Banned Member keeps returning

[CarolSEL]

We banned a member for ongoing nastiness. He re-registered with a new user name and email, so we banned his static IP. Now he's returned again using a dynamic wireless connection. Each registration has a different email address, so it takes a while to catch up with him. Is there any way to actually stop him, or do we just have to keep playing his game?

[Dave]

That's the nature of the internet, you can't stop trolls.

A short term solution is to enable the option in the vBulletin settings so that all new registrations require moderation by the administrator. That way you can check the email, username and IP address before they can do anything.

[Max Taxable]

When you positively identify this perp, put him on global ignore. Only he will see his posts. Account isn't banned, therefore no incentive to keep creating new.

Originally Posted by Dave

A short term solution is to enable the option in the vBulletin settings so that all new registrations require moderation by the administrator. That way you can check the email, username and IP address before they can do anything.

And then the troll wins. His glee on his mission accomplished assures he will keep checking back to see if this is lifted.

[alcazarx]

Do as Max said.
Or use a plugin like Miserable User for those trolls >:-]

[Max Taxable]

Originally Posted by alcazarx

Do as Max said.
Or use a plugin like Miserable User for those trolls >:-]

MU if the settings are too obvious, is the same as a ban - the perp finds out pretty quick you're messing with him. But yeah, MU if set to be really mild will also keep him from creating a new acct. - but if that mild, really won't discourage posting and won't prevent his posts from disrupting the board.

[CarolSEL]

Originally Posted by Max Taxable

When you positively identify this perp, put him on global ignore. Only he will see his posts. Account isn't banned, therefore no incentive to keep creating new.

Thanks, Max. We had used manual registration after our site got hijacked some time back. It's a nuisance for me, as it can take hours to manually process dozens of registrations daily, and isn't going to stop someone with disposable addy's and dynamic IP. Global Ignore sounds perfect -- this guy loves to incite nasty arguments in our debates, so will hopefully get frustrated that no one is taking his bait and replying.

In Global Ignore, does Staff still see the posts? If so, I'll have to "train" the Mods to not reply.

[In Omnibus]

It doesn't take an experienced troll long to figure out he's not being seen by the masses.

There are better solutions than the ones given here.

[CarolSEL]

Originally Posted by ProSportsForums

It doesn't take an experienced troll long to figure out he's not being seen by the masses.

There are better solutions than the ones given here.

Can you suggest one of two of them?

[In Omnibus]

Originally Posted by CarolSEL

Can you suggest one of two of them?

Possibly. Are you located within the United States?

--------------- Added [DATE]1459952290[/DATE] at [TIME]1459952290[/TIME] ---------------

This is what I do. I mean it. I pursue it if necessary. I attach every screenshot I can and links directly to the offending material which match the screenshots. I screenshot the IP address where and when possible. Then I send the e-mail to the legal department of the ISP with both a copy of the sent e-mail and with a receipt confirmation.

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Your telephone]
[Your email]
[Your URL]

[Perpetrator?s name(s), User Names, Known Names, Aliases]
[Perpetrator?s ISP address]
[Perpetrator's URL Hosting]

[Today?s date]

RE: Legal demand to cease and desist from [stalking/harassing/etc.]

Dear [ISP / Perpetrator]:

This CEASE AND DESIST ORDER is to inform you that your customer's persistent actions, including but not limited to [insert actions here (example: calling me in the middle of the night and hanging up, waiting outside my house, etc)] have become harassing pursuant to Title XVI, Chapter 748, Section 048, Subsections 1-4, as detailed below. You are hereby served legal notice to cease and desist with the permission of such activities immediately as they are being done in violation of the law.

I have the legal right to remain free from these forms of cyberstalking and cyberharassment, and I will pursue any legal remedies available to me against you, the internet service provider, and against your customer individually if these activities continue. These remedies include but are not limited to: contacting law enforcement to obtain criminal sanctions against you, and suing you civilly for damages I have incurred as a result of your actions or inactions.

