Personal Ad Gone Wrong...

LearnedMyLesson submitted 403 days ago

I thought it would be really "funny" to play a "prank" on someone at work who had pissed me off. I decided to create a fake on-line personal ad for this girl(not a sex web site or anything like that). All the content I used to create the ad was bogus - even the picture I placed on line was some random picture I found on the web - and I have to note that it wasn't obscene!

Well, the picture and ad worked and men began to write to me. I would write them back but sign the e-mail with this girl's name and then give out her phone number for the men to call her.

In a weekend, she must have gotten 10 calls from various men, all because I gave out her number. She started to freak out and she called the police.

About a week later, I am pulled into HR at work b/c the police investigated the case and the personal ad ISP led back to my computer at work. I was busted. I didn't try to hide what I did and fessed up right away. I was encouraged to "leave" or I would be fired - so I resigned. I knew this was the right thing to do anyhow.

Well, it gets worse.....

Charges were pressed against me for identity theft and harrassment. The story even made the local newspapers and evening news. This was the worst part of all! The police said I stole her identity by pretending to be her through e-mail - (even though most people think ID theft has to do with SS numbers and all that kind of information.) The laws in my state say ID theft is when you take ANY personal information and commit a crime with it. They said I used her name to commit the crime of harrassment. YIKES!

I didn't fight the charges, much to my lawyer's dismay. I ended up with community service and 2 years probation. The charges were then wiped off my record after the two years.

I sure have learned my lesson and to be honest, I felt AWFUL about what I did. I truly didn't mean any harm but I understand it was a mean thing to do. In any case, I know I officially "resigned" but we all know I would have been fired anyhow. I was so embarrassed by what I did and very few people know about it now. My new job doesn't know either, and I would never tell anyone for fear of being fired "again." My boss would totally flip out since we are such a small business.