Today is ‘Throwback Thursday’ (#tbt for you compulsive hashtaggers), which means your Facebook feed will be filled with epic humblebrags from friends reminding everyone about that awesome thing they did way back when.

We remember that you did a trail run Jessica, we liked that picture when you first posted it in 2011.

But at least she ran the thing, because Indian couple Dinesh and Tarakeshwari Rathod are accused of faking an entire Mount Everest summit. At first the press gobbled their story up, but after looking a little closer the wheels started to come off.

The Daily Beast crushing the humblebrag:

The Rathods were joyous, with the Hindustan Times reporting that the couple had put off having kids to pursue their dream climb. “We were committed that we would not give birth to a child until we climb Mt. Everest,” Dinesh Rathod told reporters at the June 5 news conference. “With pride now, we want to become parents”…

Unfortunately for the police officers from Pune, the limelight didn’t last long. By late June, reporters, climbers, and social media users began to pick apart the couple’s claims. Buzzfeed rounded up several of these alleged inaccuracies in a post that questioned the couple’s timeline and lack of preparation, as well as showed blatantly photoshopped photos.

Like this one of Tarakeshwari summiting, although her climbing gear is suddenly a different colour from other photos she appears in on the same day:

About that change in gear colour – here’s a picture hubbie Dinesh posted to his Facebook account of the team striding towards the top:

Note everyone wearing red, and then note this picture from a climbing site called Mountain Guide:

What a remarkable coincidence.

So how are they handling the unravelling of their story?

Since the news conference and allegations of fraud, the Rathods haven’t spoken to the media, save for a brief statement from Tarakeshwari Rathod to the BBC saying that they “climbed Everest.” Kathmandu-based touring company Makalu Adventure, which organized the climb, has defended the couple, with representatives confirming that two of the company’s sherpas did indeed take the couple to the summit.

Though faking a climb does not amount to a criminal offence, Nepalese authorities are reportedly investigating the claims of fraud.

Really guys, just do like every other Facebook fraud and post an inspiring travel quote written over a picture of a beautiful sunset.

Don’t forget your hashtags.

[source:dailybeast]