TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: State of the Internet, 2005

Re: State of the Internet, 2005

Robert Bonomi (bonomi@host122.r-bonomi.com)
Mon, 03 Oct 2005 14:38:21 -0000

In article <telecom24.449.12@telecom-digest.org>, Henry
<henry999@eircom.net> wrote:

> TELECOM Digest Editor <ptownson@massis.lcs.mit.edu> wrote:

>> A look at the internet as it stands now, in 2005, from a compilation
>> originally prepared by CNN.com:

>> Chain letters

>> "Forward this message to 10 people and DO NOT BREAK THE CHAIN!" the
>> writer implores. Messages like these have been pouring into inboxes since
>> the inception of e-mail -- taking the old-fashioned chain letter from the
>> post office to cyberspace. Chain letters are a particularly annoying form of
>> spam because they often come from friends and promise negative consequences
>> for not forwarding the message (bad luck or a lost chance at riches, for
>> example).

>> Choosing to forward a message, however, could get you in trouble. Many
>> people don't know it is illegal to start or forward an e-mail chain letter
>> that promises any kind of return. Anyone doing so could be prosecuted for
>> mail fraud.

> 'Anyone doing so could be prosecuted for mail fraud.'

> ???

> How can that possibly be correct?

In the United States, that statement _is_ correct.

> First of all, it suggests that the
> post office has some sort of jurisdiction over e-mail, which it
> clearly does not (mail fraud is investigated by postal
> inspectors).

You are, in fact, *WRONG* on that count. The post office _does_ have
jurisdiction over certain activities conducted by means other than
postal mail.

The USPIS handles investigation/enforcement of 18 USC 1342.

Which includes frauds that _induce_ victims to send money
_via_the_mails_.

If the 'scheme to defraud' involves the use of the postal mail system
*in*any*way* then the crime of 'mail fraud' applies.

> But secondly, '_anyone_ doing so...' is preposterously Americano-centric.

The exact same jurisdictional rule (post office has jurisdiction
(albeit not necessarily 'exclusive' jurisdiction) over anything that
uses mails as _any_ part of the fraud) applies in Canada, the U.K.,
Germany, France, Japan, Australia, (those places I have specific
knowledge of) and most of the rest of the world. Even Nigeria.

Post Followup Article Use your browser's quoting feature to quote article into reply
Go to Next message: Dave Garland: "Re: Help Needed with DHCP on Remote Laptop"
Go to Previous message: Robert Bonomi: "Re: What is Area Code 113?"
May be in reply to: TELECOM Digest Editor: "State of the Internet, 2005"
Next in thread: Henry: "Re: State of the Internet, 2005"
TELECOM Digest: Home Page