| High-tech private investigators are becoming the | | | | More and more people everyday find themselves |
| answer for many Internet users who have been | | | | on the receiving end of some type of threatening |
| victimized online. The use of e-mail by that | | | | or harassing e-mail. Cyberstalking, online bullying, |
| unethical element lurking in cyberspace rings all too | | | | and e-mail fraud schemes have created a very |
| common these days. With law enforcement | | | | disturbing and volatile environment for a vast |
| agencies overwhelmed and under trained to | | | | number of users. With e-mail becoming a |
| address these issues, victims have often been | | | | household term, people today are using the |
| left to deal with them on their own. | | | | Internet as their primary means for |
| Frustrated, powerless, even scared, many people | | | | communication. The need to trace malicious e-mail |
| have turned to InfoPursuit, a California based | | | | is increasing. |
| private investigative firm, for assistance. The fact | | | | InfoPursuit's ability to trace e-mail messages and |
| that they employ experts trained in the | | | | track down these Cyber-terrorists has brought |
| specialized field of e-mail tracing and | | | | relief to many. Vicki Hansen, a former student |
| Internet-based investigations makes them unique. | | | | who relied heavily on the Internet, is an example |
| They take pride in being able to uncloak the | | | | of someone who found resolution through |
| seemingly anonymous sender by tracing e-mail | | | | InfoPursuit. "They were able to trace an e-mail |
| back to its source. | | | | message for me and identify the harassing |
| "We have a highly skilled staff, most of which | | | | sender who was using a free e-mail service," says |
| have former law enforcement experience," says | | | | Hansen. "I first went to the police and the only |
| Jeff Duggan, Director of Services at InfoPursuit. | | | | advice they gave me was to turn my computer |
| "The e-mail tracing techniques we employ are on | | | | off." Like Vicki Hansen, many students and |
| the cutting edge and have proven effective in | | | | professionals alike depend on these technologies |
| resolving the unknown, the identity of the sender." | | | | daily. For that reason, they just do not have the |
| This online based firm hosts a Website at detailing | | | | ability to turn off the computer in hopes of the |
| the various services offered. | | | | problem disappearing. Now they don't have to. |