impersonation/defamation

[mysticalcynic]

What is the name of your state? Ohio

i'm having a serious problem with a member of myspace.com...if you don't know, myspace.com is an internet community where you can create a profile, post pictures, blog and communicate with other members ...he is an ex-boyfriend who is using myspace to do whatever he can to hurt me...he is doing this because i have refused to be in contact with him...specifically, he has created a profile on myspace impersonating me and using pictures of me...i used to work on a porn site (i don't any longer) and that's where these pictures came from...he stored them on my computer that i let him have when i left him...they are of a sexual nature and the profile explains that there are more explicit pictures and personal information (where i live and work) available to anyone who wants to email "me"...the profile also suggests that i am available for prostitution...he has threatened many times in the past that he is going to distribute these pictures to my family, friends and employers...his harassment (of not just me but of my friends as well) over the past 7 or 8 months has caused me to block him from sending me emails and from yahoo messenger...i've also had to change my phone number...myspace is the only place he can contact me and what he is doing there cannot possibly be legal...he will not leave me alone...please tell me what i can do about this

 

[MST]

I just went to the myspace site, and if you go to the Help link on the top, they have a section that explains how to report abuse, and specifically what to do if you are being impersonated.

 

[mysticalcynic]

I just went to the myspace site, and if you go to the Help link on the top, they have a section that explains how to report abuse, and specifically what to do if you are being impersonated.

i have contacted myspace and they have deleted the profile but isn't there anything i can do to stop him from disseminating my personal information?...isn't that invasion of privacy?...also, i do whatever i can to keep him from contacting me but he always seems to find a way to do it...can i do anything legally about that?...he has threatened that things like this will keep happening because he wants me to hurt as much as he does...he is certaintainly succeeding in causing me emotional distress and i'm always worried about what he's going to do next...do i have no legal recourse?

 

[HomeGuru]

i have contacted myspace and they have deleted the profile but isn't there anything i can do to stop him from disseminating my personal information?...isn't that invasion of privacy?...also, i do whatever i can to keep him from contacting me but he always seems to find a way to do it...can i do anything legally about that?...he has threatened that things like this will keep happening because he wants me to hurt as much as he does...he is certaintainly succeeding in causing me emotional distress and i'm always worried about what he's going to do next...do i have no legal recourse?

**A: hire an attorney and sue him.

 

[panzertanker]

he has threatened that things like this will keep happening because he wants me to hurt as much as he does...he is certaintainly succeeding in causing me emotional distress and i'm always worried about what he's going to do next...do i have no legal recourse?

Call the police and file a TRO....
Start creating a papertrail.

 

[HomeGuru]

please post a link to the site so we can confirm the "papertrail" and see if the evidence warrants the filing of a TRO.

 

[mysticalcynic]

myspace deleted the profile he made for me so i don't know what evidence you can find there homeguru...i have gone to the police before for a restraining order but they basically said i can't do anything unless he actually threatens me physically...i think that's ridiculous considering how unpredictable he is when he drinks...i can't afford to hire an attorney which is why i haven't done so thus far...i feel trapped in a loophole where the justice system will not help me...my friends tell me to go to the police but i've been there and they seem unwilling to do anything...i have archives of instant messages from him that would prove his irrationality, a tendency toward emtional/mental abuse and his threats to "expose" me (this was, of course, before i blocked him)...the more i have shut him out the more extreme his tactics...is this not considered harassment?...there ARE LAWS against that, right?...maybe i'm not communicating clearly enough to the police...what are the words they need to hear that will make them realize his behavior is not within the law?
BTW, thank you for your responses so far...i'd appreciate all the advice i can get

 

[Legally Yours]

Start creating a papertrail.

Panzertanker has it all wrong. You need to start a "snail trail."

IAAL

 

[stephenk]

are the porno photos of yourself that you let your ex have also photos that were posted on the porn site you used to work at? if yes, then you have no legal expectation of privacy and he can post them or send them to whomever he wishes.

 

[shadows]

myspace deleted the profile he made for me so i don't know what evidence you can find there homeguru...i have gone to the police before for a restraining order but they basically said i can't do anything unless he actually threatens me physically...i think that's ridiculous considering how unpredictable he is when he drinks...i can't afford to hire an attorney which is why i haven't done so thus far...i feel trapped in a loophole where the justice system will not help me...my friends tell me to go to the police but i've been there and they seem unwilling to do anything...i have archives of instant messages from him that would prove his irrationality, a tendency toward emtional/mental abuse and his threats to "expose" me (this was, of course, before i blocked him)...the more i have shut him out the more extreme his tactics...is this not considered harassment?...there ARE LAWS against that, right?...maybe i'm not communicating clearly enough to the police...what are the words they need to hear that will make them realize his behavior is not within the law?
BTW, thank you for your responses so far...i'd appreciate all the advice i can get

If you have email containing threats that is enough evidence to take to the police. If you file enough police reports eventually they will take you seriously. You have to also be determined in filing police reports against him! Take all these instant messages to the police! The more the better

 

[mysticalcynic]

If you have email containing threats that is enough evidence to take to the police. If you file enough police reports eventually they will take you seriously. You have to also be determined in filing police reports against him! Take all these instant messages to the police! The more the better

can i still file a report for physical abuse that happened over a year ago when i was living with him?

 

[mysticalcynic]

are the porno photos of yourself that you let your ex have also photos that were posted on the porn site you used to work at? if yes, then you have no legal expectation of privacy and he can post them or send them to whomever he wishes.

they are of both varieties and stored my computer that i let him keep