What to do about a cyber stalker?

[scottcsmith]

One of my pet projects is the exposure of people who falsely claim to be combat veterans. There are many people who are taking advantage of the current war in an effort to deceive others.

There was one fellow on a news group who claimed to be a retired Army colonel. At first I believed him, but he began to lose credibility when he made some outlandish claims regarding his pension. So, I decided to check out his story with the U.S. Army's record center in St. Louis. As I expected, this individual did not have an Army record.

After exposing the fraud, I received what I take to be a threat, in the form of a message posted to the news group. The person I had exposed mentioned my web site, and how angry "veterans" had written to me. He said he was going to post my actual mailing address. Here's part of the post (and yes, this guy writes about himself in the third person):

"The Colonel will be monitoring his site for further developments. In an upcoming post, The Colonel will be providing Scott's actual mailing address so that the real vets he trashes on his web page can personally get in touch with him to address their concerns."

Now, I took that as a threat against me and my family. I reported the e-mail to his ISP. I'm wondering if he crossed the line with that post and inched his way close to a felony. Any thoughts?

[ProudGerman]

1. 3rd person?

People who refer to themselves in the third person should automatically be locked up in a padded room.

The German is not amused.

[izzie]

11. Izzie is very mad also. She thinks third party people are nuts,

n/t

[Booberdawg]

2. Have you received a response from the ISP?

I can't believe they would allow him to post your mailing address??

on edit: years ago I belonged to some ACLU message boards - where ANYTHING goes - and even they would not allow personal information like addresses and phone numbers to be posted.

[scottcsmith]

4. Hasn't posted it yet

I reported it as soon as he posted the threat. I'm waiting to see if he follows up on it. Nothing so far.

[Booberdawg]

10. I tried to find something on google but not having much luck

I'm pretty certain an ISP wouldn't allow him to post identifying info like your address, phone number, etc., and if he did they would take if off and probably expell him.

Sorry to hear you are having attacks posted against you. Can't be pleasant to go through.

[CarlBallard]

3. That sounds like an actual stalker, not a cyber one

I mean Christ. Whats the point of giving out your address? Does he think a letter would be more convincing than an e-mail? I'd definately take it as a threat. While its probably legal to print your address even without your permission, it might be against the TOS of his ISP, so mailing them was a good thing.

If your mailing address is your home address, it seems like he's inviting people to go to your house and haras you. If anybody does, maybe a lawsuit is in order. But its too bad if it has to come to that.

[scottcsmith]

5. Seems only one reason for it

Which would be to "encourage" someone to actually come to my home. That's why I'm concerned.

[CarlBallard]

6. It may just be a threat

If he hasn't put your address up he might be trying to get you to take down the fact that he's a liar. It could be a bluff to intimidate you.I realize calling his bluff isn't a risk you'd want to take if a possibility is that crazy people show up at your house, though.

A question might be how he got your address. I mean Smith is a pretty comon name, so I doubt it was just using the yellow pages. I can't imagine your ISP giving it away. Are you even sure he has it, or could it all just be bullshit?

[scottcsmith]

9. I don't think he has it...

...but for $10 you can get any address through a service like People Finder. I looked at all the free services to locate people and none had my address. It's not readily available anywhere, and the address I have listed if you do a WHOIS on my domain is a false address.

[Padraig18]

7. I'd call my local PD.

He's made a veiled threat by telephonic means, which is indeed a felony. Don't screw around with your ISP-- go to the police.

[Maddy McCall]

8. I have a friend who was stalked and the individual threatened to post

personal information on the forum to retalliate against the person who had requested--numerous times--to be left alone.

I don't think the person who was stalked got the ISP involved. Hopefully, it fizzled out.

The thing about the internet and forums like these is that you ought to know going in that you cannot trust that other people are who they say they are. Hope this guy leaves you alone, though. Maybe someone with a law background can tell you if it's illegal or not.

Good luck. :hi:

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

12. hey

Take this seriously.

www.cyber-stalking.net

[scottcsmith]

13. No messages all day

I've been checking the news group and the person I was talking about hasn't posted anything all day. I suspect his ISP and Yahoo took this thing seriously (I hope).

[Booberdawg]

16. Good! Maybe they bounced the fucker!

:thumbsup:

[scottcsmith]

14. An update

Ever since I contacted the stalker's ISP and Yahoo, he has not posted any messages to the news group. I don't know if that's significant or not. This guy usually posts every single day and hasn't actually posted anything since Friday night.

[amazona]

15. he was just trying to scare you, i think

It sounds like it was a bluff to claim that he had your address.

I've been through something similar. Don't remember if they posted my address, but they knew it, as they called me and aleft a threat on my answering machine at my unlisted number.

The police weren't interested, and in many areas, such a stalker would not be taken seriously unless he did more. Talk and threats are cheap. In any case, nothing more ever came of it. If they really intended to harm you, it would be foolish to make public threats.

[Nlighten1]

17. Get a PO box for you address on your website.