Crime & Safety

Police Say Bloomfield Hills Woman Targeted Through MocoSpace

Harassing texts sent after information was found on controversial social gaming and networking site tied to a string of recent crimes in Detroit.

 

A Bloomfield Hills woman was the unsuspecting recipient of text messages and photos from a stranger that found her through MocoSpace.com, police said.

Officers with the took a report of harassing text messages filed Tuesday at about 11 a.m. by a 62-year-old woman from the 100 block of Pinegate Street, according to reports. She said the texts and photos were unwanted and from a man she didn't know. An officer contacted the sender who indicated he found the resident's contact information on the MocoSpace.com website.

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The site started as a virtual gathering spot among the gaming community that specifically focused on mobile devices. It offers free mobile chatting and gaming experiences.

Police Chief Rick Matott said the resident had never used the site and was unaware how her personal contact information was posted there. She was expected to contact the company and follow up.

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The reporting officer contacted the man and advised him to cease contact with the resident or face potential criminal charges for harassment, Matott said. Further details about the man or where he was from were unavailable.

The incident comes just after the site was tied to multiple crimes under investigation in Detroit. Detroit police said the site is the common link between three recent sexual assault victims who originally met their alleged attackers online.

A representative from MocoSpace, which has 11 million members, did not immediately return request for comment. The social and gaming community states on its website that the company complies with recommendations agreed upon by the Internet Safety Technical Task Force.

The Detroit incidents are not the first crimes with a MocoSpace connection, according to the HuffingtonPost. Previous cases have been reported in Albuquerque and Virginia, the site reports.

For questions about this report, email Art.Aisner@Patch.com.


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