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Chat Room Police Sting?

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fmylife

Junior Member
I live in Texas and I was on the chat site omegle.com. I was talking to a girl and she offered me "dirty pics." Being a teenaged boy, I said yeah. I got hit with some legal-ese saying that what I just did was illegal and that my IP address has been recorded. I am 18 and the girl I was talking to was 17. Was what I did illegal? If so, what kind of consequences are we talking here? I'm pretty scared.
 


CdwJava

Senior Member
That's not the typical police method of operation. I would not panic until or unless the police or the FBI come calling.

If you have the opportunity, you might consult an attorney.
 

fmylife

Junior Member
The legal-ese was very specific and sighted sub-sections of all sorts of things that I am not familiar with. It looked really official. Could it just be a really in depth prank?
 

ErinGoBragh

Senior Member
It's called "baiting". It's when people go out and screw with pedophiles in order to try to scare them off of the internet for some period of time.

You're probably okay. It sounds very much like one of two typical baiting reveals..
 

CdwJava

Senior Member
I agree, it's someone self-policing or pulling your chain. This is not the way the police do this sort of thing.
 

CavemanLawyer

Senior Member
If the photos sent involved nudity or simulated/actual sex acts then the crime would be possession of child pornography. In Texas child porn applies to anyone under the age of 18, and there is no exception for individuals close in age. Technically, a couple of juveniles could exchange pictures and they could both be prosecuted.

But as others said, it sounds like a chat room renegade trying to scare people off the internet. There is no way police would conduct a scheme like that and there are particular things about what you said that definitely would not be done by police.
 

justalayman

Senior Member
but do take it as a warning as to how easy it is for you to break the law and get caught. If it had been the police, they most likely would be showing up on your doorstep with a search warrant and not give you any warning.
 

fmylife

Junior Member
Thanks guys. You've been a lot of help. I'm not as worried, anymore. And I've learned a bit of a lesson.
 

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