Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

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:

EKGEMS · 18/10/2021 22:35

I've set off security alarms before and definitely never stolen anything-I had a store employee tell me once the purse brand I was carrying was notorious to cause false alarms at their store. Back in the late 80s I purchased a skirt for a special occasion and got home to discover the cashier hadn't removed the security tag on it and had to return to store with the receipt and still got given the 3rd degree over it-the anger should've been directed at their security system and not an innocent teenager. I'm so sorry @falselyaccused that you've had to deal with this nonsense!

lanthanum · 18/10/2021 22:37

I'd ask the group admins to post a message along the lines of "A photo was posted here yesterday of somebody having their bags checked by security; the person concerned had done nothing wrong, and the post and comments have been removed. Please think before posting accusations which may be unfounded."

That way hopefully anyone who saw the original post will know that it was unfounded, but without your name being attached to the whole debacle.

imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 18/10/2021 22:39

I would have reported that person to the police for slander/defamation of character and harassment! I would also contact the page is was posted on, although it's been removed, to ask WTF they think they are doing allowing these types of posts on their page.
You say the person's profile has also disappeared? I wonder if that's because facebook will close your profile if you are reported too many times.
I'm outraged on your behalf!

Nanny0gg · 18/10/2021 22:44

Slander/defamation is a civil complaint. The police absolutely won't be interested.

NamechangeApril21 · 18/10/2021 22:46

@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.

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.

This

2Two · 18/10/2021 22:46

What would the screenshot do? I have a screenshot of the original post.

You need it as evidence of the libel. Ideally you also need a screen shot showing the reaction to the post.

Tommika · 18/10/2021 23:02

You could sue, but it needs to be false (it is false) and there must be serious harm to your reputation (this is arguable as to the level of harm to your reputation)

Defences include that the statement is true or it is their honest opinion.
It is true that you were stopped by security after the alarm being triggered, it can be the onlookers honest opinion that you had been shoplifting

Sueing for defamation is expensive, and though you were innocent of the allegations it’s not guaranteed that your case would succeed

www.carter-ruck.com/expertise/reputation-media-privacy/defamation-faqs/

imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 18/10/2021 23:03

@Nanny0gg

Slander/defamation is a civil complaint. The police absolutely won't be interested.

I was interviewed by the police as a witness to this, they absolutely were interested. Worth a try OP.

slashlover · 18/10/2021 23:08

@2Two

What would the screenshot do? I have a screenshot of the original post.

You need it as evidence of the libel. Ideally you also need a screen shot showing the reaction to the post.

Who is OP going to sue? The account has disappeared and could easily have been a fake account.

HalzTangz · 18/10/2021 23:14

I personally would make a pot explaining what happend so those that read it and see you know the other post was trash.

I think social media need to put a stop to all this naming and shaming, uploading photos of people in groups etc

2Two · 18/10/2021 23:17

You could sue, but it needs to be false (it is false) and there must be serious harm to your reputation (this is arguable as to the level of harm to your reputation)

When someone is falsely accused of a crime, it is automatically actionable, i.e. there is a presumption that it has caused serious damage without the claimant having to prove actual financial loss.

alreadytaken · 18/10/2021 23:17

I'd ask the admin to make a post saying they had been informed of what actually happened and hence the post had been removed and reminding people to check facts before posting.

YourFinestPantaloons · 18/10/2021 23:20

I had similar OP! And honestly the best thing to do is report to Facebook and ride it out. It will be gone from people's feeds in a jiffy.

Mine was relating to when I was letting out my property. I had 2 different people viewing - a man and a woman. I think the man thought it was a dead cert he had it - even though I said I was doing other viewings. He was very much "So I will get you a deposit ASAP, and let you know when I can move in" even though I stressed no need to do that as I'll let him know when I make a decision. but he really gave me the heebie jeebies (turns out on googling him he had a violent past and beat his girlfriend up in a kids play park). And I messaged him the next day to say sorry I'd let it someone else .

Then on all the local for sale sites, a screenshot of my profile picture and photo was plastered everywhere of "SCAM LANDLADDY" (yes it was spelt like that) and how I'd promised them a property only to be told I'd let it to someone else and 'thank god they didn't hand over any money to this scammer' it didn't get many comments other than the odd one saying "Scamming bitch", most just pointed out that they haven't been scammed if they didn't lose money they obviously just didn't get the property etc. It all blew over fairly quickly and the reprobates find someone else to bully

Missmissmiiiiiiiiisss · 18/10/2021 23:21

Is there an admin for the group?

If so they do a responsibility to post an update/retraction.

