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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:

jampot · 22/06/2004 16:40

Just spoke to Social Services in Alloa. They've taken it very seriously and will contact their Family unit and liaise with Computer Crime Unit, didn't leave my name and address though

suzywong · 22/06/2004 16:41

No offence taken at all secur
I have emailed Children First about it on their contact us page here
Very good point about not calling the number, who knows it may be a police trap.

secur · 22/06/2004 16:46

Message withdrawn

gscrym · 22/06/2004 16:46

Good one Jampot. My mum was a social worker there many years ago so from what she's told me, it's not a bad office. I think now that they're involved, we should let this lie until anyone has anymore info. I think if nothing else, it shows the positive power the internet can have as well as the negative.

Original poster

Toothache · 22/06/2004 16:50

My Goodness.... I go away for lunch and you lot set up a crime desk!
Sorry, not meaning to be flippant. I really think that it was just this one guys attitude and I'm sure the Police are taking this seriously. The PC who came to my house certainly did.

Agree with gscrym, please please please don't alert the guy in question by phoning or emailing.

I have informed the Advertising Standards Authority, who said they would contact me by post.

I think, in reality this is a new-ish website set up by an individual who hasn't put much thought into the security of the site and has no control over who posts. Either this will scare him into closing the site down or will at least allow him to moderate the Ads and promptly remove anyone posting disgusting stuff like this.

As for the perv who posted the Ad.... agree that it really is unlikely to be his phone number.

We'll see.... the police have said they will keep me informed and I will let you know if I hear anything more.

OP posts:

suzywong · 22/06/2004 16:54

Well done team, now like TV cops we should go down to the doughnut shop and take a break

(hope you all know me well enough to know I don't mean to be glib but am just relieved we have all done our best and impressed, as gscrym says, at the positive power of the internet and MN)

Original poster

Toothache · 23/06/2004 10:57

Right.... the Ad is STILL there!!! Why can't they just have it removed??
Anyone heard anything yet from all the agencies we phoned?

OP posts:

jampot · 23/06/2004 11:11

I didn't leave my contact details toothache but did direct them to this thread in case they wanted to leave a message!

suzywong · 23/06/2004 17:25

I heard via email from Children First that they have passed the details on to the Head of Public Policy and our Director of Children and Families Services.

suzywong · 23/06/2004 18:29

I just received this email form the Director of Children First:
I have been forwarded your concern about the advert that was placed about
paedophile pornography. We would take it seriously and would want to ask
police to investigate and reassure us that they have taken action. It may
be that the advert is in other places as well.
Your chatroom is great but it is a bit difficult to get the bones of the
issue from the huge volume of emails. Could you summarise the problem - what
publication, what date, and the content of the advertisement and let us
know so that we can pass it on coherently and also alert others to the
problem. I am copying our press officer into this.

I'm afraid I have to go out now and do the shopping, but would anyone else be able to summarise this and post it here and I'll send it back to her.
Sorry to dump this on the rest of you but I really have to go.

Tissy · 23/06/2004 18:34

Here is a summary:

There is a website displaying online advertisements at www.scotads.com. In the boys general section of the toys and games subsection of the small ads, there is an advertisement for a child porn video, allegedly shot in the seller's own from room. A telephone number and email address are also given.

suzywong · 23/06/2004 18:41

Brilliant,
thanks Tissy I've sent it off (waiting for DS1 to find shoes so had a bit of time to check back)

suzywong · 23/06/2004 20:21

thanks tissy, that seems to have done the trick:

thanks. I have passed the details on to Alloa police who have assured me
that they will take it seriously. the officer is Sergeant Mark Fotheringham.
I am also going to pass it on to the Child Internet Watch Foundation
Maggie Mellon, Children First

Flip · 23/06/2004 22:37

I got an E-mail back from MSN this afternoon. It read : -

This is Shiela and I am responding to your concern on the objectable posting of a Hotmail account user.

I have read your complaint and investigated this issue. The Hotmail account you reported, [email protected] is an active account. However, we did not find enough evidence to prove that the said posting originated from this account.

So hotmail no longer give a dam if they can't be implicated!

suzywong · 23/06/2004 22:39

that is very irresponsible of hotmail, I am disappointed.

nightowl · 24/06/2004 04:47

im absolutely disgusted at hotmail. surely they could do something? unbeleivable.

jampot · 29/06/2004 16:21

Just wondered if anyone has heard anything?

jampot · 29/06/2004 16:24

Just checked and the ad is still there

Original poster

Toothache · 29/06/2004 16:24

Oh glad you asked... I got a letter from the Advertising Standards Agency which said:

"Thank you for informing us of this advertisment. We contacted Alloa Police as we viewed this as a matter for them. They told us you had already informed them. As this is the only action we would take we will now leave it in the hands of the police. We also suggest you contact Scotads.com and express your disgust to them personally"

.... EH I'VE TRIED TO!!!!! i was livid! Shouldn't the ADVERTISING STANDARDS AGENCY contact the website advertising this and give them a warning or something?? Fat lot of use they were anyway.

OP posts:

jampot · 29/06/2004 16:32

It seems as though no-one really wants to do anything about this which is presumably how the baby raper got away with so much for so long

nightowl · 29/06/2004 16:59

im trying to email and complain too but it keeps saying the site's email addresses are invalid?

Snugs · 17/07/2004 13:13

Any update on this from the police?

I rattled off an angry email to the website on 16th June and finally received this reply today:

"Dear *

Thank you for your information. We have removed the offensive ads (there
were 2 such ads placed) and have informed the police. I apologise on
behalf of scotads.com for any offense.
regards Scotads.com

Took them long enough!

Original poster

Toothache · 17/07/2004 13:47

Snugs - At least they finally looked into it! I'm really pleased you got a reply. I haven't heard anything from the police.... GRRRRR!

OP posts:

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