Net Crimes & Misdemeanors

February 25, 2013 - Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHO@ at haltabuse.org) released its 2013 cyberstalking statistics, as well as cumulative statistics for the years 2000-2013. The statistics are gathered from cases victims filed with WHO@ during 2013, but only those who filled out the demographic information, so the number shown is lower than the actual number of victims who came to WHO@ for help. 2013 statistics are based on 256 cases, of which 60% were female and 40% were male, a huge difference from 2012 when 80% of the victims were female and 20% were male. “With the perceived anonymity online, we are seeing more and more men coming to us for help,” notes WHO@ President Jayne A. Hitchcock. “ We also have seen a decrease in male harassers, only 40% in 2013 over 49% in 2012 and an increase in harassers whose gender was unknown. In 2012 that was 20%, but last year that increased to 30%.” Other noted statistics: Over half had a previous relationship with their harasser. Of those: ...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .IOC spokesman laughed at Jimmy Kimmel's Sochi wolf hoax http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/02/2 1/IOC-spokesman-laughed-at-Jimmy-Kimmels-S ochi-wolf-hoax/UPI-55271393003989/#ixzz2 uGCqqWQg An International Olympic Committee spokesman said he laughed at Jimmy Kimmel's gag video of a wolf walking down a Sochi Olympics hotel hallway. The late-night host created the hoax video -- which depicted a wolf walking down a hallway resembling those at the U.S. dorms of the Olympic Village in Sochi -- and it was taken by some as real when it was posted to U.S. luge star Kate Hansen's Twitter account prior to her appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. Hansen, who appeared on Kimmel's show via satellite while still in Sochi, said not everyone was amused by the wolf hoax. "Honestly, there was a little bit more backlash than I thought there would be, but it was all worth it in the end," she s...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Philadelphia police dog gets more than 1,200 Twitter followers http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/02/1 7/Philadelphia-police-dog-gets-more-than-1 200-Twitter-followers/UPI-58911392666398/ #ixzz2tc5YRaTG A Philadelphia police officer said he doesn't mind that his partner has hundreds more Twitter followers than he does, despite being a dog. Officer Alvin Outlaw, 38, who said his official Twitter follower count was 53 as of Sunday night, said he is happy Thor the 2-year-old German shepherd, one of the department's 22 dogs, has more than 1,200 followers for his Twitter account because it raises awareness of the K9 department and humanizes the police department, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Monday. "I think it's something that the Philadelphia Police Department needs: to make people out of the police officers," he said. "I think it's nice that Thor has an opportunity to remind us of our humanity." "Yo...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Alabama high schooler told to apologize for 'selfie' with cadaver http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/02/0 9/Alabama-high-schooler-told-to-apologiz e-for-selfie-with-cadaver/UPI-5380139196 8448/#ixzz2swX43bB1 A high school senior in Alabama has been told to apologize to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for taking a self portrait, or "selfie," with a cadaver. The Clements High School student, whose name was not reported, was on a field trip at UAB on Monday when she posed with the dead body, AL.com reported. She then posted the photo to Instagram. "We were very disappointed and shocked that it happened and embarrassed by it," said Limestone County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Sisk. "It reiterates a need for us to focus more on digital citizenship. Kids make a snapshot decision in an instant without realizing the effects." When the high school was notified of the photo, officials discussed the matter w...

All this month, get an exclusive chapter from my book, True Crime Online at Information Today's web site - please feel free to share!

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Sign bans fishing in Sochi Olympics toilets http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/02/0 3/Sign-bans-fishing-in-Sochi-Olympics-to ilets/UPI-99251391450407/ A Canadian snowboarder in Sochi, Russia, tweeted a picture of a warning sign at an Olympic venue banning standing on and fishing in the toilets. Snowboarder Sebastien Toutant, who arrived in Sochi last week, tweeted a picture from inside the bathroom at the Olympic Biathlon Center of a warning sign depicting a person demonstrating banned behavior including standing on the toilet, fishing in the toilet and vomiting in the toilet, the New England Sports Network reported. "Well that's interesting... Sochi rules in the bathrooms!! #haha #olympics," Toutant tweeted. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS TO USE AND PASS ALO...

My book, True Crime Online: Shocking Stories of Scamming, Stalking, Murder and Mayhem has been nominated in the non-fiction category for the Maine Literary Awards ! Keep checking back for more details and cross your fingers for me!

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Olympic bathroom stall with two toilets raises eyebrows http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/01/2 3/Olympic-bathroom-stall-with-two-toilet s-raises-eyebrows/UPI-20091390510636/#ix zz2rdJzHwvi A photo of two toilets side by side in a Sochi Olympics bathroom stall is causing a stir, with an opposition leader calling it an example of mismanaged funds. The photo of two toilets in a men's bathroom stall at the Olympic Biathlon Center, which went viral after being posted to Twitter by a BBC correspondent, led social media users to joke about officials spending too much money on toilets and not enough on stall partitions, the Moscow Times reported Thursday. The photo of the toilets indicates the possibility of an even more awkward situation, as the stall's sole roll of toilet paper is only within reach of one of the commodes. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny said the picture serves as evidence of the government mismanaging much of the $50 billion...

Read my blog post at my publisher's web site: The Making of a Cybercrime Expert today!

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Former Sen. Bill Frist takes aim, via Twitter, at United Airlines http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/01/1 7/Former-Sen-Bill-Frist-takes-aim-via-Tw itter-at-United-Airlines/UPI-40821390001 131/#ixzz2qxZEuBOd Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., spent Friday complaining on social media about United Airlines after a mix-up with his first-class seat. "United miserable service again," Frist, 61, said in one of six posts on his Twitter account, USA Today reported. "SanFran sold me and confirmed a seat then took it away," Frist said. He later commented, "I booked a first class seat and now I'm in the very last row next to a bathroom that's in heavy rotation," and "I can confirm the toilets on this United flight work! My seat vibrates with each passenger's visit." Frist later suggested the thin bathroom walls were likely a fuel-saving measure. After United Airways returned a Twitter ...

Is anyone here a book reviewer? If so, I will be happy to send you a signed copy of True Crime Online in exchange for a review. Reply for more info.

Read all about it! Tinfoil hat alert!

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Theft suspect fled on motorized shopping cart http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/01/0 8/Police-Theft-suspect-fled-on-motorized-s hopping-cart/UPI-35041389209900/ Police in Oregon said a woman accused of a theft spree led officers on a brief low-speed chase when she attempted to flee on a motorized shopping cart. Warrenton police said a worker at a Subway restaurant in Warrenton contacted police and said a woman had stolen $13 from the eatery's tip jar and attempted to use the case to purchase her $12.75 meal, the Daily Astorian reported Wednesday. The woman was gone by the time police arrived but they soon heard reports of a woman matching the suspect's description stealing from a Fred Meyer store and causing a disturbance at a Rite Aid store. Police said the woman then allegedly fled a Home Depot store in a motorized shopping cart loaded with merchandise. Police caught up to Laurie Ruth Chester, 59, while she was riding the low-speed ve...