# Who do I report solicitation for child pornography to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 31, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-i-report-solicitation-for-child-pornography-to/237580 "2004-03-31T18:36:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-i-report-solicitation-for-child-pornography-to/237580/1 "2004-03-31T18:36:27Z")
Just got a Spam that was offering to link me to kiddie porn :mad: . Seems like I should forward this to someone in Law Enforcement, but am not sure where to start. I figure that I can’t be the first Doper that this has happened to, so would appreciate any help you guys can offer. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-i-report-solicitation-for-child-pornography-to/237580/2 "2004-03-31T19:01:58Z")
I would guess that the FBI would be a pretty good place to start. If they don’t want it they will probably be able to reer you to an agency that does deal with it. The FBI website will probably help as an initial approach. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-i-report-solicitation-for-child-pornography-to/237580/3 "2004-03-31T19:02:12Z")
I would guess that the FBI would be a pretty good place to start. If they don’t want it they will probably be able to refer you to an agency that does deal with it. The FBI website will probably help as an initial approach. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-i-report-solicitation-for-child-pornography-to/237580/4 "2004-03-31T19:16:26Z")
What do dopers think about this: Reply (with history) to the email but change the address by subsituting “abuse” in place of the sender’s address. IOW: **[abcdef@earthlink.net](mailto:abcdef@earthlink.net)** becomes **[abuse@earthlink.net](mailto:abuse@earthlink.net)** By doing this you let earthlink know that they have a user who is sending out KP solicitations. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-i-report-solicitation-for-child-pornography-to/237580/5 "2004-03-31T19:18:59Z")
Sorry about the double post There is some related information here: > **[Danish paedo dragnet snares 100+](https://www.theregister.com/2004/03/31/danish_paedo_dragnet_snares/)** > > US-supplied intelligence aids crackdown ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-i-report-solicitation-for-child-pornography-to/237580/6 "2004-03-31T20:06:23Z")
The best thing to do is to send the e-mail to the cyber tipline at [http://www.missingkids.com/cybertip/](http://www.missingkids.com/cybertip/) > [@](#): > > NCMEC, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Customs Immigration Enforcement, U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and state and local law enforcement in Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces or call the national Child Pornography Tipline 1-800-843-5678. > [@Attrayant](#): > > What do dopers think about this: > > Reply (with history) to the email but change the address by subsituting “abuse” in place of the sender’s address Very bad idea. Sending kiddy porn to an ISP even if it’s done with best of intentions, could concievably land you in very hot water… Anyway, the e-mail header will be a spoof. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-i-report-solicitation-for-child-pornography-to/237580/7 "2004-03-31T20:19:08Z")
No, you shouldn’t report it to anyone. This is a new technique being used by Spammers lately. Since most sensible people have learned to just ignore spam, now they mention some hot button issue in their Spam, hoping that it will get people excited or angry enough to respond in some way, thus confirming for them that this is an active email address. Then they can sell this email adress for more $ than an unconfirmed one. There is, of course, no actual child pornography available from them. Just a fraud to get you to respond. There are several similar “anti-” spams circulating. Gay activists are receiving spams hawking anti-gay materials. Animal activists are receiving spams asking them to support euthanizing shelters, or buy real fur products. All in the hope of provoking people to respond to their spam. The best thing to do with these is the same as with every other spam: ignore it, delete it unread, and _never, ever respond!_ ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-i-report-solicitation-for-child-pornography-to/237580/8 "2004-03-31T20:32:36Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > No, you shouldn’t report it to anyone. > > This is a new technique being used by Spammers lately. > > Since most sensible people have learned to just ignore spam, now they mention some hot button issue in their Spam, hoping that it will get people excited or angry enough to respond in some way, thus confirming for them that this is an active email address. Then they can sell this email adress for more $ than an unconfirmed one. > > There is, of course, no actual child pornography available from them. Just a fraud to get you to respond. There are several similar “anti-” spams circulating. Gay activists are receiving spams hawking anti-gay materials. Animal activists are receiving spams asking them to support euthanizing shelters, or buy real fur products. All in the hope of provoking people to respond to their spam. > > The best thing to do with these is the same as with every other spam: ignore it, delete it unread, and _never, ever respond!_ This actually makes sense. I was having trouble believeing that someone would be that brazen.