Accused of Child Grooming on Omegle

My question involves police conduct in the State of: Massachusetts. Hi, I am a 16 year old kid (male) who went for the first time on the video chat website called omegle. I came across a user with a blank video screen. The person claimed to be a female. Since the goal of most people on omegle is to find a person of the opposite sex to interact with, I went with it. Then she said she was thirteen. Obviously, I have no interest in pursuing sexually a 13 year old. Here is what happened: She said she was thirteen. I said "God" because I was surprised that she is so young. Then I said "video?" Because I wasn't inclined to be leave this person... Why would a person not have their webcam on in a webcam chat unless for fishy reasons? So she said "yes" and then I said "so what are you trying to get out of this", or something like that, planning on letting her know that I obviously have no sexual interest in a thirteen year old, and sort of expected that that's what the person was after. Then, the person responded saying something about an Australian police investigator and that I had been caught grooming a 13 year old and that my IP address had been recorded etc.
This is really freaking me out. Basically, I want to know if this is at all legit, because it could very well be a nasty prank. First, could the Australians persecute me? Second, is what happened at all illegal? Third, is this a legitimate thing that the Australians do? Thank you

First, as a disclaimer, this forum only deals with US law.

Second, No one is buying your story about what your intentions when you said Video? and What are you trying to get out of this.

Third, stop trying to dirty talk with strangers online. Definitely stop talking to anyone of inappropriate age online

Finally, it is most likely a prank or scam, it is extremely unlikely there is any truth behind it.

First, thanks for your help. I don't really understand why you don't believe my story, but also don't necessarily care. I will say it again, what reason would I have for pursuing a 13 year old girl on a website which is abundant with people my age and older? As to your advice to stop this kind of activity, I have already promised myself to stay away from this kind of thing. It was definitely enough to scare me away. If you wouldn't mind, could you tell me if this was illegal? Whether you believe my motives or not, I have provided, I think, the entirety of the conversation. It would definitely put me at ease to know. Thanks again.

I removed my then-14 year old nephew's Compuserve access because he was trying to convince a couple of local girls that he was Prince William.

I kid you not.

You've been scammed. Ask yourself this: Why would the Australian authorities be telling me that I'm guilty of something when my IP address says nothing about who is using my computer or may even be spoofed?

Ok, thanks for your help

if it was a legitimate police investigation they would not tell you, they would have had a very young looking female officer come on the video chat and see if you tried to commit a crime.

you would have found out it was a sting weeks or months later when your door got kicked in and you got dragged to jail at 3AM

had you stayed on the chat you would have been solicited for cash to "make this go away" or to "pay your fine"

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Quoting CulusDeorum

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If you wouldn't mind, could you tell me if this was illegal?

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In the U.S. you wouldn't have incriminated yourself with what you said. So no, you haven't done anything illegal. On the other side of the pond thou, your guess is as good as anyone on this forum.

So it looks like you will have to wait and see if anything becomes of this.

The other side of the pond.

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Australian Criminal Code Act 1995 section 474.26 and 474.27 prohibits the use of a "carrier service" to communicate with the intent to procure a person under the age of 16, or expose such a person to any indecent matter for the purposes of grooming.

The various states and territories have similar laws, some of which use a different age (for example the victim only has to be under 18 in Queensland).

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