Sister Wives star Meri Brown reveals family was outraged upon learning she was 'catfished' by a woman posing as a man online

Published: 15:05 EST, 14 October 2015 | Updated: 15:37 EST, 14 October 2015

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Sister Wives star Meri Brown has revealed her family was outraged upon learning she was recently 'catfished' into a fake online relationship with a man who turned out to be a woman.

The first wife of polygamist Kody Brown said she was afraid to involve her family once she realized she had been duped, according to People.

But eventually she plucked up the courage to tell her sister wives and the family patriarch what had happened to her.

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Scammed: Sister Wives star Meri Brown says she was taken in by a fake online relationship with a person who turned out to be a woman

'I didn't know how to get out of the situation without putting myself, family, and friends at greater risk,' the 44-year-old told People. 'It was a very difficult time. I had a lot of anxiety.'

But once she told 'spiritual husband' Kody and her sister wives Janelle, Christine and Robyn they were only supportive of her.

'My family was very concerned for our safety and angry that we had been targeted,' she explained. 'They were relieved once I told them what was really going on and saddened that I had been so afraid of involving them that I didn't go to them sooner.'

Meri opened up about the scheme earlier this month with People.com: 'During an emotional and vulnerable time earlier this year, I began speaking with someone online who turned out to be not who they said they were.'

Polygamists: Kody Brown with wives Janelle, Christine, and Robyn were outraged over learning that Meri had been duped

The 44-year-old told People that she never met her online 'boyfriend', and regrets the entire situation.

The term 'catfishing' refers to people who create fake online profiles in order to trick others into online relationships, and was popularized by MTV reality show Catfish.

Meri, who is 46-year-old Kody's first, legal wife, agreed to divorce him this year so he could legally marry his fourth wife Robyn.

The polygamist patriarch says he and Meri remain 'spiritually' married. The change was thought to be so that Robyn's three children could get his health insurance and he could adopt them.

However, as a result of the shifting family dynamics, Meri has been under emotional strain.

The reality star was allegedly duped by a female catfisher, who posed online as a 42-year-old male CEO named 'Sam Cooper', according to reality blog AllAboutTheTea.

Big family: Sister Wives stars Robyn, Janelle, Meri and Christine Brown attend the opening of Mama Mia! at the Tropicana Las Vegas on May 16, 2014

The TV gossip site claims they met in person after Meri traveled to Disneyland in Los Angeles to finally meet 'Sam' this year - but instead met up with the catfish woman, who was posing as his assistant 'Lindsay' and claimed Sam couldn't make it.

They allegedly spent the day together without Meri realizing that 'Lindsay' was actually 'Jackie', who was posing as 'Sam' online.

The reality star appeared increasingly distant during the last season of the show as the divorce storyline played out.

Meri confessed to the online 'relationship' after rumors of her catfish affair had been swirling on social media.

AllABoutTheTea also published unverified voicemails it says were left by Meri for 'Sam.'

In one of them, a caller claimed to be the SisterWives star tells 'Sam' that their relationship is the most passionate one she's ever had.

The family, which also includes Kody's other 'spiritual wives' Janelle and Christine Brown, star on TNT reality show Sister Wives.

The show follows the advertising salesman as he lives with his four wives and their seventeen children in Las Vegas, Nevada.