Internet username and Password theft

[dsldudect]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the correct forum to post this in but is there anything that can be done about this? I have fallen victim to this quite a few times already

Someone I know connected an old ADSL router which was thought to be configured with his own adsl details but it was actaully someone else's.

He did not know this and was contacted by owner of the adsl account. He has told the owner send him the bill for usage and he would pay it as it was a mistake.

Why did he not check router config? When he connected router, it came up and connected perfectly but he did not know the router admin details so he left it and was going to check it again - he just wanted the line up.

Is this a crime? If so, what?

Thank you

 

[remybfg10k]

is he willing to pay back the bandwidth used?

 

[dsldudect]

that's what he says

 

[dsldudect]

but....can criminal charges still be laid should the person wish to?

 

[remybfg10k]

if he wants to be a ****, yes.

 

[dsldudect]

What would the charges be and are there laws in SA that govern this?

 

[Veroland]

The previous owner is a dumbass anyway for selling his router without removing his login details

 

[dsldudect]

ok ..ok ...the previous dude is dumb ..but...who is dumber the previous guy or the person who connected the router and used the account?

Look, this router was used to test with previous guy and the details were just not erased.

Can a charge be filed and what would it be?

 

[Veroland]

The second guy can always claim he didn't know he needed to enter his details...

"Your honour, I though the box said plug and play"

 

[dsldudect]

LOL ..... nice one....

 

[Sackboy]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the correct forum to post this in but is there anything that can be done about this? I have fallen victim to this quite a few times already

Someone I know connected an old ADSL router which was thought to be configured with his own adsl details but it was actaully someone else's.

He did not know this and was contacted by owner of the adsl account. He has told the owner send him the bill for usage and he would pay it as it was a mistake.

Why did he not check router config? When he connected router, it came up and connected perfectly but he did not know the router admin details so he left it and was going to check it again - he just wanted the line up.

Is this a crime? If so, what?

Thank you

It sounds like someone got free internet and hoped they wouldn't be found out. Now that they have, pay up graciously and walk away.

 

[Veroland]

It sounds like someone got free internet and hoped they wouldn't be found out. Now that they have, pay up graciously and walk away.

Problem being? If my neighbours can get past my wireless encryption to use mine they are welcome - Untill I find out and upgrade my security

 

[Thestealth]

Connections/details shouldn't be left lying "around" like that. If you don't secure your details or make sure you're not passing it onto someone else, tough. If they steal your info, it's theft and fraud though.

 

[dsldudect]

Thestealth - I hear what you saying...so should the guilty party just pay for the connection or should he tell them to stick it? They still need to prove that he used all the cap that was available. Also who is to say that they don't inflate the ISP logs but then again, ISP logs with IP addies linked to them should show exact usage, traffic type and browsing history linked to that IP...right?

I have been doing some reading and have not found anything that indicates that anyone has ever been prosecuted for this. I agree that two wrongs dont make a right but in the same breath, users should be changing their acc details every so often to avoid situations like this.

The fact that the person has owned up and offered to pay for the BW used should be enuff as I think both parties have learnt their lesson.

Its hard to believe that 2yrs down the line the U/P is still the same - I am sure that this person was probably not the first to use this account and the thing is that he got caught out...but as i said he wasn't aware that this router was still configured with that old details. The fact that the ADSL came up, internet worked and everything was routing fine is all he was interested in..the router admin details would be sorted later. Only when he got called to ask why he is using these details did it click that the router is still configured with these details. He admitted to the error and offered to pay for the usage.

I know of ppl out there who have lists and lists of ADSL accounts which they choose from as and when needed but nothing ever happens to them.

If a charge does get filed, what would it be classified as?

 

[Sackboy]

Thestealth - I hear what you saying...so should the guilty party just pay for the connection or should he tell them to stick it? They still need to prove that he used all the cap that was available. Also who is to say that they don't inflate the ISP logs but then again, ISP logs with IP addies linked to them should show exact usage, traffic type and browsing history linked to that IP...right?

I have been doing some reading and have not found anything that indicates that anyone has ever been prosecuted for this. I agree that two wrongs dont make a right but in the same breath, users should be changing their acc details every so often to avoid situations like this.

The fact that the person has owned up and offered to pay for the BW used should be enuff as I think both parties have learnt their lesson.

Its hard to believe that 2yrs down the line the U/P is still the same - I am sure that this person was probably not the first to use this account and the thing is that he got caught out...but as i said he wasn't aware that this router was still configured with that old details. The fact that the ADSL came up, internet worked and everything was routing fine is all he was interested in..the router admin details would be sorted later. Only when he got called to ask why he is using these details did it click that the router is still configured with these details. He admitted to the error and offered to pay for the usage.

I know of ppl out there who have lists and lists of ADSL accounts which they choose from as and when needed but nothing ever happens to them.

If a charge does get filed, what would it be classified as?

Why doesn't he just offer to pay a nominal amount to avoid time and trouble, but avoid any legal consequences or admissions. Call it stress relief if you like . Then maybe organise an expert to advise the line owner on how to close the loophole.

Any reasonable person would consider an offer like that.