What law did I break?

Bulk O

Stealing, and extortion come to mind. And if it was a April fools joke, why the hell didn't you immediately tell him, and say you were sorry, when you saw his reaction? Scared the hell out of you, huh? Well think about it if you really had done it what are the possible reasons you would have for it. Well with that information you might break into all his accounts and steal money, but you telling him points to the other use, some how you were going to use that to get him to do something like hand over some money (extortion).

X-Freak

Basically that is identity theft. Even though it was just an April Fools thing that isn't funny. You CAN get arrested and will if you try it again. Also don't claim that you are a hacker that is being held hostage like Hugh Jackman in Swordfish.

flower

i would tell him it was a joke after he said
"call the security" and show him that it wasn't on my laptop so i won't get in trouble!

mjoon

I think the real joke was he still not sure it was a joke. And has now had go through canceling all his cards, changing passwords, maybe even his social security #, reporting this incident so that if in 10years there are $200,000 in bills under his name he's covered hopefully. A girl once told me her identy theft expiriance was just as bad as her rape expirience.

YOU GOT HIM GOOD ! Be Proud! Laugh Hard!

If you have ever had your identity stolen in any way, (even a pretend way) . You know how that feels, you feel violated and helpless. Your most person information was taken.You didn't know it was happening and there is nothing you can do.

Maybe he can sue you for EMOTIONAL DISTRESS!

violet6764

It's not illegal to lie... unless you're in court. The only thing that anyone could even attempt to get you with is intentional infliction of emotional distress... and unless the dude can show extreme damages (depression, anxiety, etc.) you're good to go. Maybe just don't hang out at that bookstore for a while.
To everyone else-- you don't have a right to privacy at a PUBLIC bookstore.

republican

OMG poor guy i feel so sorry for him thats not funny at all-im 14 i should know!!! thats not funny at all. anyway the firt law you broke was "attempted" identity theft the second was verbal assult and third was running from the po-po!!!1 you should be ashamed of your self how mean- what if he has a family how could he explain that to them he was just look =ing at some books-how mean!!poor guy-that is the worst joke ever you should have stayed there and evplain your self

you are very rude to do that-you could ruin his life all because of some stupid day-you might as well have riped out his heart!! shame on you

aNna

did you remember to say april fools? if not that was a terrible joke to pull on someone.

alexaaron6

To answer your question, the law you broke was Battery. It's when you threaten someone and have the ability to follow though with it. By showing him the computer he ofchouse took you seriously. And with all the problems in Identity scams he more then likely did want to harm you. But did the right thing by reporting it befor taking action. If it had been me i'd a took your computer lol. But what a great joke. You caused no harm to anybody and provided yourself with a life time joke. Nice job. Anything else?

ninja Pokey

fitzovich

Perhaps no law, but your joke was not at all funny and had you said that to me, I think you would have been spending some time with local and perhaps Federal law enforcement, because you would not have gotten away.

~

snoboarder530

if u did then u broke the law but u were just joking so it doesnt count

Amanda K

All I can think of is that it might be harrassment or terroistic threatening.

Shredder

pretty messed up it would be different if you told him you were just joking before you ran off, but since you didnt you'r pretty much an ***hole and to do something like that in the first place to some one you dont even know is a horrable thing to begin with, it's people like you that make me sick, and it would be funny if it was some one you knew or even told him you were joking, but like some others said now he's probibaly changing his bank accoun droping his creit card and constantly checking his accounts to make sure nothing is taken, and you could get in big trouble for that, it's pretty much harrasment and making him worry every day affecting his life, could end up costing you. and i hope it does. your just lucky it wasnt me! b/c you probibaly wouldnt be able to type ever again.

Richard B

i would have done the same thing and start flipping out. You should have just said april fools after he called the security.

JESSIE James

Try Criminal Mischief...you played a prank on him regardless of whether or not there were actual damages.

babymohawk

Unfortunately in the world we live in today you just can't joke about that kind of stuff, its like jokingly saying "oh I am going to blow this plane up." Its not a good idea

virtualguy92107

Be happy he called for security. A drug dealer with his accounts on that computer would have shot you. I'd have turned you over to the cops in damaged condition.

Nightstalker

Next time tell him he is on candid camera

Scotty

This is NOT assault. Assault is an act that puts someone in a reasonable fear of receiving a battery (intentional, unwanted touching). Words alone almost never can be assault. (There was one case where the victim was blind.)

What you did would clearly come under the making a terrorist threat section of the Patriot Act. Jokes at airports, that were less serious than yours have been prosecuted.

While you didn't make a demand, it is borderline attempted extortion. A creative prosecutor could probably make a case.

If we still have a US District Attorney in New York, I hope that you are person enough to tell his or her staff what you did. It clearly violates federal law.

kelly-il

Wow - you kindof have a sick sense of humor. I could understand you playing a joke on your friend (if you had one) but not on a complete stranger in this day and age. Your a little scary.

sarahrf

well i dont think it's what law you broke, the 30 year old man called security - they were important files!
(but maybe it was stealing?)
i dont think it was so severe that they would have doen anything to you?

jmminnc

You were luckily. He could have hurt you and it would have been your fault. That statement was a threat to him his life and his kids.

Next I am you want to joke around go to a bank and up to the teller and yell "this is a hold up" I am sue all there will get a good laugh.

MH/Citizens Protecting Rights!

You violated his right to privacy and you literally stole information from the man. If it was an April Fools joke, it wasn't very funny given how much identity theft is going on today. Also, what you did was like screaming "fire" in a theater. I don't know whether that would be considered assault, terrorist acts (because that would terrorize even the tamest of people), breaking and entering or exactly how computer crimes are characterized these days, but you definitely committed a crime. Given today's environment, I don't think people appreciate April Fools jokes anymore.

Oh, and did you even stop to think about how you might have endangered your own life? If the man was a member of the mob or a gangster and had information on that computer that could cause him trouble, your little joke might cost you your life. I'd suggest you think long and hard before you do that again and I certainly wouldn't go into that coffee shop again for about 30 years.

Emily Dew

What a hilarious joke! I can't believe the guy wasn't rolling on the floor laughing!

Hey, maybe next April Fool's Day, you can loosen the bolts on wheelchairs or stand up in a crowded theatre and start yelling "FIRE!"

Obviously, you don't have many people skills. How old are you anyway?

danili

That's a pretty dumb joke to pull. With all the threats of identity theft and the problems and troubles they cause, I wouldn't have been surprised if you said that he decked you right in the middle of the store and destroyed the computer you were holding. I know I would have.

Bethany

why in the hell would you pull a joke like that...thats just stupid...and yes since you made a false statement about being a hacker if they find you, you will be fined and probably have a hearing....and you will lose your computer

next april dont be so dumb

Brad B

Well you claimed to commit identity theft. I mean what if someone came up and said, hey i just lit your car on fire....you'd be pissed to. If it were me you'd have a nice laptop collar on when security found you.

defenseonly

Oh I get it your trying to be funny, humorous get us all to get a good laugh becuase your stupid and you obviously arent a comedian or anything maybe bored with no life at all, could be try my space you could make lots of friends on there

chuckufarley2a

Actually, yes, you did break a law.. you assaulted him as surely as you had picked up a hammer and hit him with it... with the state of security nowadays, this is as cruel as stabbing him.

Steve E

Not very funny. In this day and age people are very nervous about ID theft. You should have let him off the hook when he started hollering for security. Now he's going to be freaked for weeks. Thats just mean. Not funny.

Crabboy4

The law of common decency. That guy is canceling all his accounts because of you.

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