I have just seen this thread whilst posting online for participants for my dissertation study. I don’t know how else I confirm that I am not police other than to repeat the details I gave in my original postings, which were not linked to here in this thread, nor I suspect were they investigated before I was deemed guilty.
On the webpages where I have requested participants, which have not been linked to here, I have provided multiple details to try and avoid a situation like this.
I will repost them here:
I have put a lot of preparation into this study and it is the most important piece of work of my degree. If you have any concerns whatsoever that this is some sort of undercover police operation, please do contact the university or my supervisor for confirmation of my status as a student and the legitimacy of this project.