with research that linked the number plate of the Subaru shown repeatedly on Phuc Dat Bich's Facebook page with a cached version of an ad on carpoint.com.au. Thien was listed as the person selling the same car in September this year. 
 
 The Facebook message from Nguyen's classmate. 
 
 The Melbourne resident, who on Facebook now claims his name is "Joe Carr" — as in Joker — created a stir around the globe after proclaiming his Facebook account had been blocked due to his name, which could be seen as offensive when read phonetically in American English. 
 
 "I find it highly irritating the fact that nobody seems to believe me when I say that my full legal name is how you see it," he wrote in January. "I've been accused of using a false and misleading name of which I find very offensive. Is it because I'm Asian? Is it? Having my fb shut down multiple times and forced to change my name to my 'real' name." 
 
 To prove his name was not a hoax, he supplied a photo of a passport on Facebook. It can now be assumed it is a photoshopped version. 
 
 I find it highly irritating the fact that nobody seems to believe me when I say that my full legal name is how you see... Posted by Phuc Dat Bich on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 
 
 Earlier this week, news sites around the world jumped on the story — including a mention in an analysis piece by Mashable — creating a somewhat viral sensation. Phuc Dat Bitch, as he was known at the time, lapped up the attention. 
 
 "I'd like to mention that I am very grateful to those who have been supportive of certain names that populate in different cultures. We live in a diverse and multicultural society and the fact that there are people out there who are supportive and encouraging really makes me happy," he wrote on Facebook on Monday. 
 
 "I've never ranted nor wept that my post would get this sort of exposure. But I am glad and honoured to be able to make people happy by simply making them laugh at something that appears outrageous and ridiculous." 
 
 In recent days, his account started to unravel. Australian journalist Trevor Long posted a story on his search for answers, while I received radio silence from the man himself, a "lol" from his friend on Facebook and a story about a cat from another acquaintance. 
 
 On Wednesday afternoon, Phuc Dat Bich must have got sick of ignoring the questions of journalists and owned up. With a spiel about making a fool of the media, by essentially refusing to offer the truth, he praised his own story for raising awareness for those with culturally specific names. 
 
 "I've never believed it's necessary for it to be mandatory to have your entire name to be published on social media. People should be free to use any name they desire. Facebook needs to understand that it is utterly impossible to legitimise a place where there will always be pranksters and tricksters," he wrote as the reasoning behind his prank. 
 
 Do you remember the story; The boy who cried wolf? Imagine that boy grew up into a mischievous man with 21st century... Posted by Phuc Dat Bich on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 
 
 "Phuc Dat Bich" has been contacted for comment. Passports Australia has also been contacted for comment. 

 Phuc Dat Bich posted a picture of his passport on Facebook to prove it was his real name. (Facebook) 
 
 An Australian man styling himself as Phuc Dat Bich has revealed his name was a hoax that fooled media organisations around the world after being contacted by SBS. 
 
 The Australian man who went public defending his supposedly Vietnamese name, Phuc Dat Bich, has revealed it was a hoax. 
 
 In a post on his Facebook page the man, who now identifies only as 'Joe Carr', states that this Vietnamese gag name had started out as a joke. 
 
 SBS News has been unable to verify if 'Joe Carr' is his real name. 
 
 His post comes hours after SBS News contacted him with concerns about the veracity of his name. 
 
 A screengrab SBS journalist Biwa Kwan's message to the man styling himself as Phuc Dat Bich. (Facebook) A screengrab SBS journalist Biwa Kwan's message to the man styling himself as Phuc Dat Bich. 
 
 A screengrab of the man styling himself as Phuc Dat Bich's response to SBS journalist Biwa Kwan. (Facebook) A screengrab of the man styling himself as Phuc Dat Bich's response to SBS journalist Biwa Kwan. 
 
 SBS's Vietnamese program found his name was highly unlikely to be real, given the name Bich was never used as a surname. 
 
 "What started as a joke between friends, became a prank that made a fool out of the media and brought out the best in the people who reached out to me," he wrote. 
 
 "It didn't bring out the anger and darkness that we often see on the internet, but it brought a levity and humanity in a time we need it most. 
 
 "Out of this ordeal I've concluded not to trust the credibility of the media, it's twisted by the hungry journalists who mask the truth. 
 
 "I just want those who are reading this to take a step back and reflect what the media have claimed about me. 'What was his parents thinking?' Funny right?" 
 
 News organisations around the world, including SBS, the BBC, The Sydney Morning Herald, Fox News and The Daily Telegraph ran his story, promoting his alleged bid for acceptance of his name. 
 
 He even posted up a picture of what he said was his passport to prove it was his real name. 
 
 The man said he stood by those who did have culturally diverse surnames. 
 
 "To those who do have culturally specific and spectacular names, ignore the ignorance in those who may try to put you down," he wrote. 
 
 "Continue being the best person you can be and make your mark on the world in whatever way you can - even if it is a simple prank." 
 
 Joe Carr, aka Phuc Dat Bich's, Facebook post. (Facebook) Joe Carr, aka Phuc Dat Bich's, Facebook post. 
 
 Read his full confession below: 
 
 Do you remember the story; The boy who cried wolf? 
 
 Imagine that boy grew up into a mischievous man with 21st century technology at his finger tips. 
 
 I've never believed it's necessary for it to be mandatory to have your entire name to be published on social media. People should be free to use any name they desire. Facebook needs to understand that it is utterly impossible to legitimise a place where there will always be pranksters and tricksters.
– As the Sydney Morning Herald puts it, Phuc Dat Bich "faked dat" name. The 23-year-old Australian who convinced the world that his awkward-sounding name had resulted in Facebook shutting down his account now says the whole thing was a hoax. He apparently spilled the beans after SBS News contacted him with doubts about his story, noting that a passport photo he provided was Photoshopped and the name "Bich" isn't a common Vietnamese surname. "What started as a joke between friends became a prank that made a fool out of the media," he wrote on Facebook Wednesday, identifying himself as Joe Carr—or possibly "joker," per the BBC. He tells the Herald his name is actually Tin Le, while Mashable identifies him by way of a supposed former classmate as Thien Nguyen. The Herald notes he asked to be called "Mr. T" for fear that he would lose his job. He says the ruse began "with me fooling Facebook, it then somehow shared across the pages." The "ordeal" taught him "not to trust the credibility of the media," the prankster adds. "It goes to show that an average joe like myself can con the biggest news sources with ease." He also thanks the people who stood by him, even though it was all for naught. "To those who do have culturally specific and spectacular names, ignore the ignorance in those who may try to put you down," he says. "Continue being the best person you can be and make your mark on the world in whatever way you can—even if it is a simple prank." (Click for a list of major Internet hoaxes, complete with pictures.)