General Question

Scarlett's avatar

What do you do in this internet situation ?

Asked by Scarlett (915points) January 4th, 2011

What can you do if something is harassing you online ?

Let’s say this person purchased a website, and created it, using your full name(first name and last), and in the website he or she is making rude comments?

Let’s say this person is making false accusations, what can be done about this ?

Is it defamation of character ? Can I sue him for this, or is this a legal right of his to have “Free Speech” ?

I was in an abusive relationship with this person, and now because I left him, he made a website saying I’m a cheater, liar, Isleep around, I am crazy, etc.

This guy has also hacked into my phone, put a tracking software in my phone, has broken 2 of my laptops, and also tried to send me a virus.

A restraining order doesn’t cover this website deal.. It allows him to not contact me through emails and texts, but I really don’t know how to get this website down…

Because I broke it off with him, he is trying to ruin my reputation now.

I don’t know what to do. Any thought ?

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34 Answers

Marchofthefox's avatar

I’d take him to court for these false accusations. Just go to a courthouse and I guess actually print this out and take a few screen shots of the website for proof. Also, try to report the website?

Scarlett's avatar

How can I report the website ?

LuckyGuy's avatar

Find out who owns the domain name.
Check it out here
Do a search on the name, then contact the individuals listed there.

Marchofthefox's avatar

I’d get the authorities involved. My idea of reporting was a brainstorming. You know like how you can report abuse facebook? I was thinking of something like that.

Kardamom's avatar

Make copies and photos of anything that you can. Do NOT reply back to this person. Document in writing everything that has happened. Contact a lawyer right away. You might also try contacting the police and see what kind of advice they give you.

Ultimately, you might have to legally change your name and move if it gets any worse. I’m not sure if your current avatar is your real self, but if it is, take your picture off of any websites or social networks. Let all of your friends and family and employer know what is happening and have them help you by NOT gving out any information about you and ask them to take your name and picture off any websites or social networks that have them.

Response moderated
Scarlett's avatar

No this avatar isn’t me,

Scarlett's avatar

I never ever cheated on him, or slept around with other men, everything he said is just bullcrap and it’s sad he’s trying to ruin me.

Kardamom's avatar

Just make sure you write down a list of everything he has done and everything you have done in response to him, with dates if possible. Get a timeline going. DO NOT CONTACT him anymore, even if you want to tell him to stop. You need to get the assistance of a lawyer and the police at this point.

blueiiznh's avatar

defamation of character is certainly what is going on. You however have the burden of proof.
A good lawyer and lots of money can do something if you are going to go that route.
I can also ask my Uncle Guido his opinion ;)

Response moderated
Scarlett's avatar

Does anybody know if google has anything against online harassment ?

I’m scared this would just be considered “Free Speech”.

Scarlett's avatar

Thanks Kardamom ! No I haven’t contacted, spoken, emailed, anything for about one month now, and I am not going to at all.

Kardamom's avatar

Maybe the mods on fluther may have some good advice too. Lots of internet savvy folks in here.

Scarlett's avatar

@projectilevomit – No he isn’t ! And he has a history of domestic violence against me ( I still have a scar on my leg to prove it ), so I’m hoping that will help me out even more.

Because he bought and made the website with the intent to cause me stress

iamthemob's avatar

Legally, you have a lot of good things to start off with – I’ll throw out that there problem with these cases is generally showing the damages that result from them.

You might want to see if there’s something that you can address from a criminal perspective. If he’s hacking into your services, then it might be possible, for instance (I don’t have an idea) to see about filing a complaint based on identity theft. If there isn’t any actual damage, or clear damage, a civil suit might be kind of pointless as the sanctions might not stop anything from happening or award you compensation for loss. Criminal charges, on the other hand, have a particular downside that is super-undesirable for him, regardless of whether it functionally protects you. That may be just what you need – if at all possible, I’d talk to a lawyer – and considering that there’s a lot of tech law in your case, you may be able to find a clinic in a law school that provides pro bono help in situations like these.

PS – One of the limits of free speech, at least in the U.S. and historically in common law, has pretty much been defamation/libel claims. I let any concern about it being “free speech” stop you from clamping it ASAP.

blueiiznh's avatar

This is against the terms and conditions of GoDaddy. Check out Section 4. General Rules of Conduct. link

Response moderated
Response moderated
marinelife's avatar

I would contact an attorney right away.

Have your lawyer write him a cease and desist order and demand that he take the Web site down.

Have the attorney contact whoever his IP is and demand that he take the Web site down or he (the attorney) will take action against them.

I assume you have a restraining order. Please go to the police and report the actions of the tracking software on your phone and the broken laptops.

I think that if I were you, I would also consider moving (and not letting anyone know where you are). He is being very abusive, and it sounds like he is escalating.

flutherother's avatar

I would contact the company hosting this site and ask them to take it down as it is defamatory. You can contact Go Daddy as follows (The details are from their website)

Go Daddy Legal Department
14455 North Hayden Rd.
Suite 219
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
legal@godaddy.com

Blueroses's avatar

I would definitely stop showing the website to strangers, especially if, as you say, it is under your “real” name.

I’ve been in hiding from an abusive ex for 5 years. Legal name change, no social networks online, restraining orders in place… the very last thing I would ever do is give publicity to his efforts to undermine me. I’m sorry if this is really happening to you, but having lived through something similar, this story is registering on my BS meter.

chyna's avatar

Is this the same guy you told us you are pregnant by?

Response moderated (Off-Topic)
Zaku's avatar

I had to go through something similar. I talked to a few lawyers and police.

It seemed to me that the police don’t tend to have much they can/will do, though you mentioned something about kids and sex references on the site, so if he puts something pedophiliac up, they might suddenly care a lot.

You can file for a no contact and/or anti-harassment order though it is per person. If you succeed, then they can be found in contempt of court if they continue to mess with you.

Google does have a place where you can report sites as inappropriate links, which can get Google to stop linking search results to them. Contacting the site owners to remove content is another way to go.

XOIIO's avatar

Sue his ass and get some money! Seriously, take full advantage of this.

Do you both live in scottsdale still, or did he move there? If he moved to scottsdale from wherever you are it will take longer. Still, kick his ass!

Response moderated
Response moderated (Off-Topic)
XOIIO's avatar

Hmm I thought that was on topic. It was a complete copy of the site that you could use as evidence in a court case If he took it down or modified it.

Anyways, let us know if anything new happens. I hope he gets what’s coming to him.

Scarlett's avatar

@XOIIO – Well, I made a police report on him, and 2 detectives came to his work in front of all his co workers and questioned him. The website is off now.

XOIIO's avatar

@Scarlett LOL! Serves him right.

Zaku's avatar

Wow, good job!

chyna's avatar

@Scarlett You posted this 2 months ago. I’m so sorry it took so long to get it taken care of, but glad you finally did.

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