.

-- Modified on 7/16/2003 11:17:13 PM

Post this on the Legal Board and get a few opinions. There are some serious flaws with this call. Homeland security definitely could call this way, but what did they get from it? You could at worst be prosecuted for a misdemeanor and a minor one at that. Also it is not a federal charge.

I think more likely that you have run across the angry boyfriend of one of the providers and he is trying to scare you.

-- Modified on 7/16/2003 10:37:56 PM

...and what does that have to do with prostitution?

The best advice I can give you is to either consult with a criminal attorney or at least have the number of a good one handy at all times.

too many things about this phone call just don't make sense. if it's a prank (which i suspect it is) you need to think of two possibilities (at least, there are others). that is was made by:

1. angry boyfriend/pimp/associate of the PROVIDER

2. angry friend/associate/GF/wife of you YOURSELF

Do you recall giving your personal history to any provider, such as the same details the alleged police officer gave to you?  I know that the public's greatest fear with the homeleand security act is that it would result in something as absurb as this.  Sounds far fetched, especially the part about accusing you of pimping and pandering when there is no evidence that you have done either act.  I think it is a more serious crime to impersonate a police officer or federal agent than to commit an act of solicitation for prostitution.  

 Still, please let us know if my speculations are completely wrong and you get busted.  Good luck.

I agree with Michael that there's serious malarkey here.  There is NOTHING to be gained here from an LE perspective.  Think of all the things I could do if I was LE and knew what you were up to:

1.  Arrest you.
2.  Get a warrant to search your house, car, person.
3.  Conduct surveillance to see who you covort with.
4.  Sting you and press you into service as bait for a bust.
5.  Nothing.
...
The list keeps going and going, but note that the list doesn't include "waste department resources by playing sophomoric catch-me fuck-me games with you on the phone."  It doesn't accomplish anything, and many of us (myself included) are so jaded against LE that we assume they have nothing better to do.  And "prosecutor" and "law firm" don't usually mix well in any sentence.

If they wanted you to stop, they'd make you stop.  I spent many years in military intelligence/counter intelligence, and I can tell you a little about the caller based on your post.  The person that called you has access to your travel patterns and some tiny snippits of other info, so it's probably someone you know that has an axe to grind.

They used 3 common psychological techniques:
1.  They chose information specifically designed to sound ominous without actually providing anything meaningful.  If I can find a few pieces of info about you like birth state or pet's name, I can reveal that info to gain your confidence and thus reduce how critically you assess my other statements.  If I know what I'm doing, I have your trust by the 3rd or 4th sentence even without having any meaningful information.
2.  They tried to prove themselves to you.  LE doesn't need to prove themselves to anybody.  Why would a legitimate LE officer feel compelled to "prove" their legitimacy to you by rattling off background info.  Imagine being pulled over and the cop saying "look, I know where you live."  No, they say, "Do you know how fast you were going" or "can I see your license sir?"  You offer background information to create fear, not to establish legitimacy.
3.  They chose Homeland Security.  First, it's current news and that enhances the "grandeur" of it.  Second, it's a nebulous organization that has little presence by itself, but rather, is made up of many existing orgs that are still autonomous and combined only for budget and control purposes, like FEMA and the Coast Guard.  So you're not like to find "Homeland Security" in the phone book, thus no risk that the deception will be revealed.  If they said they were calling from the state BCA or county Sheriffs office, it would be more plausible, but then you could call back and confirm and the game would be up.  But make it "Homeland Security" and the game stays on.

The caller is most likely a stranger (preventing voice recognition) acting on behalf of somone you know who wants to screw with you.  Be vigilent to people around you and their body language.  Make a list of the people who know you hobby.  Think about providers that you've shared some of the revealed info with.  They're using sound techniques, so think about people you know that are a little more calculating and coniving than most.  

And if they call again, go after it.  Ask for a callback number...  LE would not be intimidated to give it out (what else would you do with it besides talk to the caller?) but anyone else would.  What's your SSN?  Your date of birth?  County of birth?  Many people around you know what state you're from, but ask the kind of detailed questions that are things that any investigator would have access to, and a casual acquaintance would not.

This is pretty easy to root out, and until you do, commit to yourself that you won't loose one second--not one second of sleep over this, because that's the "win" for whoever it is.

That is some very practical and much needed information OmegaMan. May I cross post it on a another forum?

but isn't that something of any oxy-... uhmm...hmmm... nevermind!  

seriously, very thoughtful and on-the-nose. perhaps you can help us "de-cloak" a certain SUPER GENTle man on this board.

it boggles the mind how the mind of some boggles!

LOL ... nyah nyah nyah

Didn't even need to be said, HPG.  Of course 69 is always a good bet!

:^)