Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

March 11, 2009

A Florida woman is understandably upset after someone posted a message on Xbox Live advertising that her two-year-old daughter was for sale - and included her home phone number. The offer included free shipping.

As reported by the Charlotte Sun, Christa Manos of Punta Gorda began receiving angry phone calls from Xbox Live users on Saturday night.:

The [first caller] was furious Manos would consider putting a price tag on her child.

At first, it sounded like a prank. But the phone kept ringing, with more and more angry voices from across the United States. Some just cursed at Manos. Others called her a bad mother. She didn't know what they were talking about.

"By the 18th or 19th call, I knew something wasn't right," Manos said.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

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Comments

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by chadachada321 on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 20:18.

From a troll standpoint, this is freaking hilarious. I mean, come on, if I wanted to pull a prank, this is definitely a fantastic one.

However, I would never do something like this unprovoked, and if this happened to me I would be incredibly pissed. I'm wondering about the specifics of this though, like where it was said and such.

-If an apple a day keeps the doctor away....what happens when a doctor eats an apple?-

-Optimum est pati quod emendare non possis-It is best to endure what you cannot change-

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by Kojiro on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 15:44.

The idiots on Xbox Live believed these messages? I would have thought that the members of Live, being a generally younger crowd, would be more savy to bullshit like this.

(Don't get me wrong, I said "savy," not "mature.")

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by MonkeyPeaches on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 15:28.

I don't see how it could get on xbox live from craigslist since you the 360 doesn't have an internet browser.

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by strathmeyer on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 12:29.

Can someone tell us how to post things on Xbox Live??? And how to read things people have posted???

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by catboy_j on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 11:51.

I am amused that so many people insist xbox live isn't that bad, but it makes the news so often lol. And not for saving children.

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by JC on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 05:51.

I'm amazed it took her 18 calls for her to register it as "wasn't right" ....

At most, I'd expect most people to be worried by the 3rd~5th one...

Poor woman though, especially with the way Florida is right now with Caylee Anthony case; can only imagine how quickly that can escalate.

I wish the article would clarify where the ad was, but I'm guessing craiglist with a reference to the xboxlive gamertag.

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 06:17.

The article says it originated on XBox Live. Where I don't know. Had it been posted on Craigslist I am sure they would have mentioned it.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by JC on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 08:06.

The thing is, how was this information modified? I think it is a bit difficult to get into another's Gamertag without leaving a glaring record for MS to find the culprit or whatever. Meh, it is just very odd to see this.

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by MechaTama31 on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 09:13.

Who says it was her gamertag? If somebody knows your phone number and your child's name, they can pull a prank like this using any gamertag they like. It's not like anybody else on Live is going to know that the gamertag and phone number don't match up.

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by CyberSkull on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 05:34.

So where was the message posted? On a user profile or in the forums? Either case the message should be tied to a user account.

Re: Nasty Prank: Woman's Child Offered for Sale on Xbox Live

Submitted by Seanovan on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 02:38.

My guess is that it started on xbox live(voice chat) and was spread through a privately run forum for xbox fans.

Shout box

Andrew Eisen: Sleaker - Fixed.06/18/2013 - 6:34pm

MechaTama31: CMiner: Another issue is that every camera/webcam combination is going to be pretty different, in terms of the software/hardware exploits available. A homogenous hardware/software combo like a console, in millions of homes, will be a much juicier target.06/18/2013 - 6:31pm

Sleaker: Vox pay what you want link is busted.06/18/2013 - 6:27pm

ZippyDSMlee: Mics have to breath put tape over it.06/18/2013 - 6:25pm

NyuRena: You nailed it James! Yikes..06/18/2013 - 1:56pm

james_fudge: With MS willing to share with the government, an always listening device should give everyone pause.06/18/2013 - 1:37pm

james_fudge: you can't turn off the Microphone on the Kinect and it has to be plugged in. It's not rocket science.06/18/2013 - 1:35pm

E. Zachary Knight: The Humble Bundle Guys just don't like me having money in my pocket do they? https://www.humblebundle.com/06/18/2013 - 1:12pm

E. Zachary Knight: CMiner, I know that my Android camera is off unless I am using an application that turns it on. Same with the microphone.06/18/2013 - 12:38pm

CMiner: Can you turn off the camera on an iPhone? Like, -really- turn it off, not just change a setting that -tells- you the camera is off?06/18/2013 - 12:13pm

james_fudge: when they make it a requirement, yes they are06/18/2013 - 12:10pm

CMiner: I just don't think Microsoft bears any more (or less) responsibility for privacy with its Kinect camera than do the makers of laptops or smartphones with integrated cameras.06/18/2013 - 12:00pm

Imautobot: The ability to operate the console without the camera is key. It's a peripheral, not directly integrated into the console, and yet it behaves as if it is. Thankfully I don't have kids, and won't have an Xbone either.06/18/2013 - 11:49am

CMiner: Oh, I agree that the decision to make the kinect mandatory/always listening is terrible.06/18/2013 - 11:48am

E. Zachary Knight: CMiner, and the easier the provider makes to do such things, the better. The fact that the XBone will not even funtion without it plugged in and turned on in some fashion makes a world of difference from a PC Webcam.06/18/2013 - 11:38am

CMiner: It takes steps on the user's part to ensure 100% privacy (unplugging, uninstalling, putting tape over it, not putting it in the kid's rooms, etc)06/18/2013 - 11:29am

CMiner: My point is that no webcam producing company can guarantee that no one will ever ever ever be able to access video from that webcam without your knowledge and permission06/18/2013 - 11:28am

E. Zachary Knight: Of course at that point, you are still opening up yourself to Windows zero day vulnerabilities and back doors that they are happy to share with the government before Windows users.06/18/2013 - 11:26am

E. Zachary Knight: Cminer, I don't because I wipe the OS and reinstall something more secure, Linux. Even still, just wiping the OS and reinstalling Windows fresh removes all the bloatware PC companies install.06/18/2013 - 11:26am

E. Zachary Knight: I agree that the Kinect requirement of the XBone has my civil liberty senses tingling. Just another nail in the coffin for me.06/18/2013 - 11:25am

All shouts

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