OP never mentioned online dating; the brother is only 16, this was probably on Facebook or another social media platform. Also, regardless of where it happened, it's severely ******* creepy that OP's husband, a grown man, was catfishing a 16 year old boy. For over a year. A whole manner of criminal things could be happening here, OP's brother could've sent nudes etc. It's all kinds of ****** up and I hope that husband becomes an ex.

This isn't a prank, it wasn't well thought out because the husband obviously didn't consider how much people could be hurt by this, especially the brother, he basically destroyed this 16yr olds' trust. It also takes really little effort to catfish someone, showing again that this wasn't a "well thought out prank," and it just plain isn't funny, and pranks are supposed to be funny. It also lasted for a YEAR, that's not a prank, it's psychological deception and manipulation, of a kid family member no less. I find a few people on hear don't understand that this is not only emotional abuse, but could be potentially criminal if the husband was conversing sexually with the brother, which is often what happens with catfishing. This is disturbing, not impressive or funny at all.