Creating Fictitious Online Accounts

[mhmr2011]

Is it illegal to create a facebook/myspace account in a fictitious name and carry on conversations with other people? There was no criminal intent, no fraud or solicitation of any kind, merely lies about the situation or circumstances that this character was involved in.

The end result was emotional distress when the 'real' person discovered the person they had been chatting with was not an actual being.

 

[army judge]

Caveat emptor, dude, caveat emptor.

Its the internet, dude!

If things are as you say, I see no legal problems in your future.

 

[mhmr2011]

It was intended to be a source of encouragement for one individual - and actually was, until the 'fictitious being' was ratted out.

What about phone calls linked to this account? Phone calls made or recieved by this fictitious person to the person they were attempting to encourage?

 

[army judge]

It was intended to be a source of encouragement for one individual - and actually was, until the 'fictitious being' was ratted out.

What about phone calls linked to this account? Phone calls made or recieved by this fictitious person to the person they were attempting to encourage?

If you are ever asked about this, you might want to say nothing.

Don't admit, don't deny, say nothing.

You know nothing about any Good Samaritan, other than what you've read about in The Bible.

 

[mightymoose]

No, it is not illegal. Not the least bit. Lying is not a crime unless you are under oath or making a criminal complaint... or if there is some legitimate kind of fraud involved, which this isn't.
You have nothing to worry about.

 

[jharris352]

I don't think it is illegal, but it could be the civil tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress.