Advice about a harasser

[pc]

Hi,
I have been harassed by someone via email since Nov of 1998. He/she has threatened to kill me, hack my site and called me every profane word known to man. After 6 plus months of this, I can take no more.

I have already had this person cancelled from 3 or 4 ISP's but they will not give up. I don't even know WHY they are harassing me.

What I would like to know is what organizations are out there to report this type of abuse to and get results to stop this? I don't have any idea where to start. This may be some kid doing this, but I don't think it's funny and I don't appreciate the abuse.

And yes, per Deb's instructions, I have contacted the IP's listed in the email headers. But I don't just want this person's account cancelled, I want this to stop altogether. Evidently, having his/her account cancelled will not stop them. They just get a new ISP and continue on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I am very frustrated by this whole situation. I don't know why anyone would want to act this way.

Thank you,
PC

p.s. I just received a new threat today and just want this resolved.

[Armand]

Only thing I can think of is legal action.[nbsp][nbsp]Stalking, harassment and death threats are all illegal actions (at least in U.S.). An ISP (even a former one) could be made to hand over info such as address and name I would assume, which would help track and capture this individual.[nbsp][nbsp]Not sure exactly who you would contact as far as legal recourse, might start with local constabulary and see what they say.

[Justin]

If you have had him/her kicked off of more than one ISP and can get something from them - a letter I suppose - that might help. One ISP can say anything, but if several ISP's have kicked him for the same reason that should be grounds for legal action.

NOTE: I am not a lawyer, etc etc - just my 2 cents :)

Justin

[pc]

Thanks for the replies.

My problem is not knowing where to begin. I haven't had any luck finding anything on the net yet.

While I'm sure this guy isn't going to kill me. It is rather unnerving to have someone say this to you. Evidently, he doesn't know how to hack a site either or he would have already done it...as many times as he has threatened to.

My across the street neighbor is a police officer, although he heads the narcotics division, maybe he can help me get this started.

Have a nice weekend!
pc

[Bi4Be]

Hmmmm... do you reply to these e-mails sent to you?

If they are only by e-mail, and they don't have your real name and contact info (which can unfortunatly be received through Network Polutions :( ) I would just change ISP's and addresses. Then I'd have his e-mail blocked and returned somehow on your FQ accounts... is this possible, nice people over at FQ? :D

<font color=#FF0000>Disclaimer:
I am not a lawer or know anything about laws or stalking. Do not hold me responsible for anything I have said here as I am not even sure what I am talking about.</font>

I know how you feel though, I've received a couple threats from someone too. Not online, just a punk threat in real life... it does make you paranoid for a little while and a little worried even when I knew nothing was going to happen.

Best wishes,
-Bi4Be

PS: Maybe you could send a letter stating you'd take legal action or a cease and desist letter by certified return receipt US Postal mail? If it has happened for six months you might even consider having advice from a lawer, I know I'd be considering it or at least calling one of those &quot;Free Consultation&quot; 800 hot lines that some lawers have. ???

[pc]

No way! I don't reply to lunatics!! I think that would only encourage him more, if that's possible.

And yes, he knows my name. He's used it in several emails and nasty guestbook entries.

His insults don't bother me, although of course, I would prefer not to be called every profane word this moron knows. What bothers me is this continued threat of hacking and[nbsp][nbsp]death threats. What gets me is that I don't even know why this nut is doing this.

I reported his email of yesterday to the mail service he was using and to the IP listed in the email headers and requested that if the REAL culprit is found, that I be informed of his name, etc. If this is some kid, he needs to learn some manners and know that he can't go around threatening people.

Someone told me I need to report this to the FBI. ;) Now wouldn't they laugh?

Needless to say, my hubby is none too thrilled about all this either.

The problem with the email thing is that he just gets a new address at a free email service. Once he was stupid enough to use his ISP's email after I had just had him kicked off of one. He was kicked off the first one because I had his IP address from a guestbook entry. Which brings me to another question...the feature that sends me a &quot;remote host&quot; number from guestbook entries has suddenly stopped working. Any ideas why?

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. If you don't hear from me again, you'll know what happened! ;o)

[Bi4Be]

So why don't you just change YOUR e-mail address?

Of course the Internic things and all would be messed up, but if I was you I'd just change ISP's or something. And if they e-mail you at FQ accounts, ask FQ if it's possible to block them.

Hmmm....[nbsp]

[pc]

Well, I don't want to change my address. It is the main address I use for the site and most of my visitors know it as well. It would take a week just to get a change of address done for all the things I get emailed.

Besides that, even if there were a way to block nutso's mail, all he would have to do is get a new email address from all these free email services. That's what he's doing right now. Here's an example: the offending mail from the other day came from besthacker@anywhereusa.com which is from MyOwnMail. He uses this account wizmaster@metallicafan.com (also MyOwnMail) as his contact email for the besthacker addy. His contact email for wizmaster@metallicafan.com is wizmaster@mailcity.com. See what I mean. These all probably contain false information about him. There's no telling how many accounts like this he has.

I really panicked today when the server's were down. I thought that maybe he was making his hacking threat a reality. Glad that wasn't so!!

Just adding an update...my policeman neighbor is helping me obtain some subpoena's to have this persons account information released and press charges against him. Hopefully this will end this harassment.


[This message has been edited by pc (edited 06-03-99)]

[zeegraf]

Best bet is to contact your friendly local law enforcement agency. They can advise you as to the proper officials to contact, and a course of action to take. AFAIK, threats like you're receiving can be considered terrorist threats and therefore are of interest to the FBI.
------------------
Don Z.
www.zeegraf.com (http://www.zeegraf.com)

"To poldly mow air moebius
gumby four" --Kirk on Novacaine

[pc]

Hi Don,
My policeman neighbor is handling this for me. He's already been talking to the DA's office and people from &quot;The Bureau.&quot; ;) (He's the head of Narcotics, so he knows all these people)

This last ISP is just waiting on us to get the subpoena's to them. I think we're going to subpoena one of the other ISP's for their records also.

All this trouble because some nut won't leave you alone. It's a shame he couldn't be doing something more constructive with his time.