Can I ask the police to carry out an investigation to know if a profile is fake and they are using photos of a minor?

[leslygonzl]

Florida
I saw a profile on social media which I think that is fake and there are photos of someone who I think that is a minor, but I'm not sure

 

[Just Blue]

Florida
I saw a profile on social media which I think that is fake and there are photos of someone who I think that is a minor, but I'm not sure

Why do you care if someone is using a fake profile?

 

[Mass_Shyster]

You can ask the police anything you want, but keep in mind that they are under no obligation to conduct an investigation at your request. (Unless they work for you)

 

[quincy]

Florida
I saw a profile on social media which I think that is fake and there are photos of someone who I think that is a minor, but I'm not sure

On what social media site did you see the photos? Most sites have “report” features. You can simply report the profile you think is fake and the photos you think are of a minor.

If the photos are of an obscene nature, a report to the police would be a good idea. They will investigate the publication of pornographic material involving minors. Otherwise they probably have no interest or resources enough to investigate.

 

[zddoodah]

Can I ask the police to carry out an investigation to know if a profile is fake and they are using photos of a minor?

I'm at a loss to understand how you might think the answer to this question could possibly be anything other than yes. Anyone "can ask" anyone to do anything. If your intent was to ask whether one of the hundreds of police departments in Florida might investigate a fake social media profile, that's not something the anonymous strangers at this site can answer intelligently. That said, I would hope it obvious that, in the abstract, fake social media profiles are not generally going to be of interest to most law enforcement agencies.

Are there perhaps facts that you didn't share that you think might make this a criminal matter in which the police might be interested?

 

[Just Blue]

I'm at a loss to understand how you might think the answer to this question could possibly be anything other than yes. Anyone "can ask" anyone to do anything. If your intent was to ask whether one of the hundreds of police departments in Florida might investigate a fake social media profile, that's not something the anonymous strangers at this site can answer intelligently. That said, I would hope it obvious that, in the abstract, fake social media profiles are not generally going to be of interest to most law enforcement agencies.

Are there perhaps facts that you didn't share that you think might make this a criminal matter in which the police might be interested?

OP may be one of the many "one hit wonders" that posts here. She was on this morning and didn't bother to answer the questions asked.

 

[quincy]

... Anyone "can ask" anyone to do anything. If your intent was to ask whether one of the hundreds of police departments in Florida might investigate a fake social media profile, that's not something the anonymous strangers at this site can answer intelligently. That said, I would hope it obvious that, in the abstract, fake social media profiles are not generally going to be of interest to most law enforcement agencies.

Are there perhaps facts that you didn't share that you think might make this a criminal matter in which the police might be interested?

The word “can” is commonly used by posters on this forum to ask about the legality of doing something and not about their ability to do something, just as “can” is commonly used by people in everyday life to ask for permission (e.g., “Can I get you something from the store?”).

It really isn’t hard to know what is meant.

 

[HighwayMan]

In 8th grade if someone asked my English teacher "can I go to the bathroom" his response was "I don't know, can you?"

 

[quincy]

In 8th grade if someone asked my English teacher "can I go to the bathroom" his response was "I don't know, can you?"

So your teacher was obnoxious too, huh?

I have a difficult time with people who know what someone means and decides to play teacher. If the person is your child, fine. Correct your child. If the person is an adult seeking help for a legal problem, not so fine.

(edited)

 

[HighwayMan]

So you were obnoxious too, huh?

Me? No, I learned pretty quickly to ask "may I go to the bathroom".

 

[quincy]

Sorry, HighwayMan. I read your post wrong so I corrected my response to read “your teacher.” I didn’t think you would be that obnoxious - so I am glad it is only my reading skills that need work.

This forum is not a classroom and the people who come here for advice are not looking for a grammar lesson. They are looking for legal information and advice. The frequent lectures on “can” have become more than a little tiresome.

 

[Just Blue]

To be fair, in the law words matter. Can/may/should/could relay different meaning to a legal question.

 

[quincy]

To be fair, in the law words matter. Can/may/should/could relay different meaning to a legal question.

I agree words matter, not only in law. It is pretending to misunderstand the intent of the writer that is annoying.

 

[leslygnzl]

On what social media site did you see the photos? Most sites have “report” features. You can simply report the profile you think is fake and the photos you think are of a minor.

If the photos are of an obscene nature, a report to the police would be a good idea. They will investigate the publication of pornographic material involving minors. Otherwise they probably have no interest or resources enough to investigate.

I am the one who posted the questions, I forgot my email. There are some photos of that girl in underwear. Then, will the police investigate the profile although I am not sure she is a minor?

 

[cbg]

No one can guarantee whether the police will or will not investigate such a report. They might. They might not.