Impersonating Somebody Online

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Ohio. I had done something stupid yes I impersonated being someone else online to catfish a girl into sending pictures.

She only sent two one of just butt and other in bra and sweat pants. Neither photo even had her face showing.

She was not a minor, I did not in any way threaten to release the pictures nor did I download myself. She found out though I was a fake and states she is going to the police.

As I did not impersonate a police officer, or promise anything in return for the pictures and she sent them willingly will I be safe or should I start looking into legal help right away?

Also I impersonated a random person, was not an ex or anyone she knew at all

Research lawyers but don't contact any unless you are actually charged with something. If you are charged with something, then contact the lawyer you've chosen.

Also, do not contact her or respond to her in any way.

Do you think there is a good chance I would be charged with something?

Since she is an adult and it appears the person you impersonated is not somebody she would have sent such pictures to because of who they were, probably not.

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Quoting jk

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Since she is an adult and it appears the person you impersonated is not somebody she would have sent such pictures to because of who they were, probably not.

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Which is why you shouldn't start paying a lawyer yet - because you probably won't need one.

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Quoting eerelations

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Which is why you shouldn't start paying a lawyer yet - because you probably won't need one.

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Well that's good to hear for sure. Truth be told as she cut off her head in the photos I don't even know if it was her. But I got really really panicky.

My crystal ball tells me she's gonna contact you at some point and say "Oh OK I won't call the cops if you send me $X." Save the text but don't respond to it. She will give up and go away eventually.

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Quoting Rock Knocker

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Is there a law against what you did? And is she going to go to the police in Ohio, or nearer her home in the Ukraine:rolleyes:

And how do you know that she isn't a he sitting in a basement in Kiev trying to figure out how to catfish money out of you?

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Well I actually know for a fact she does live in Ohio. I know who she is

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Quoting Sylent09

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Well I actually know for a fact she does live in Ohio. I know who she is

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So this is not a random encounter, but you scheming up a way to get photographs from a specific person you know by pretending to be somebody else, that somebody else being a real person?

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Quoting Mr. Knowitall

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So this is not a random encounter, but you scheming up a way to get photographs from a specific person you know by pretending to be somebody else, that somebody else being a real person?

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Correct but not a real person she knows at all

That...could change things.

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Quoting cbg

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That...could change things.

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Sure does! OP, please ignore everything I said to you previously. You need to hire a lawyer RIGHT NOW!!!

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Quoting eerelations

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Sure does! OP, please ignore everything I said to you previously. You need to hire a lawyer RIGHT NOW!!!

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Wait wait what does this change????

The person I impersonated does not know her and she does not know the person who I impersonated. Plus she never even sent a nude photo or anything just one with only a butt and one only showing a bra face not showing or anything.

Basically she was just chatting with a complete stranger in her mind

I don't know about everyone else, but when I read your post earlier I assumed that SHE was a complete stranger to YOU. The fact that she was not, is important. Whether or not the person you impersonated is a stranger to HER is unimportant.

Does she know you other than through this encounter?

what sort of relationship is there between the two of you?

this might be a stalking or harassment matter, depending on the relationship between the both of you.

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Quoting jk

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Does she know you other than through this encounter?

what sort of relationship is there between the two of you?

this might be a stalking or harassment matter, depending on the relationship between the both of you.

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We are just friends

I - like everyone else here - based our responses on the apparent fact that you didn't know her and that she - a total stranger to you - sent pics to some random guy you made up. The fact that you know her and you impersonated someone specifically in order to get pics from her changes things COMPLETELY. As jk says, this very well could be considered stalking and/or harassment. You need a lawyer.

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Quoting Sylent09

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We are just friends

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You need a lawyer.

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Quoting eerelations

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I - like everyone else here - based our responses on the apparent fact that you didn't know her and that she - a total stranger to you - sent pics to some random guy you made up. The fact that you know her and you impersonated someone specifically in order to get pics from her changes things COMPLETELY. As jk says, this very well could be considered stalking and/or harassment. You need a lawyer.



You need a lawyer.

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Any suggestions of where to search on a limited income to get one prepared and ready?

Call your State Bar Association, your local Legal Aide, or any law schools in your area for referrals.

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Quoting eerelations

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Research lawyers but don't contact any unless you are actually charged with something. If you are charged with something, then contact the lawyer you've chosen.

Also, do not contact her or respond to her in any way.

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And do not try and talk yourself out of trouble with the police. Do not talk to the police at all.

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Quoting Sylent09

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She was not a minor,

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That's a big relief for you...

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Quoting Sylent09

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I did not in any way threaten to release the pictures nor did I download myself.

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Did you threaten in any way to get the pictures? I don't see a girl sending pictures of them self to a random guy on the internet for know good reason at all. Explain how you got her to send the pictures. Did you impersonate a talent or modeling agency?

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Quoting Sylent09

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She found out though I was a fake and states she is going to the police.

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Explain who you were impersonation. It helps us understand what if any crime was committed.

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Quoting Sylent09

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As I did not impersonate a police officer, or promise anything in return for the pictures and she sent them willingly will I be safe or should I start looking into legal help right away?

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She sent them willingly? I thought you said you did something stupid to catfish her into sending the pictures? So, did she send them free and willingly, or did you (in your own words) catfish her?

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Quoting Who'sThatGuy

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I don't see a girl sending pictures of them self to a random guy on the internet for know good reason at all.

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you must be a lot older than me. There are kids doing stupid stuff like that every day. Hell, there’s an app (and a very popular one mind you) designed to connect people with complete strangers for random sexual encounters. It’s not what the app advertises itself as but the people using it know what it’s for.

Damn, I just realized how low our society has sunk.

Well I got a hold of a lawyer who told me he finds it extremely unlikely I need a lawyer at all. He said he really doubts she'd go to the cops is because all she can say is she chose to take the picture, and she chose to send it to a stranger not knowing for sure who it even was and figures most police wouldn't pursue that further as nothing was offered in exchange and no threats were given in any way.

Does that possibly sound right?

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Quoting Sylent09

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Well I got a hold of a lawyer who told me he finds it extremely unlikely I need a lawyer at all. He said he really doubts she'd go to the cops is because all she can say is she chose to take the picture, and she chose to send it to a stranger not knowing for sure who it even was and figures most police wouldn't pursue that further as nothing was offered in exchange and no threats were given in any way.

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If she figures out that it's you, all bets are off. It's not only that she could go to the police -- she could potentially seek a restraining order against you. She could also embarrass you with the truth -- what will your family, peers and potentially your employers do if they learned about your conduct?

It was a bad idea.

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Quoting jk

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you must be a lot older than me. There are kids doing stupid stuff like that every day. Hell, there’s an app (and a very popular one mind you) designed to connect people with complete strangers for random sexual encounters. It’s not what the app advertises itself as but the people using it know what it’s for.

Damn, I just realized how low our society has sunk.

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I guess... I was looking at it at a different point of view.

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Quoting Sylent09

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Well I got a hold of a lawyer who told me he finds it extremely unlikely I need a lawyer at all. He said he really doubts she'd go to the cops is because all she can say is she chose to take the picture, and she chose to send it to a stranger not knowing for sure who it even was and figures most police wouldn't pursue that further as nothing was offered in exchange and no threats were given in any way.

Does that possibly sound right?

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It all depends on facts that you are not sharing with us. You asked a lawyer, he gave you an answer. If you shared the facts with that lawyer, then it looks like he would be correct and you need no further comment from us.