'Creep catcher' trend treads perilously close to breaking the law, Alberta police warn

Police in Medicine Hat are advising Albertans against trying to bait men looking for sex onlineby posing as underage girlsand then filming theirencounters and posting the videos online as a form of social-media shaming.

The practice has become increasingly common in recent months,led in particular byaCalgary man who has posted dozens ofvideos since November of him confronting "creeps" who agreed to meet up with him after he pretended to be a young girl via online messages.

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Staff Sgt. Cory Both with the Medicine Hat Police Service said an officer on a routine patrol Wednesday night encountered two men who had just finished confronting a target of their own and claimed to have been "mentored and trained" by the Calgary creep-catcher leader.

One of the men even claimed to be the presidentof a Medicine Hat chapter devoted to the activity.

Police took the pair in for further questioning and they were quite open about their activities, Both said, even admitting that they had two more meetings lined up for later on.

Officers tried to discourage the Medicine Hat menfrom continuing to act as vigilantes but the message didn't appear to get through.

"They weren't dissuaded, that's for sure," Both said.

"They were committed to the cause and theyleft here with a warning that, if they continue, there could be all kinds of consequences for them."

Police issue public plea

The situation prompted police to issue a public statement Thursday, warning Albertans that this type of "vigilante activity" is mostly legal but some of ittreads "precariously close" to criminal activity.

"Creating fictional online profiles using stock photos or pilfered images from another person's social media accounts could create grounds for an identity theft or identity fraud complaints and/or arrest," the release states.

"Individuals acting on their own may also create a criminal harassment, public mischief or obstruction offence, if they are overly zealous in their efforts."

'Growing concern'

The trend is "a growing concern throughout Canada and the United States," police added, noting it could also lead tocivil defamation lawsuits ifallegations are presented onlinewithout clear evidence.

"Anytime a member of the public has information on a potential online crime, they are encouraged to report their concerns to police immediately," police said.

"Independent vigilante investigations create complications for the courts and ultimately subvert true justice."

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