How do I undo today? How could a perfectly structured Saturday morning be ruined with just a simple text message from a stranger?
On our way home, from a luncheon with my family (Mom, Dad, and my 9 year old daughter) I received a text message from one of my cousins.
"Call me ASAP!!"
Curious, I dialed my phone right away, not knowing that the next few minutes (or days) will turn out to be the most embarrassing moment of my life...
My cousin works as a NOC Nurse at a local community hospital in San Francisco; she was asleep and was awaken by a strange text message. At first, she couldn't tell me what's going on; I could also hear the voice of her husband in the background...
ROVI: "I just got a text message from a "702" area code; and I think it is a picture of YOU!! I had to zoom in the photo attachment, and it is YOU, indeed!!"
RIX: "okay, so what if it's me?"
ROVI: "It's not a very good picture and it is very explicit!"
To make the long story short.. It is a photo of myself engaged in an ordinary "marital activity" (like most married couples do) and it was taken many years ago. I do not recall someone taking a picture of me during that time. The person sent the photo to numerous people; mostly my immediate relatives and friends from different States. All of them were appalled & offended. Why would someone do that to somebody? By the way, that particular photo belongs to my former spouse (I contacted him & he admitted he owns the photo), who still lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
My phone was ringing like crazy; been getting calls from people here in California, Nevada, and Texas. They all got the text message. I can't think straight, but I have to stay focused. I am normally level-headed; but this time, I was a bit derailed.
After speaking with few of my relatives and trusted friends, I decided to contact the cell phone carrier of the "unknown person". T-Mobile confirmed & acknowledged that the mentioned phone number is indeed from them. BUT.. they cannot do anything to help me. While still talking to a customer service representative, she advised me to contact our local police department to file a complaint.
Feeling so helpless, I contacted Hercules Police Department and was transferred to an officer. He took all pertinent information and I was told the he'll call me back. After a few hours had passed, I called him to check on the progress of the complaint. The officer told me that they cannot do anything for me either. I asked if I am able to obtain a copy or a report of my complaint; and was told to just come by anytime.
I NEED HELP!!
Is anyone out there experiencing something similar or has anyone experienced this exact dilemma? I definitely do not want this to happen to anybody. Definitely not your sister, daughter, girlfriend, wife or mother. I know there's a new Law that was passed last year regarding Cyber Harassment, Cyber Stalker and a very recent phenomenon called REVENGE PORN. I would like to help STOP this! And definitely press charges to whomever is responsible for this. If you are also a victim, contact me, please help me, give me advice. We can even support each other just to get us thru this horrible experience. I will try to post updates here on a daily basis.
Thank you for reading and have a good night!
