Re: Next steps in extortion case - ideas?

[Miles Fidelman <mfidelman () meetinghouse net>]

Justin M. Streiner wrote:

> > Finally, you fail to address the one very simple way I described to
> > determine who this scammer is: follow the money.  Make a small partial
> > payment on this supposed "debt" and see who cashes the check. Much 
> > easier
> > than trying to follow "him" around on the internet, though that would be
> > made easier in the course of negotiating a partial payment.
>
> This is much easier to do once law enforcement agencies are engaged.  
> They can trace the money trail more throughly and effectively than you 
> or I can, as civilians.

Not a bad idea.

And... forget the class action and defamation stuff.  Extortion is the 
most serious crime, and the one most likely to get law enforcement 
involved.  Start with law enforcement in your own local/national 
jurisdiction - since that's where you are.  Look to them to help track 
down where the perpetrator is, and then to law enforcement there.  Civil 
action to recover damages will be lot easier after the perpetrator has 
been located, and perhaps convicted of criminal activity.

Markus - perhaps a silly question, but have you contacted any law 
enforcement authorities yet?  Extortion, of multiple people, across 
national borders, seems like something the Federal Police might be 
interested in pursuing.  And then, if they're posting stuff on Blogspot, 
you might want to contact Google's legal folks.

Miles Fidelman

--
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In 
practice, there is. .... Yogi Berra