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Computer Law/Hacking e-mail

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Expert: - 8/27/2008


Question
I have an account that I am the owner of and set the account up for a friend to use.  She has my permission to use the account but, her husband has hacked into her computer to gain access to this account.  Since I am the owner of the account I feel that the wrong doing was done against me.  I live in Virginia but my friend lives in Florida.  The husband says that he had a PI do the work for him. I do not think it was a PI.  Who should file a report and where should the report be filed?

Answer
Hi Barry,

Internet/ Computer crime can be filed at either the victims or suspects location so either is OK to file a report.

If someone accesses another persons e-mail or computer network, its against  the law.

Go look at the Virginia laws:
18.2-152.2 Definitions  
18.2-152.3 Computer fraud; penalty  
18.2-152.3:1 Transmission of unsolicited bulk electronic mail (spam); penalty  
18.2-152.4 Computer trespass; penalty  
18.2-152.5 Computer invasion of privacy; penalties  
18.2-152.5:1 Using a computer to gather identifying information; penalties.  
18.2-152.6 Theft of computer services; penalties  
18.2-152.7 Personal trespass by computer; penalty  
18.2-152.7:1 Harassment by computer; penalty  
18.2-152.8 Property capable of embezzlement  
18.2-152.9 , 18.2-152.10  
18.2-152.11 Article not exclusive  
18.2-152.12 Civil relief; damages  
18.2-152.13 Severability  
18.2-152.14 Computer as instrument of forgery  

here : http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC18020000005000000000000

And see if any of those fit your situation. Fla its under FSS 815.

What he did, with or without a PI, is illegal. I would have the person in Florida file the report. Is the women going to do that against her husband? If not you would need to do it in VA.

Be well...  

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Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I can answer questions concerning Computer Crime Investigations and Internet investigations including Computer Crime Laws both at the State level and Federal level. I can answer questions on almost any crime in which a computer is used. In addition I can answer questions concerning copywrite infringement (peer to peer, and copying). I served as a police Commander and conducted and still conduct Computer Crime Investigations at the Local, State and Federal level. I have investigated all most any kind of crime with which or which involved a computer and the internet, from murders, kidnappings, extortion, drug dealing and more. I can answer questions concerning Computer Forensics (the art of recovering information from a suspects computer), Computer Crime Investigations and Internet Investigations. I am a Federally Court Recognized Expert in Computer Crime and Computer Forensics. I have worked in both Facebook and MySPace, also in Peer to Peer investigations. In addition I can answer questions concerning child predators and how to make your children safer on-line. I teach Computer Forensics, Internet Investigations, Peer to Peer Investigations and other computer crime related subjects for several colleges and the Institute of Police Technology and Management. My hobby webpage - Military Videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487

Experience

I conduct computer crime investigations in conjunction with the F.B.I., Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, and University of Florida Police Department, Levi County Sheriff’s Office, Starke Police Department and other agencies in the North Florida Court District. I provide the forensic data recovery services for those agencies as well as internet tracing and information gathering. I am a Federal Court Certified Expert in Computer Crime Investigations and Forensics. I teach Computer Forensics for the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. I also teach Computer Crime courses for Tallahassee Community College, Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Training Center. Associate Instructor; teach Computer Crime courses thorough out the world for IPTM. Presently Teach Cyber Crime Investigations, Computer Crime Investigations and Computer Forensic Data Recovery Course.

Education/Credentials
2 Degrees in Criminal Justice, now teach college level Data Forensics classes

Awards and Honors
Awarded the FBI Directors Award for assisting the FBI in a National Computer Crime Investigation. Awarded Dec 2002

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