Suppose a stranger online offered to pay you (via paypal) to call the police and report a crime anonymously. The person claims that if he/she reports the crime (relatively petty- say drug posession or driving without a license, not murder or rape) the person being reported will know and kills/hurt him/her. He/she wants to be with the person when the report is made so he/she isnot suspect. You are not to reveal, per this person's directions, your name, her/his name, or how you got the info: Just "I want to make an anonymous report. X is guilty of Y, you'll find X coming out of [address] in a [descritpion of vehicle] at [time]." Then you hang up. So, would you do it?
2006-12-13 05:48:58 · 45 answers · asked by imjustasteph 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Ummm...sure...If I knew the person who was doing the reporting. I don't mind calling the Police.
2006-12-13 05:52:29 · answer #1 · answered by xxx 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless there is some proof that the person has done something illegal, then you may be guilty of making a false claim against that person. You may have a jealous girlfriend trying to get even with her ex, or someone with a beef against the other who jsut wants to cause trouble.
Also, how does having someone else report the crime prevent the person who is "with" the criminal from being suspected? When a crime is reported, it is not necessarily acted upon immediately. It could be a few hours or a day as the police investigate the validity of the claim.
And why would the person want to pay you to make this report? If you suspect a crime is being committed or has been committed, it should be your duty to report it regardless of any monetary incentive.
Personally, I would probably make a call to the police about the suspicious request I received from someone who claims that a crime was committed so they could just go investigate them.
2006-12-13 05:58:32 · answer #2 · answered by SteveN 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not.
Would I ever anonymously report a crime? Yes -- if there was a crime to report. The situation described doesn't exactly leave me confident that there is anything to report. It's hearsay, nothing more, and frankly the circumstances (stranger online) suggest that someone is trying to play a hoax and/or cause trouble for me and/or cause trouble for the alleged criminal...not that any crime has actually been committed. But since you never know: I'd remind the stranger that anonymous tips can be made by mail, and that s/he can report the crime and still be with the alleged criminal whenever s/he wants.
2006-12-13 05:55:25 · answer #3 · answered by ljb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all it is a bit hard to make an anonymous call to a police station. Ever heard of caller ID? Even from a cell phone they can figure out who you are and from a pay phone, well, you better hope no one saw you. Besides the fact how in the hel* do you know that the crime you are reporting really happened and the person asking you to do it is just trying to get someone else in trouble. Besides the fact that even if it is real and the person doesn't want to report it because they will be killed, well...now you have put yourself in harms way. Duh!
2006-12-13 05:52:27 · answer #4 · answered by BlueSea 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not for no amount of money. WHY because all calls made by any phone is traceable. Based on the call, the person is making a "bogus" report with a class c misdemeanor at least. Fines and jail time could be received. Plus, being arrested will stay on your criminal report forever.
2006-12-13 05:54:54 · answer #5 · answered by SHADY LADY 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What I'd probably do was take the persons money from paypal...get their info (which should be included in the payment)and THEN talk to the cops telling them EVERYTHING that happened (the truth, not what they wanted you to do). After it's all said and done refund the money and have nothing to do with it. That way if it's legit or not you've covered yourself
And remember - in order to make a payment via paypal they ONLY NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, don't give them any more than that.
2006-12-13 05:54:11 · answer #6 · answered by thelilred_whocould 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if they are paying you to report a crime then they are committing a crime. are you going to turn around and call the police on them ? how do you know that this person is not setting the other person up and you'll be an accomplice. you might send an innocent person to prison. you report a crime if you witnessed the crime. what you are suggesting is filing a false report. do we really have to explain this to you ?
2006-12-13 05:55:43 · answer #7 · answered by strike_eagle29 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
the police have enough trouble with REAL crimes to be bothered and misled by a prank call. Not to mention the fact that you're commiting a crime by making the call. Don't think for a minute that you could get away with an anonymous call. The police could (if they wanted) trace the call and 'find' you.
2006-12-13 05:51:48 · answer #8 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it is a good thing to do don't put your self in danger for any one specially if you don't know that person just for some money if it comes back to you some way some how maybe the pay pal,or some way police have many ways of doing stuff , consequences my be more than you want just forget them maybe you should report the Internet person..?? your choice just trying to help.good luck
2006-12-13 05:59:39 · answer #9 · answered by lundie_g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not report a crime unless I saw it with my eyes. They can track your phone call, they can track the payphone, they can get your fingerprints, a hair follicle. Don't you watch CSI?
If you wanted to do this, put on a hat and gloves and park two blocks from the payphone, make the call and then leave. No tire tracks, people do not pay attention to people walking so much as driving. Another good idea would be to put the collar of your shirt over your mouth so your spit doesn't get on the phone for DNA. Welllll.....People may notice ya.
2006-12-13 05:54:47 · answer #10 · answered by jayndee13 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