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First Ever Criminal Arrest For Domain Name Theft

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the slowly-catching-up-with-the-times dept.

Domain Name News writes "Until recently, there hasn't been a case of a domain theft where the thief was caught and arrested. However, on July 30th, Daniel Goncalves was arrested at his home in Union, New Jersey and charged in a landmark case, the first criminal arrest for domain name theft in the United States. 'Cases of domain name theft have not typically involved a criminal prosecution because of the complexities, financial restraints and sheer time and energy involved. If a domain name is stolen, the victim of the crime in most cases would need experience with the technical and legal intricacies associated with the domain name system. To move the case forward, they would also need a law enforcement professional who understands the case or is willing to take the time to learn. For example, the Angels told us that in their case they called their local law enforcement in Florida who sent a uniformed officer in a squad car to their home. The first thing you can imagine the officer asked was, "What's a domain?"'"

14 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. Met One of The OG Domain Thiefs by gbulmash · · Score: 5, Funny

    Back in 1995, I was working as a salesman at Circuit City and sold a VCR to Steve Cohen, the guy who stole sex.com. He was bragging to me about how he'd been offered a million bucks for it but wasn't going to sell. Then he ended up returning the VCR. What a tool.

    --
    Start a happiness pandemic
    1. Re:Met One of The OG Domain Thiefs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well of course he returned the VCR. How could you steal sex.com and not know that you can get all the porn you want for free off the internet. Who needs a VCR.

    2. Re:Met One of The OG Domain Thiefs by dhermann · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wow, what an amazing but totally unverifiable story!

    3. Re:Met One of The OG Domain Thiefs by syousef · · Score: 2, Funny

      Back in 1995, I was working as a salesman at Circuit City and sold a VCR to Steve Cohen, the guy who stole sex.com. He was bragging to me about how he'd been offered a million bucks for it but wasn't going to sell. Then he ended up returning the VCR. What a tool.

      Aren't you a little old to be believing in the porn fairy?

      --
      These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
  2. Oh, Those Dumb Police Officers! by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 4, Funny

    The first thing you can imagine the officer asked was, "What's a domain?".'"

    Why can't they be smart and well-versed in all things, like IT Professionals?

    1. Re:Oh, Those Dumb Police Officers! by oodaloop · · Score: 3, Funny

      Because people who dedicate themselves to the service of others, the improvement of their community, and betterment of society are stupid fascist pigs, and should be treated as such. Right slashdot?

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    2. Re:Oh, Those Dumb Police Officers! by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't think it was intended to be calling police officers dumb. Rather, I think the whole idea is that of law enforcement having to deal with obscure technical things that are totally outside of their expertise. Which is why this story is so interesting. The line is starting to blur between cyberspace and meatspace.

      So long as the cop never uses the term "meatspace" he'll be a better man than both of us.

    3. Re:Oh, Those Dumb Police Officers! by hummassa · · Score: 3, Funny

      Your post is intelligent, well-tought, well-written, and your argument is consistent and relevant to the discussion at hand. Obviously, you are facing being banned by /. :-D

      --
      It's better to be the foot on the boot than the face on the pavement. ~~ tkx Kadin2048
    4. Re:Oh, Those Dumb Police Officers! by leetwanker · · Score: 2, Funny

      Plus is repels demons and ghosts, evil spirits of all sorts! Double good! ;)

    5. Re:Oh, Those Dumb Police Officers! by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 3, Funny
      Guy 1:

      National Association for the Ascendancy of Crappy People

      Guy 2:

      No, cops are NOT good people. Cops are immoral scumbags, and they shouldn't be thanked.

      WTF? In a rare departure from form, both sides of the discussion are morons. I don't know who to root for!

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
  3. nice stereotype. by gandhi_2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The first thing you can imagine the officer asked was, "What's a domain?".

    Right before the cop knocked your pocket-protector-wearing geek ass out.

    --
    THL phish sticks
    1. Re:nice stereotype. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Gandhi has some of the best quotes of any man ever.

      "I'm hungry."

      "My feet hurt."

  4. Re:Intricies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Opposite of extrex.

  5. Re:What is the ethnic background of Daniel Goncalv by Temujin_12 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Asking a question about the ethnicity of a name does not automatically make one a racist.

    I know. Calm down people. Go have some beers and make up.

    --
    Faith is a willingness to accept something w/o complete proof and to act on it. Reason allows you to correct that faith.