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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Falsely accused of crime on FB

86 replies

falselyaccused · 18/10/2021 21:11

I've put this in legal too but posting here for traffic:

I was in a shopping centre on the weekend and had finished my shopping in a popular clothes shop. As I was exiting the store, the alarm sounded and I was asked by a security guard to stand aside and allow him to check my bags which I was happy to comply with. As expected, no stolen items were found in my bag and the security guard actually said the alarm might’ve gone off by mistake, or someone could’ve timed their exit with mine to increase their chances of getting away with theft. I though it was all okay until I got home and decided to check FB later in the day. Imagine my shock to find very clear photos of me having my bags searched by the security guard at the store which someone had taken. They accused me of theft and warned other people to stay away from me if they saw me in the street! The post had a gazillion replies of shock and people lamenting about how the area was going to the dogs, etc. I reported the post and it got taken down but I’ve had people who recognised me in the photos contacting me and asking wtf was going on?!

I’m livid and want to know if I can take legal action against this person for defamation of character/slander? I tried following their profile link but it doesn’t seem to exist anymore or I’ve been blocked from it.

Can anyone help?

OP posts:

Cheeseandlobster · 18/10/2021 21:19

I don't have any advice but I am raging on your behalf. How fucking dare they? It's like people who see a road collision and the first thing they think about is taking photos for Facebook likes. It's truly disgusting. Perhaps get a friend to see if they can find the post to see if you have been blocked from it?

Original poster

falselyaccused · 18/10/2021 21:22

Tell me about it. I sat on it all day thinking it was some fantasist looking to cause alarm in the community and getting it and to be the bigger person and let it go but the more I think about it, the more fucking enraged I become! I've already told those who've been in touch what actually happened but for the rest of the village, if they ever recognise me in the flesh (they will because the photos are so fucking clear), they'll be thinking I'm about to snatch their bag or something.

Friends have screenshots of the post as have I.

OP posts:

Pinkchocolate · 18/10/2021 21:22

I don’t have any advice either but this is awful and I really hope someone has some thing useful to offer.
Search the Facebook profile without being signed in, it’ll come up even if you’re blocked.

HirplesWithHaggis · 18/10/2021 21:23

If you have a spare £100k or so, sue away. If not, you'll just have to wait for it all to blow over.

Sparklesocks · 18/10/2021 21:26

Did they post it on their personal Facebook as a status update type thing or in a local Facebook group? If it’s the latter you could ask the admins to remove the post?
I think you could pursue legal action if you wanted but it would most likely be very expensive and not worth it

Original poster

falselyaccused · 18/10/2021 21:28

Have tried logging via husbands FB account and the person isn't showing up and their post has 100% been removed from the local FB page.

I do not have ££££s to spend on legal fees :/

OP posts:

Original poster

falselyaccused · 18/10/2021 21:28

@Sparklesocks

Did they post it on their personal Facebook as a status update type thing or in a local Facebook group? If it’s the latter you could ask the admins to remove the post? I think you could pursue legal action if you wanted but it would most likely be very expensive and not worth it

On the local town page where I live.

OP posts:

Sparklesocks · 18/10/2021 21:30

Oh sorry I misread that last bit of your post and see it’s gone. How annoying. It’ll die down but at least nobody new will see it now.

Cherryana · 18/10/2021 21:32

That someone took pictures and posted them on FB is awful. I am so sorry.
I don’t know if there is anything you can do but it will be forgotten by most people already.

Also - that has happened to most people - it’s quite common. Sometime a tag gets left on by mistake, sometimes it goes off.

Tangelablue · 18/10/2021 21:35

Ask a friend if they can access the profile to find out if you are blocked or not. They have most likely been put in Facebook jail and had their account suspended. This is infuriating tho. My DP's wallet used to set shop alarms off and we were forever having our bags checked in shops, he got rid of it in the end.

Original poster

falselyaccused · 18/10/2021 21:38

@Tangelablue

The post no longer exists and neither does the person. Really strange.

