A new breed of vigilante has set its sights on exposing predators trying to lure children online — using nothing but their smartphones to do so.These self-proclaimed pedophile hunters set up fake social media profiles, masquerading as vulnerable teens, to turn the tables on the so-called “creeps.” The online chats turn into real-world confrontations, and the smartphones used to arrange these meetings become cameras to record them.Hundreds of Canadians from across the country have been put in the spotlight when these groups post videos to sites such as Facebook and YouTube. A handful of them have faced criminal charges. Together, the videos have millions of views.But a W5 investigation of the largest vigilante network of its type in Canada, the Creep Catchers, has found their cameras often don’t tell the whole story. Cases with truly horrifying chats have been lumped in with chats that show no evidence of any sexual intent, the nationwide network’s enormous online audience never knowing the difference.Critics say the group doesn’t understand the law, and may be motivated less by a pursuit of justice as a pursuit of fame and social media reach, which can lead to money.“My feeling was more or less anger toward the people who did this,” said Eric Rajah, the father of a young man targeted near Red Deer, Alta. In the video, the Red Deer Creep Catcher accuses Rajah’s son of inviting a 15-year-old boy over for the night. The young man denies it in tears.“I’m not a creep. I’m not a molester. I’m nothing,” he says.W5 has reviewed the chat logs in that case and found no sexual content. The young man said he was offering help to a teenager who said he was growing up gay in rural Alberta. The chat logs show the pair meeting “just as friends.”Rajah said video had caused his 22-year-old son tremendous distress and damaged his reputation. “They are using our so ...
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