Dealing with (cyber) stalkers: How to Find a Person's Address from an ISP

[qwertyaccount 15793]

It's funny what you sumble upon when searhing for something else.

 

I found this on e-How and thought the ladies might be able to use it at some point: http://www.ehow.com/how_6137253_person_s-address-isp.html

 

 

How to Find a Person's Address from an ISP

To protect their customers' privacy, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not give out their customers' personal information (such as names, addresses or phone numbers) unless compelled to by a warrant or subpoena. So if you're being stalked or otherwise harassed by someone through communications from that person's IP address (for example, through email messages), you can file a complaint with law enforcement (who will issue a warrant) or retain an attorney (who will serve a subpoena) to that ISP, who must then provide that person's personal information.

 

Instructions

 

1. Identify the ISP. If you don't already know the ISP, you can research its location through an Internet Protocol (IP) trace. Every computer device has a unique IP address, which is four segments of numbers separated by periods; for example, 127.0.0.2. You might find this IP address in the headers of the person's email or sometimes websites and blogs identify IP addresses for those who post comments. Arul John's Utilities Site provides a free IP trace service. Go to Aruljohn.com/track.pl, enter the IP address in the "Enter IP Address To Trace" box and click the "start tracking" button. The results show the ISP name and city, as well as the email address to report abuse to that ISP.
   
   
2. Find the ISP contact information. After locating the ISP geographical region (see Step 1), find its phone number by calling directory assistance (411) or conducting a reverse business name search for its phone number and address through a search engine such as the Reverse Business Directory (go to Reversebusinessdirectory.com and follow the instructions).
   
   
3. Register a complaint with your local police department. If you have been harassed or in any way threatened by communications from that IP address, your local police department, in the course of its investigations, may serve a warrant to that ISP. To expedite the process, provide the ISP contact information to the police. After being served a warrant, the ISP must provide that IP user's name, address and other information to the police. Sometimes the police share this information with you, sometimes not; it will depend on their policies. The police will typically contact the person and either issue a warning or file charges.
   
   
4. Retain an attorney. An expeditious way to both stop any harassment or abuse and obtain the IP user's address is to retain an attorney, who (as part of filing a restraining order) will issue a subpoena to the ISP to produce that IP user's records (which contain the name, address and more). Unlike law enforcement, attorneys typically share this information with their clients.