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Question
QUESTION: I was terminated from my employer on a Friday. On Sunday evening, I noticed when I logged into gmail that there was a concurrent log-in. I immediately shut it down - and tracked the IP address. It was the IP from my old employer. They had gone into my folders and deleted all of the e-mails that I had forwarded to this account from my blackberry concerning work. In addition all documents that I had personally created with sales/production numbers of my performance were also deleted - however I was able to recover these they did not delete from the trash.
The bigger issue is that I was terminated somewhat without cause, without severance and not under good terms. My boss did not give me a reason other than he basically just didn't like me anymore. I did mention that I had spoke to an attorney, at which time my boss basically said conversation over and walked out of the room. DC is an at will state, so there is basically nothing I can do. I am am thinking that my former boss thought I may try to pursue legal action, which is why they went into the e-mail to delete everything. What rights do I have concerning this issue?
Thank you in advance.
ANSWER: Hi Sarah,
I need to know what state you live in to look up the correct state laws on computer crime for you.
WHat they did is illegal and a crime, but I need to make sure I get the right laws to have you report this to the police.
Thanks
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I live in DC - and the company is located in DC. Thank you
Hi Sarah,
Well I have to admit this is the first time in all the thousands of questions that I was not able to find the laws for your location. It could be that its because its the DC area and not a "typical" state.
But I will say that in every state I have ever researched (40 to date) I have found that its always a crime. In Florida we have cyberstalking and also unathorized access are both crimes. I would check with the DC police and see just which law it is but I am willing to bet a law has been broken.
Call the DC Police to report a computer crime.
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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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