I have a serious question for all you computer experts out there. Can an email be tracked. If I am getting harassing emails from someone, but the email is from a free service (yahoo), can the internet service provider be notified. Is there any way at all to tell where the email originated from. More questions to come as you answer.
From the Yahoo terms of service: 6. MEMBER CONDUCT You understand that all information, data, text, software, music, sound, photographs, graphics, video, messages or other materials ("Content"), whether publicly posted or privately transmitted, are the sole responsibility of the person from which such Content originated. This means that you, and not Yahoo, are entirely responsible for all Content that you upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available via the Service. Yahoo does not control the Content posted via the Service and, as such, does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of such Content. You understand that by using the Service, you may be exposed to Content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable. Under no circumstances will Yahoo be liable in any way for any Content, including, but not limited to, for any errors or omissions in any Content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content posted, emailed, transmitted or otherwise made available via the Service. You agree to not use the Service to: a. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable; Your best bet would be to contact Yahoo with proof of the harassing email and ask them to terminate the account. As far as tracking the email. I am sure Yahoo can identify the ISP of the user but I am not sure If they would unless it was or became a legal matter. They don't normally just say "sure we'll tell you who this guy is no problem".
Thanks for the response. The reason I ask this is because I am taking this person to court, and this person is harrassing me. This person is smart, and will probably be sending the emails form a neutral site, like the public library. Termination of the account is not exactly what I'm looking for, what I'd like is proof of harrasment for a restraining order. So, if it goes to court, how accurately can the email be tracked. This person has no doubt used a fictitious name in the profile. Is there any way to prove that this is the same person.
not sure about that. I do know this: If it is a court matter I am sure yahoo can track where the email came fromthru IP logging. If it is traced to a place such as a library or cybercafe they should have a record of who was using the computer. i know at the library I use, they scan your library card before you can use the computers. I am not sure about a cyber-cafe but I would assume you have to use some sort of ID to gain access to their computers too. Hope everything turns out well and you catch the person. CK
Since it's from Yahoo, they may be able to do something if you tell them about it. I imagine that when the email was sent, Yahoo logged the user's IP address. With that number, you can find out who owns that IP (or block of) IP addresses. The person/company who owns that IP can then potentially find out what computer it came from. But it all depends on how the person was connected to the net. Also, if he is using an IP Spoofer, then it becomes a problem. I had to do that kindof thing once when someone posted Pr0n in a guestbook. I tracked him down and scared the CRAP out of him He was 15 or something . . . Anyhow, are you suing this person because of the emails or something else?
Look at the headers of the email. There should at least be an IP present unless he/she's managed to mung it. Even if the message comes from yahoo, the origination was from some computer. You may be able to get this from the headers.
