If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it 1,000 times: these so-called “anonymous” messaging apps simply aren’t anonymous. To put it another way, if you’re dumb enough to make violent threats on them, you’ll get caught.
According to a newly released federal criminal complaint, Garrett Grimsley of Cary, North Carolina, allegedly used the Whisper app to make such remarks on February 19. Hours later, local police and the FBI arrived at his door to search his apartment.
As per an FBI affidavit, Grimsley (under the name “Spark_Pure”) wrote in a public post: “Salam, some of you are alright, don’t go to Cary tomorrow.” Another Whisper user, who was not named in the affidavit but is referred to as an unnamed “cooperating witness (CW),” responded: “Why—what’s happening in Cary tomorrow?”