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Original poster

Sick Advert on Local Radio Station Website.... What should I do??

123 replies

Toothache · 21/06/2004 17:36

I went onto Central FM's website as I'm wanting to sell a wardrobe and sofabed. They do free advertising so thought it a good place to start.

Whilst there I had a browse around the Toy Section to see if there were any good bargain. Some sick pervert has advertised Child Porn for Sale!

It goes into a bit of detail and explains that all photos are taken in his own living room and there's a mobile number to call.
I found it really upsetting and emailed the radio station through the "Contact Us" link to ask them to remove it. The email was returned to me.

What should I do? Should I just ignore it?? Should I call the radio station?? Should I notify the police??? Surely even pretending about this stuff is illegal?

Advice please..

OP posts:
Branster · 22/06/2004 14:10

well done!!!!!!! i would suggest not to get the story in the local paper just yet as it would alert the people involved and none would have any chance of cathching them anymore. let the police deal with it, they are v good and hopefully will get to the bottom of all this and get the people involved to justice. hopefully. you could probably fax/e-mail the details you've got from here to the PC in question and no doubt he/she will phone you back if he said so.

Original poster
Toothache · 22/06/2004 14:20

PC just phoned me. Apparently he has been in touch with the Computer Crime Unit and they say that when they input the address "www.scotads.com" they go straight to the Newspapers website!!!! I said it ISN'T the newspapers website, but it IS a free Advertising site that looks a bit like the newpspaper. He asked if I was sure I had written it down properly! THISA IS UNBELIEVABLE!

I asked him if he wanted me to email a link to the CCS and he said that he didn't have an email address for them!

So he said he would call back...

Just had a phonecall from the CCS unit insisting they couldn't find it. I ran through it with him and he eventually got the Advert up and he...... ........ wait for it.............. LAUGHED!

He said oh I was led to believe that website took you to a CHild Porn site, I didn't realise it was just someone had placed an wee advert!! Then he chuckled again and said, okay we'll look into it. Thanks for alerting us.

WTF???

What's going on?

OP posts:
Original poster
Toothache · 22/06/2004 14:21

How stupid was I made to feel.

OP posts:
Twinkie · 22/06/2004 14:24

Maybe send your story to a national newspaper - someone like the sun or the mail should pick up the story and the polices apathy and sensationalise it at l4east enough to get someone to take notice!!

Original poster
Toothache · 22/06/2004 14:28

Twinkie - Maybe I should. I'm sure they see sick pranks like that all the time, but they didn't have to make me feel like I was wasting their time..... I should've apologised sarcastically for not having anything more vile and disturbing to show them.

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gscrym · 22/06/2004 14:30

I just phoned the Scotads that this thing isn't associated with and told them that it woould appear another website was operating as a similar service under a similar name. I apoogised for the mix up and the person I spoke to was very nice and said they were glad I had phoned to let them know and would inform the supervisor.
As for the police, to say oh, it's just a wee advert, that's dispicable.

Ghosty · 22/06/2004 14:36

God, Toothache ... that is bloody terrible ... how dare he laugh???

Yes it may be a sick joke BUT then again it may not be and there are children here that are in danger ... FFS!!!! It just doesn't bear thinking about ...
I've a good mind to get on the phone myself from NZ ...

Tissy · 22/06/2004 14:43

I'm half inclined to phone the advertiser's number and try and find out more about him, but I don't have the balls....surely the police can trace a person from his/ her phone number? It may be only a wee advert, but if it is true, then chidren are being abused. If it isn't the sicko must be able to be charged with something.

Tissy · 22/06/2004 14:43

Toothache, have you got the PC's name and badge number? We could all email his CC and complain about him!

Original poster
Toothache · 22/06/2004 14:44

That's what I think Tissy.... wasting police time perhaps? They clearly think that's what I'm doing.

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Original poster
Toothache · 22/06/2004 14:46

I've only got the name of the PC who initially came around to the house, he was really helpful if a bit clueless about the internet!
The Computer Crime Squad guy that spoke to me didn't give his name and I didn't think to ask.

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jampot · 22/06/2004 15:32

Isn't this exactly how so many criminals have got away with their crimes - the Police not being thorough enough. One that springs to mind is Peter Sutcliffe and another is a more local man who murdered a young lad in the 1960s and was caught a few years ago after driving home from the pub having had a few too many pints!!

suzywong · 22/06/2004 15:42

I thin kyou are all doing really great pursuing this offence.
Would like to cuff that policeman round the head though.
I think this would be of interest to a tv show, what about This Morning or GMTV or Loose Women, something parent oriented.
Keep us posted if you need anyone to support you with letters or email petition or anything like that.

Snugs · 22/06/2004 15:43

The attitude of the authorities over this is disgusting.

I have just checked and the ad is still there - surely by now, if nothing else, the site could have been suspended or forced to remove the ad

suzywong · 22/06/2004 15:51

I want to call ScotAds and complain, what category is the ad under (sorry if you have already mentioned this and will understand if you would rather not draw anymore attention to it)

Original poster
Toothache · 22/06/2004 15:51

Thanks suzywong.

Agree that it's a bit of a disgrace. I'm hoping his attitude on the phone isn't a reflection of how the matter will be dealt with!

If all else fails I still have the info that LunarSea posted. I can contact this guy and see if he knows how to get the Ad removed since he set the website up in the first place. He's local to me funnily enough.... how weird is that!

OP posts:
Original poster
Toothache · 22/06/2004 15:52

Suzywong - There's no phone number. ScotAds are also a free newspaper, but know nothing about this site. Gsrcym already phoned and let them know there is a site with their name and it's allowing Ads like THAT to be posted. The emaisl we sent to the contact address came bouncing back too.

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jampot · 22/06/2004 15:54

I've been onto the scotads.com website and can't find anything other than a selection of "adult movies" but that's not a hotmail address.

suzywong · 22/06/2004 15:55

You know what, I wouldn't be susrprised if this is the tip of the iceburg

Tissy · 22/06/2004 15:56

jampot, go to small ads, then toys and games, then boys general. It's (still) at the bottom of the page

jampot · 22/06/2004 16:00

actually feel very sick now - maybe it needs a new fresh policeman to take it up with a view to furthering his/her career by uncovering what is potentially something very serious. Also can't believe they've put a landline number down!!

suzywong · 22/06/2004 16:01

FFS
Let's all call the number and tell him the police have been alerted and will be paying him a visit today
If no one else in authority is going to do anything about this then we can at least tell put the fear on him

suzywong · 22/06/2004 16:02

jampot is right,
Let's call Alloa police station instead
Does anyone have the number?

We have to make someone aware of this

ks · 22/06/2004 16:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

suzywong · 22/06/2004 16:04

OK I 'll call Edinburgh Branch NSPCC, who is going to try the local cops again?