OP posts:

MsLizard · 18/10/2021 21:38

I'd post on the local group stating that you're aware that a libellous and completely untrue post was made about you and has since been deleted.

Calmly state that the guard checked and confirmed that you were fine, and you suggest that people in future don't post incorrect and damaging information when they have no idea what they're talking about.

Morechocmorechoc · 18/10/2021 21:41

If i were you I would post on the town page and say what happened and can anyone let you know who posted it as they've caused you great emotional stress for no reason. Put it back on them ASAP.

ramabanana · 18/10/2021 21:41

Can you make your own post warning about bellends taking photos and sharing them on facebook?

chocolateorangeinhaler · 18/10/2021 21:44

Depends on the shopping centre policy on taking photos.
In a public space you can take a picture of anything and you own the copyright to the image.
If a post was made on a public social media specificity accusing you of stealing to cause you distress and was untrue that's a different issue.
Not sure the legal chasing is worth it. The post has been removed and the poster has probably shat themselves at being called out and deleted their profile.

IvysMum12 · 18/10/2021 21:46

Could you ask the store if you could view the CCTV covering where you were speaking to Security?
You may be able to spot the person who was filming you.

purpleme12 · 18/10/2021 21:48

@MsLizard

I'd post on the local group stating that you're aware that a libellous and completely untrue post was made about you and has since been deleted.

Agree with this

Ridiculous thing to happen
I thought it was a known thing for alarms to go off by mistake
I know the alarm's gone off for me a few times by mistake. Sometimes they've chosen to look in my bag which I didn't have a problem with a everything was ok. I've seen it happen to other people too! I think it's so stupid this culture of posting strangers' videos on Facebook

Yousexybugger · 18/10/2021 21:49

What a saddo, seeing you having your bags checked, secretly taking a picture and whipping themselves up into a frenzy. Ss though you couldn't have had a tag left on or something.

You could post an explanation but I'd leave it to blow over. The post has been removed and you don't really want present/ future employers or colleagues seeing your riposte and thinking 'no smoke without fire'. Just be happy that at least you're not that kind of petty idiot who goes round assuming the worst of people.

Lindy2 · 18/10/2021 21:51

I would make a post on the same Facebook group stating exactly what happened.

I would also state that you are now looking at options for legal action due to the stress caused by such an incorrect and defamatory post being made.

It may make people think twice about what they post and comments they make. It will also make it absolutely clear you are innocent and not putting up with such things being written about you.

I'm an admin on a very large Neighbourhood Watch Facebook group. We don't allow CC TV images or photos of people to be posted unless they're officially issued by the Police, for exactly this kind of reason.

Unsure33 · 18/10/2021 21:51

I too would post on the page and stated
what was posted was untrue and a public slur on the character and you may be taking further action ( even if you are not going to) these people should not get away with things like this.

IAAP · 18/10/2021 21:52

Did you screen shot it or know who did it?

Jealous ex, busybody or a friend?

I'd go to the page moderator and explain the situation and say you want a full public apology (just write it as you did above) and if you don't get one -you will be going to the police as this is your character.

Gingerkittykat · 18/10/2021 21:54

Is it possible that he has blovked both you and your husband so you can't see the post.

It might be worth having someone else search for him.

itsgettingwierd · 18/10/2021 21:54

I'm also raging on your behalf.

Similar happened to a friends ds.

He walked past a fast food place on way to his elite sprits training.

A bike was stolen not long after he walked past (he was at the training by then).

All over FB about these "scum" and hope their parents are proud etc.

The poor lad was mortified and his parents were raging too.

He became no 1 nationally a few months later and was really worried this would come out with the other news articles about his acheivement.

egglette · 18/10/2021 21:55

That's awful. Assuming it's a moderated page I'd message the admins asking them to post a retraction. I don't think it's on for them to approve that kind of post. And if it had been an actual crime, having it posted on social media with public comments could jeopardise the case, so they'd be well as issued to steer clear of that kind of thing anyway.

Onlinedilema · 18/10/2021 21:57

Good idea to post on the same page and state the facts.
I used to be forever setting off alarms with an old handbag I had.

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