An e-mail hoax is now a part of the ongoing saga as Precourt Sports Venture considers moving Columbus Crew SC from its 22-year home to Austin, TX.

This week, Massive Report received copies of an e-mail exchange between President of Precourt Sports Venture Dave Greeley’s verified work e-mail (Editor’s note: the prior text was updated from the original release for clarification that these e-mails were sent to sent to Mr. Greeley) and a hoaxer discussing the recent #SaveTheCrew movement that has gained momentum since Precourt’s announcement of the possible move on Oct. 17.

Using a Gmail account to masquerade as Major League Soccer President and Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott, the hoaxer sent Greeley an email asking if PSV was sending anyone to Crew SC’s home playoff game on Tuesday.

“AP nor I will be there,” Greeley replied. “While AP has said he may never go back to CBus, he did not say it per se, but I kind of know it. I will be back in ATX.”

The hoaxer was surprised to receive a response and elected to continue the conversation.

“Probably for the best,” the hoaxer replied. “This Save the Crew thing is getting way more attention than I initially expected. I suspect you and AP feel the same?”

Greeley’s response: “Yes. We have done prelim analytics ­ very vocal minority making large share of noise. The irony is that this group ­ inch wide and a mile deep ­ is the one being let down by the broader community and corporations. PSV is the easy target. Kind of think we have not done well with getting facts and findings out there...what do you think?

On moving, this has not been a plot all along or an epiphany one morning. Few know why.”

The hoaxer: “For sure. There is a lot of misinformation and confusion out there.

Maybe this coming out via Wahl did this? They seem to be expecting a white knight to come in and buy the team to keep them in Cbus.”

Greeley: “What from Wahl?

No white knights, but in fairness to Cbus, they are REALLY GOOD at organizing. Maybe there is a scenario where they could "save the team," be the heroes, and PSV still goes to ATX? Local, local, local is everything in Cbus...exceptionally parochial.”

Hoaxer: “Wahl broke news first, so wasn't very controlled.

Cbus fans would be happy with that scenario, what about PSV?”

Greeley: “Yes ­ the broken embargo from the Dispatch. (Referencing The Dispatch releasing a now updated story on the potential move on Oct. 16 following Wahl breaking the story despite a deal to wait until PSV’s announcement the following morning)

Interesting concept maybe. Suppose everything and anything could be on the table, right?”

Hoaxer: “I don’t think the expansion cities would be happy with that solution, especially SA (San Antonio). But they weren’t getting a team this round anyway.”

This is when Greeley stopped responding to the hoaxer.

The takeaways from these e-mails are multiple. Greeley states Precourt, who was rumored to be at the knockout round win in Atlanta, may never come back to Columbus. He also says the plan was not always to move the team to Austin, nor was it a quick decision and left the door open for a potential savior for the team in Columbus.

But what this should really teach anyone is be certain you know who you are interacting with on the Internet, especially when the subject is sensitive.