It's weird because this is the first time I've really been
impersonated. Prior to this case, there were other posters who
impersonated me but anyone could easily check the headers and realize
that it wasn't me posting the stuff. This time, however, I am dealing
with an invincible-invisible type of forger.
Yeah, it sure sucks.
Yes. This is the real me.
What really bothers me is that the people in the spammed newsgroups
get upset at me because think that I am responsible for the garbage
posts. Seeing the headers doesn't give them the truth that I am not
the one posting such junk. My email address is filled with angry
messages from people who think I am spamming their NGs.
Yeah, there's not much you can do. You can post a few messages in the
same groups to let people know. Or you can just ignore it. Most of the
guys that wrote you will probably figure it out on their own soon enough.
I've been using the same email address since around 1992 and I think every
spammer on the planet is used it to send spam at one time or another.
Equally-important is that if I post a serious message to those groups
-- let's say a question about electronic devices to
sci.electronic.basics because I am interested in electronics - the
people in that NG are going to think I am still the spammer. My
reputation would be ruined on Usenet and no one would take my messages
seriously even if they were genuine, non-trolling, and non-spammish.
Most people will understand you are not the spammer when you post a serious
question or take the time to actually help people.
I have a wide variety of interests in science but no own wants to
answer my interesting questions because they think I am just trying to
pester people into giving me a reaction.
Well, there are plenty of places other than Usenet these days to chat with
people about subjects you are interested in.
Most important is that I don't want to lose my Internet connection
because angry people [who think I am the culprit] complain to my ISP.
Yeah, well, that can happen. It sucks, but all you can really do is try to
explain it to them, and if they aren't willing to listen, move on with your
life and get Internet access from some place else.
Spamming is a form of net-abuse. Most -- if not all -- ISPs are
required to disconnect abusive -- or supposedly abusive -- clients
from the internet.
No, they aren't required to do that at all. They do it mostly just because
it would cost them more money if they didn't. Some save money just by
ignoring most abuse complaints.
Not doing so can make the ISP liable for the abuse
so they react by turning off the Internet connection.
It all depends on what you want to call abuse. Flooding newsgroups with
crap and forging names is not against any law. Usenet providers are not
required to cut off a user doing that. I own and and have been running a
Usenet business for over 10 years and have never seen a legal argument
suggesting I should cut off a user for doing that.
I cut off customers who abuse Usenet simply because I don't want to see
Usenet abused.
Given that the impersonator has forged my IP and header info, it's so
easy for me to be punished for a wrong I did not commit. This is what
really scares me.
Yeah that's true. However, the amount of "punishment" you will receive is
relative to the crime. Anyone that attempts to punish you knows they are
taking the risk of punishing the wrong person since nothing on Usenet is
verified and everything can be forged. As such, they won't risk hurting
you too bad. At most, all you can really expect to happen is to loose an
ISP account or a Usenet account. There are plenty of options for most
people to get Internet access these days.
The best advice is to simply not get these cyber bullies mad at you. Just
ignore them and pretend they aren't there. Let them do what they feel they
need to do and just get on with your life. The more you post messages
trying to make them stop, the more likely you are to encourage them to keep
bothering you.
If they won't go away and keep using your identity, then create a new
identity.
You can also set up your own web site to establish your true identify and
use that as a way of explaining who you really are and the problems you
have had with this form of identify thief. The more time you spend
establishing yourself as someone who cares and tries to help others, and
tries to make the net a better place for everyone, the less people will
believe any crap messages created by a forger.
