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Private Group, Pictures Required, am I paranoid?

TitanBitch

Tourist
I saw a post about a private group. I message them asking for more information. They ask where I am, if I'm an owner. I give the affirmative and an approximate location. They asked for pictures, when I hesitated they said they need need to see if I'm an owner and who I am are before they let me into the private group.


I'm not sure if they are legit or not as I wasn't able to get any information. If they are it seems like a group with no issues ignoring basic information security protocols. If they are not, well, that is why I trust the protocols.

Am I being paranoid, is this a normal process/routine?
I'm just not comfortable so if I miss out on meeting some local people in this "private group" then it is what it is. As long as my pups are safe, then that is a trade off I'll make.

I'd just like others thoughts on this and it isn't like I can ask my friends.
I'm okay with slowly escalating trust over time, but to blindly trust one party, an anonymous one at that, seems like a really bad idea.
 
Ive been part of groups in the past and they aren't worth it. I remember being in one for Californians and one member was discovered to be 17yo. The creator of the group wanted everyone to submit pictures of their drivers licenses or california IDs to show their age to confirm your were over 18. I said fuck that and left. Most of the time they let people in and not even a third of the group would participate is chatting. The majority would lerk, post the occasional creepy message of wanting to get with someone's dog and not hear from them in months.

Seeing that your from Florida i assume your referring to the "private and selective group prioritizing owners" that was posted. Though i can't tell you if it's a normal process asking for verification pictures senes I haven't been in any group chats like that in years I say do what your comfortable doing. If they are prioritizing owners they probably are looking to see who has animals that could be shared or if could be a safe place for owners without creeps messaging them all the time, who knows. If you do take the step in joining you could always edit some pictures to remove backgrounds or things you might find identifiable and in the end leave if you don't feel safe. Look out for yourself and your dogs over everything else.
 
Yeah, you're not paranoid. Not even mods would even do that, other users really should not do ask for personal information like that. Although it's a small chance for it to be a safety reason, it's more likely it's a way to collect data and possibly blackmail
 
Even if it's a legit group , what happens when one person gets compromised? No I don't even have conversations about any sort of illegal intentions. 1000 % I wouldn't hand over my government name to a group that is doing anything illegal.

There's paranoia, there's being cautious, then there's just lunacy. All it takes is one member being investigated from another sex crime, drug charge, money laundering, solicitation. Forget about zoo stuff.

Then you have the extra worry about blackmail, extortion from others in the group.

In any crime the DA or state needs to prove intent. It's not enough that you come here and watch porn , that's not a crime. Nor does it prove you intend to actively participate. Now if you send a bunch of messages detailing your intent to commit said offense, then you show up to a location.... that's when they can show cause for a grand jury indictment.

Say there's 24 people in that group. Would you trust 24 strangers to do everything just right?

That's the thing about the drug world as well. You can do absolutely everything right and you still get popped because someone along the line got lazy and sold to an under cover. Or dropped your name infront of some strangers , or bragged about what they do at the bar.

All it takes is one knucklehead to cut a deal . They got probable cause , evidence, proof of intent. Very often a group will fly under the radar for a length of time. Then 4 years later you get indicted on a conspiracy charge because they have a sworn testimony of a witness and electronic copy of your conversations .

Remember kids the stachude of limitations is typically 5 years for a felony. Different states have different definitions of what a sex crime is. You don't want that hanging over your head.

if for whatever reason you do find yourself in handcuffs, don't answer any questions, don't give a statement and hire an attorney.

This isn't paranoia it's common knowledge of criminal justice.
 
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