Man held over hoax quake e-mails - GoFuckYourself.com

DVTimes · 01-02-2005, 02:46 PM

A man is being questioned after hoax e-mails were sent telling relatives of people missing following the Asian tsunami that their loved ones had died.
A hoaxer, claiming to be from the Thai "Foreign Office Bureau", contacted people whose appeals for help had been posted on the Sky News website.

Police said they had arrested a 40-year-old man in Lincolnshire on 31 December and seized computer equipment.

He was bailed but then rearrested on Saturday and transferred to London.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said the man had been detained on New Year's Eve in a joint operation with Lincolnshire police.

Scotland Yard's Specialist Crime Computer Unit is in charge of the investigation into the e-mails.

In an earlier statement, the police stressed the government would not use e-mail to inform people of a death.

The bogus address used is [email protected].

Anyone receiving such an e-mail should treat it with the utmost caution, police said.

'Vital' information source

A spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service would like to reassure the public that these messages are hoaxes.

"The internet is a vital source of information for many of those affected by the terrible events in South East Asia, and we would not wish to discourage people from continuing to use it."

In a statement, Sky News said: "We are disgusted at the abuse of this message board, designed for friends and relatives caught up in the tsunami disaster.

"As soon as Sky News online was alerted to the fact that a hoaxer had been emailing some of those who had posted messages, pretending to be a British Government official, it informed the Metropolitan Police and is actively co-operating with them. It also posted a story online to alert users."

The hoax e-mailer could face charges of malicious communication or causing a public nuisance.

The police have urged anyone wanting information about friends, relatives and loved ones to continue using the Foreign Office emergency number on 020 7008 0000.

The number is only for people in the UK who are concerned about the welfare of UK nationals they believe may have been in the affected areas, and not for those seeking travel advice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4140375.stm

xclusive · 01-02-2005, 02:49 PM

what a scumbag

TheFrog · 01-02-2005, 02:50 PM

>> The bogus address used is [email protected].

I know phishing scams work, but doesnt this seem a little stupid to anyone? If he falsifies an e-mail address from AOL for the UK government, this guy's a fucking moron.

Seriously though, this guy is preying on people's insecurities about the status loved ones & relatives and deserves everything he gets in return for this from the law...

digifan · 01-02-2005, 03:50 PM

This really suck.. and it was a 40 yr guy not even a kiddo

TheMob · 01-02-2005, 03:58 PM

what a fucking pathetic loser

Manowar · 01-02-2005, 04:57 PM

Not condoning what he did or anything, but what actual crime did he commit ?

dasexi1 · 01-02-2005, 05:05 PM

I just don't understand what would posses someone to do something like that.
that is such a cruel thing to do to people who are already suffering
he should be hung by his balls and whipped with rusty barbed wire

nick3131 · 01-02-2005, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manowar

Not condoning what he did or anything, but what actual crime did he commit ?

Fraud

Impersonating a government agent.

Spam

Just for starters, im sure they'll tag on a bunch of others.

01-02-2005, 02:46 PM	#1
DVTimes xxx Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: UK Posts: 31,547	Man held over hoax quake e-mails A man is being questioned after hoax e-mails were sent telling relatives of people missing following the Asian tsunami that their loved ones had died. A hoaxer, claiming to be from the Thai "Foreign Office Bureau", contacted people whose appeals for help had been posted on the Sky News website. Police said they had arrested a 40-year-old man in Lincolnshire on 31 December and seized computer equipment. He was bailed but then rearrested on Saturday and transferred to London. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said the man had been detained on New Year's Eve in a joint operation with Lincolnshire police. Scotland Yard's Specialist Crime Computer Unit is in charge of the investigation into the e-mails. In an earlier statement, the police stressed the government would not use e-mail to inform people of a death. The bogus address used is [email protected]. Anyone receiving such an e-mail should treat it with the utmost caution, police said. 'Vital' information source A spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service would like to reassure the public that these messages are hoaxes. "The internet is a vital source of information for many of those affected by the terrible events in South East Asia, and we would not wish to discourage people from continuing to use it." In a statement, Sky News said: "We are disgusted at the abuse of this message board, designed for friends and relatives caught up in the tsunami disaster. "As soon as Sky News online was alerted to the fact that a hoaxer had been emailing some of those who had posted messages, pretending to be a British Government official, it informed the Metropolitan Police and is actively co-operating with them. It also posted a story online to alert users." The hoax e-mailer could face charges of malicious communication or causing a public nuisance. The police have urged anyone wanting information about friends, relatives and loved ones to continue using the Foreign Office emergency number on 020 7008 0000. The number is only for people in the UK who are concerned about the welfare of UK nationals they believe may have been in the affected areas, and not for those seeking travel advice. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4140375.stm __________________ The Affiliate Program

01-02-2005, 02:49 PM	#2
xclusive Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 35,218	what a scumbag __________________ I support MediumPimpin.com / Shemp's Outlawtgp.com /

01-02-2005, 03:50 PM	#4
digifan The Profiler Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: ICQ 76281726 and I'm female Posts: 14,618	This really suck.. and it was a 40 yr guy not even a kiddo __________________ [email protected] Webair Rocks

01-02-2005, 02:50 PM	#3
TheFrog Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,095	>> The bogus address used is [email protected]. I know phishing scams work, but doesnt this seem a little stupid to anyone? If he falsifies an e-mail address from AOL for the UK government, this guy's a fucking moron. Seriously though, this guy is preying on people's insecurities about the status loved ones & relatives and deserves everything he gets in return for this from the law...

01-02-2005, 03:58 PM	#5
TheMob Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 2006 Posts: 8,584	what a fucking pathetic loser

01-02-2005, 04:57 PM	#6
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	Not condoning what he did or anything, but what actual crime did he commit ?

01-02-2005, 05:05 PM	#7
dasexi1 Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: if i told you, then THEY'D know Posts: 934	I just don't understand what would posses someone to do something like that. that is such a cruel thing to do to people who are already suffering he should be hung by his balls and whipped with rusty barbed wire