Something like

You may have seen a post which included a photo of a woman having her bag searched. This post incorrectly said she had shop lifted.
We want to correct this and be clear that the woman in the photo did not steal anything and the alarm went off by accident and no crime was committed. We are horrified to have something inaccurate on our page and we apologise unreservedly to the lady in question.
Please can the admin team take this opportunity to remind group members to ensure they are clear of the facts before posting anything.

JaniceBattersby · 18/10/2021 23:22

There is no way anyone was interviewed by the police as a witness to slander because it is not a crime.

OP because it was on FB it is written and is therefore libel rather than slander. You could have a good defamation case on the face of it but, honestly, it will cost you thousands and you’d have to show that you’d been tangibly damaged and the respondent would have had have the means to pay and it just wouldn’t be worth it in the end.

You’re much better off going down the route that others have suggested and asking the group admins to issue a full retraction and apology.

SecretKeeper1 · 18/10/2021 23:26

Absolutely get another post on the community page, the sooner the better. I’d probably include the original screenshot with a “hi, this is me” introduction, or ask the admins to do it.

You cannot say/do nothing!

tcjotm · 18/10/2021 23:38

What a cruel thing to do to you and how stupid are they to think having your bags checked means you’ve done something wrong? Those alarms go off all the time! I had a library book with me on a day at the shopping centre and it had a stupid tag in it that went off every time (a guard helped me work out the problem when I said I’d been setting off so many alarms I was flinching at the thought of walking through. Since I couldn’t ditch the book I started preemptively telling the guards before I went in to stores.

Checking basically means you’re not guilty - guilty parties leg it!

TracyLords · 18/10/2021 23:39

@Winniemarysarah my mum and I were pissing ourselves laughing at that post last night. We thought it was a joke!!!!

HeckinMiffed · 18/10/2021 23:42

Bloody social media has a lot to answer for. Sounds like someone you know shit stirring for likes and attention.
Similar happened to me, I was named and shamed for beating my dog.
The fact I didnt and the accusers are known attention seekers was irrelevant, i received violent threats and the comments on the post were awful. Police were kind but not much they can do unless theres serious concerns.
Honestly I just ignored it all-the police did get the post removed and yes it did cause upset as intended. But I didn't see the point in reacting. Two weeks later they were accusing my dog walker friend of the same. They just moved on to the next target.

There are some truly awful people out there

Original poster

falselyaccused · 18/10/2021 23:44

@JaniceBattersby

There is no way anyone was interviewed by the police as a witness to slander because it is not a crime.

You’re much better off going down the route that others have suggested and asking the group admins to issue a full retraction and apology.

I don't know the person who wrote the original post is though. They had a weird 'name' which was actually a phrase like Hon Eylips. I don't think I can take that to a solicitors and tell them I want to sue a Ms Honey Lips!

OP posts:

saraclara · 18/10/2021 23:52

OP, lots of people have told you to contact the admins. Have you done that?

Local FB pages always have them, and often a moderator too. On all the pages local to me, this issue would be resolved quickly along the lines of the posts from the admins that people have suggested.

You seem to be ignoring these suggestions, yet they are the most helpful posts on this thread.

Angel2702 · 18/10/2021 23:54

I would be furious. Alarms go off all the time. I used to have a handbag with metal bits on that set alarms off, had to stop using it. My husband got stopped the other day and it was our football season tickets setting it off, apparently if you have several contactless cards together it sets it off often.

Far more likely someone being stopped is an accidental alarm than shoplifting. I Assume most shop lifters avoid walking through the barrier with tagged goods. Very bizarre to take the time to take photos.

StrongSunglasses · 19/10/2021 00:03

I’m sorry this has happened op

I left fb almost a decade ago to not see or really even know stuff like this happens… so I could be innocently going about my business and unwittingly be misconstrued and plastered online and not even know!

It’s disgusting. Ignorance is bliss in my case but this is just so intrusive and out of order! It’d what would stop me rejoining.

All the similar stories as well of public shaming and falsely accused with pictures published etc 😱 everyone should just leave the platforms.

PegasusReturns · 19/10/2021 00:07

Police won’t be interested in libel as it’s a civil matter. They may be interested (depending on where you live) with harassment which this could be the start of, so make a complaint.

Realistically doing is a waste of time, even if you had money chances that ms Hon Eylips does is lie and so you’ll a hive nothing.

Do email the admins though. They have a responsibility not to spread libel and ask them to post a retraction. Draft a statement that you’re happy with abs chances are they’ll post it as is.

Original poster

falselyaccused · 19/10/2021 00:08

Sorry- I should've added I've written a post on the group with wording very similar to what Pps have suggested.

I've also contacted the admins to put a statement out renouncing the previous post.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3 4