Hey Toonces

[Mr. Foreman]

Hypothetical question for you. If someone were dancing about the internet using your email address, name, etc and signing you up for all kinds of BS prizes, programs, tests, etc; and you just happened to discover that a few of the sites were friendly enough to provide you with the perps IPA, and you just happened to be able to track the IPA to a specific ISP who just happened to be friendly enough to isolate the events and identify the individual; (Deep breath!) What do you think you would do next with the information?

 

[Toonces]

Hypothetically if I were to offer you friendly non professional suggestions I might say:

On the criminal side of things, I am not sure who the government enforcement entity is for internet crimes or fraud. I would expect its the FBI due to the interstate aspect of it. I am not really up on criminal law but there are probably some new identity theft statutes on the books that may be specifically applicable.

I would contact your local FBI office for starters and see if they can help or direct you to someone who can. You could also try your state attorney general or the US attorney.

On the civil side of things, if you have suffered some kind of loss, and you know who the perpetrator is, you may be able to sue them for fraud, maybe some kind of invasion of privacy or defamation action might also be appropriate. Its sounds like you have suffered no measurable loss, so a lawsuit for monetary damages is probably not the way to go. If it keeps up you could seek equitable relief in the form of an injunction or restraining order against the perpetrator.

 

[Mr. Foreman]

Thanks Toonces; we are on the same wavelength. No, no loss as far as I know at present although I did receive a veiled billing for a membership I had supposedly signed for. Those folk were very cooperative. I have packaged hardcopy for both the FBI and State AG offices. A third set went to the FCC. We'll see what happens next. Thanks for your hypothetical input!

 

[Toonces]

Good luck.

 

[Nemont]