"It just seemed like a guy trying to get close to Manti either for money or notoriety," said Alema Te'o, Manti's uncle, after he met Tuiasosopo before the USC game against Notre Dame.

Teo's uncle and others accused Tuiasosopo of seeking financial gain -- the motivation of most romance scammers and cyber criminals.

Acklin said he's skeptical of that, but has a deeper concern for those willing to deceive at any cost.

"We use the term psychopath or sociopath to describe somebody who acts without a conscience," he said.

"I'm so confused. I'm so lost," Tuiasosopo told Dr. Phil.

Acklin said the motivation, the mind-set of a man such as Tuiasosopo, may take years to unravel.

Criminal or just Confused.

We may never know.

"I think remains to be seen, because the Internet is a world where there's an invitation to do that," said Acklin.

"What I went through was real. The feelings, the pain, the sorrow. That was all real. That's something I can't fake," said Te'o.