Title XLVI
CRIMES

Chapter 784
ASSAULT; BATTERY; CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE

View Entire Chapter
784.048 Stalking; definitions; penalties.?
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) ?Harass? means to engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person which causes substantial emotional distress to that person and serves no legitimate purpose.
(b) ?Course of conduct? means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however short, which evidences a continuity of purpose. The term does not include constitutionally protected activity such as picketing or other organized protests.
(c) ?Credible threat? means a verbal or nonverbal threat, or a combination of the two, including threats delivered by electronic communication or implied by a pattern of conduct, which places the person who is the target of the threat in reasonable fear for his or her safety or the safety of his or her family members or individuals closely associated with the person, and which is made with the apparent ability to carry out the threat to cause such harm. It is not necessary to prove that the person making the threat had the intent to actually carry out the threat. The present incarceration of the person making the threat is not a bar to prosecution under this section.
(d) ?Cyberstalk? means to engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose.
(2) A person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person commits the offense of stalking, a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(3) A person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person and makes a credible threat to that person commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(4) A person who, after an injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating violence pursuant to s. 784.046, or an injunction for protection against domestic violence pursuant to s. 741.30, or after any other court-imposed prohibition of conduct toward the subject person or that person?s property, knowingly, willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(5) A person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks a child under 16 years of age commits the offense of aggravated stalking, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(6) A law enforcement officer may arrest, without a warrant, any person that he or she has probable cause to believe has violated this section.

See the attached documentation and reference the matching URL links as empirical evidence and tangible proof of the above claims.

Again, you must IMMEDIATELY STOP [unwanted activities] and send me written confirmation that you will stop such activities. You risk incurring severe legal consequences if you fail to comply with this demand.

This letter acts as your final warning to discontinue this unwanted conduct before I pursue legal actions. At this time, I am not contacting the authorities or filing civil suit, as I hope this matter can be resolved without authoritative involvement. I am not under any circumstances, however, waiving any legal rights I have presently, or future legal remedies against you by sending you this letter. This order acts as ONE FINAL CHANCE for you to cease your illegal activities before I exercise my rights.

To ensure compliance with this letter, and to halt any legal action I may take, I require a duly authorized representative to fill in and sign the attached form and mail or e-mail it back to me within 10 days of your receipt of this letter. Failure to do so will act as evidence of your infringement upon my legal rights, and I will immediately seek legal avenues to remedy the situation.

Sincerely,

[your signature]___
[your printed name]

CEASE AND DESIST COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT

I / We, [insert ISPs name here] do hereby agree to stop our customer from violating the above statues through use of our services. We acknowlege our customer has committed the above-referenced actions [insert unwanted activities here] which are in violation of [your full name]?s rights. We understand that this is our and our customer's final chance to cease these activities. I understand that [your full name] potentially has the right to pursue legal action against me relating to my engagement in these activities, but [he/she] will not pursue those rights in contemplation of my compliance with this written demand. I further understand that [your full name] has not waived [his/her] rights and may pursue legal remedies against me if I fail to abide by this agreement. I understand that this agreement is not specifically limited to the activities named herein. I will not engage in any activity now or in the future done for the purpose of [stalking/harassing] [your full name]. I furthermore agree not to engage in any activity, regardless of its official title, that is done in violation of [your full name]?s legal rights. If I fail to cease performing these activities, [your full name] may pursue legal action against me in accordance [his/her] legal rights. This agreement acts as a contract between [perpetrator?s name] and [your full name]. Forbearing enforcement of legally enforceable remedies is sufficient consideration to support this agreement. This agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties. Any statements made orally, written, or otherwise which are not contained herein shall have no impact on either parties? rights or obligations elaborated in this agreement.

Date ____________________

________________________
[ISP?s printed name]

________________________
[Authorized Signature]

This specific form is for the state of Florida. You would need to change the statutes to those which apply in your location.

I have never had an ISP refuse to cancel their customer's service upon receipt of this letter. In fact they usually contact me to confirm the customer is no longer a problem long before ten days.

This is time consuming but it is no more time consuming than dealing with the same jackass ad nauseum and once you have the form set up for your state all you have to do is to fill in the blanks.

[Max Taxable]

Originally Posted by ProSportsForums

It doesn't take an experienced troll long to figure out he's not being seen by the masses.

I personally know of at least three sites which have multiple people on GI, for years, and these people haven't gotten hip to it. Of course, if they do it's game on again for whack-a-mole, GI is merely a tool in the toolbox.