Manitoba pastor catfished, scammed – and very much alive

A prominent victim rights activist and pastor in Manitoba wants people to know she’s alive.

Wilma Derksen says she was attempting to help a women living in Australia through a crisis. That online relationship turned into a nightmare for Derksen.

The Manitoba pastor was catfished, and rumours began circulating that she had passed away.

The rumours began after Derksen took a step back from supporting the woman in Australia who was purportedly seeking help from Derksen. The woman is now harassing her.

The Australian woman reached out in August saying she was suffering from trauma due to years of abuse, and a murder in her family.

“Of course I said yes. Because this is my work, this is my heart,” said Derksen.

Derksen is the mother of Candace Derksen, who was murdered in 1984 at the age of 13. To this day, no one has been held responsible in that death.

Wilma Dirksen, victims rights activist, targeted online with rumours of her death.

She wanted to help the Australian, who said her mother had been killed by her father, who then committed suicide. This apparently resulted in her living off food found in the trash, before eventually experiencing a miscarriage.

“And then she confessed that it was all a lie.”

As a result, Derksen had to stop communicating with the woman, and soon found herself the target of online slander. She received messages from fake accounts claiming to be authors and movie directors, and Derksen’s close friends and family including a former pastor were all told she was dead.

“And I think that’s what really alarmed me, when he got a call that I was dead, and he called Cliff to see if I was dead and was ready to give condolences… and that’s unnecessary and a very troubling kind of emotion,” she said.

Derksen hopes by going public the harassment will stop and says she has chosen a life of forgiveness and extends that forgiveness to the Australian, who Derksen believes is in need of mental health supports that she, unfortunately, can no longer provide.

“That’s the hard part of saying I would love to help you but because of our history now, I can’t anymore.”