Author Topic: Tracing Someone Through Email Address  (Read 1286 times)

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Offline medic09

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Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« on: September 24, 2009, 09:30:29 PM »
Can anyone tell me how to go about tracing someone's identity back through their email and internet activity?  I tried PMing Firecracker, but I don't think he's been around.

A buddy of mine runs a small, legal shop out of his garage.  Does some repairs and maintenance, and buys and turns around cheap motorbikes.  He is usually pretty generous with his time and efforts.  Has helped me and my wife many times with all many of bike-related tasks, and other things.

He runs a regular ad on Craigslist under the Motorcycles For Sale section.  Someone has targeted him.  Flags all his posts, even though other folks advertise services as well.  They post ads pretending to be him, they post ads mocking and slandering him.  It has gotten beyond obnoxious; and I would like to help him out but I don't know how.  I actually emailed back and forth with the obnoxious character, but he has a Hotmail account so I know nothing.

Any ideas appreciated.  Thanks all.
Mordechai

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Offline Sam Green Racing

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2009, 09:38:28 PM »
Have a look for that thread a few weeks back over the fuse boxes, there were a few people posting on there that seemed to be clued up.

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Offline Gordon

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2009, 09:43:58 PM »
Unless he uses that email address as a username on internet forums there's not really anything you can find out from it, unfortunately.  If he were doing something truly illegal like making threats or similar, then then the authorities could find him through his IP address, but it doesn't sound like he's gone far enough for them to do anything about it.  

It sounds like it might be one of your friend's competitors, though.  Maybe do a little undercover work and check in with other people advertising similar services in his area on Craigslist, and see if any of the email addresses match up.  It's possible this person is dumb enough to use his real email address in his harassment campaign.  

Offline DammitDan

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2009, 09:55:52 PM »
That's not a bad idea...

If you can get them to reply, there's a good chance they'll use their real email instead of their account email.
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Offline seaweb11

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2009, 11:15:05 PM »
pm sent

Offline razor02097

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2009, 04:42:03 AM »
checking around sites like myspace, twitter and such also helps.  You would be suprized how much info people will give out on the net.
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2009, 12:42:52 PM »
You would be suprized how much info people will give out on the net.

Not after the "Brimmer" debacle. :o :o

Offline sangyo soichiro

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2009, 01:06:03 PM »
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Offline CaféElite

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2009, 01:15:15 PM »
pm sent

Seaweb scares me.

Well the quickest ways I know are all illegal so I wont suggest them and I wonder if he has. Dont resort to cime (brute force passwords, guessing passphrase for secret question, etc etc) unless you know how to cover your tracks. I would probably start with email the craigslist admin with the situation to see if that helps.

Than again seaweb could be or have a man on the inside...
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Offline medic09

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2009, 02:53:43 PM »
Seaweb's a smart fella.  I'm not worried that he'll do or suggest anything untoward.

I emailed Craigslist when all this got out of hand.  That effort went nowhere fast.  I even contacted our County Emergency Dispatch manager after the harasser posted their number in one of his ads as his contact number.  They were too lazy to investigate as long as it didn't actually bring them more calls.
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Offline seaweb11

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2009, 05:49:28 PM »
Still heavy in to new pond construction, but I will now give it some of my time in the evenings. ;D  See what I can come up with........... ;)

Offline boatsdickson

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2009, 01:49:21 AM »
Quote
Still heavy in to new pond construction

Quote
pm sent

.... Koi pond? or a place to put the body?  Hmmmm  ;D
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #12 on: September 26, 2009, 03:40:20 AM »
Hmm, maybe they're looking for Jimmy Hoffa in the wrong country.  ::)
We'll all be someone else's PO some day.

Offline medic09

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2009, 07:18:17 PM »
I love you guys.  You really crack me up!  ;D
Mordechai

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Offline gregimotis

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2009, 07:23:04 PM »
I guess this is Dave getting hassled, Medic?  What a bummer, he seems like a real stand up fellow.
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Offline seaweb11

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #15 on: September 26, 2009, 07:27:43 PM »
I have to admit, I'm not getting very far :P

Offline medic09

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Re: Tracing Someone Through Email Address
« Reply #16 on: September 26, 2009, 07:52:48 PM »
I guess this is Dave getting hassled, Medic?  What a bummer, he seems like a real stand up fellow.

Yeah, Greg, it is Dave.  Someone has a real vendetta going against him.
Mordechai

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'76 Triumph T160 Trident (rebuilding)
'07 aprilia Caponord

Santa Fe, NM